Table Of Contents
Dashboard
Insight Reports
Dependency Map
Relationship Map
Dashboard
During the discovery process, Block 64 is able to gather Bitstream data. This data enables us to see the resources by each machine. For more information on Bitstream please refer to the article here ->Bitstream basics – Block 64 (zendesk.com)
The Cloud Migration Dashboard is used by customers and partners to visualize resource utilization data in a row table format. Using these data sets we can provide recommendations on how to migrate customers to Azure and better leverage their devices resources.
At the top of the page are a number of tabs that can be used to filter the table shown on this page. The Tabs reflect the following
All Devices - A list of all devices that we have attempted to gather Bitstream data will populate
Active Devices – A list of all devices that we are currently running the process to gather Bitstream will populate
Inactive Devices – A list of devices that we have stopped running Bitstream collection will populate
Problem Devices - A list of devices that are having errors in running Bistream collection will populate
AVD Candidates – A list of client endpoints with Bitstream data will populate
Process List – Block 64 can also gather process list data from devices. A list of processes running in the environment will populate.
Devices Table
The devices table shows details on devices based on which tab is selected at the top. They usage of the particular metric for that device over the scanning period. This table is used to gain a high level view of the resource data gathered
There are five exports available: Resource Consumption (Export), Cloud Assessment, Azure TCO, Azure Migrate, and AVD Assessment. The Azure TCO and Azure Migrate export can be found under the cloud assessment drop-down menu. A separate article for Azure Migrate has been written and can be found here -> Block 64 and Azure Migrate – Block 64 (zendesk.com)
Resource Consumption Export
The Resource Consumption Export contains the raw bitstream data gathered. It can be a little overwhelming given the volume of data included. Customers who use this document desire the most in-depth information on a machines resource usage.
This export button has a gear drop down menu button beside it where you can check or uncheck options to filter your export. The options are General, Processes, Process Statistics, Summary Process Statistics, Disk, and MsSQL. Each one of these options refers to an extra sheet that will be included in your export file.
General sheet
Gives an overview of resource utilization per computer. CPU utilization, RAM utilization, SWAP utilization, Disk throughput, and disk IOPS.
Process Statistics sheet
Gives an overview of run counts and elapsed time of specific processes.
Process Statistics Summary sheet
Gives an overview of the total time each process has been run.
Disk sheet
Gives an overview of disk capacity versus how much free space is available.
MsSQL sheet
Gives an overview of user connections, memory usage and additional information on MSSQL instances.
Export Cloud Assessment Functionality & Sheets
The Export Cloud Assessment is used to provide customers recommendations on how to migrate their server infrastructure to Azure. It provides a 1 to 1 recommendation on how to right size your machines in the migration.
When exporting, you have the option to select the Azure region, currency, whether to exclude VM hosts, and the ability to define sizing parameters. These factors enable users to customize the sizing to fit their unique needs.
Since this generates an excel document, it is a moment in time report. If you pull another copy of the export at a later date, it is possible to have different recommendations as more data would have been gathered or parameters for sizing may have changed.
The export sizes machines based on the following logic. First, we determine what the current size of your machine is. After this we identify an Azure Virtual Machine that will accommodate the existing resource allocation of your machine. This provides us with a lift and shift recommendation, or what is referred to in the export, an AS-IS recommendation. From the AS-IS recommendation we can then provide an Optimized Virtual Machine recommendation for that device. To determine the Optimized Virtual Machine, we look at the On-Premise size, the As-Is size, and resource utilization to determine what the device requires from a resourcing standpoint and then matching it to a virtual machine that is the best fit.
There are some virtual machines we will not size to, such as B series, given those virtual machines require more qualitative data than an automated report can provide. The recommendations here are high level, and users should use them help in guiding their final azure sizing.
Finally, the costs provided in this export are pulled from the Azure pricing calculator. By selecting your Azure region and currency we can consider what potential costs will look like.
Important note: This export is only for servers. It will not include client endpoints even if we have pulled back resource usage data on them.
Cost vs Phases sheet
Provides an overview of how much it would cost to migrate each of these servers to azure.
General Cost Comparison sheet
It is a general cost comparison for optimized server sizing costs for each of the profiles.
MSSQL Server Cost Comparison sheet
Is a general cost comparison for optimized MS SQL server sizing costs for each of the profiles.
Metrics Summary sheet
Gives an overview of details associated with each machine. Provides details on SQL & OS editions/versions/service packs, resource utilization, and costs for different migration.
Storage Groups sheet
Provides the storage group that each disk would fall into and how much it would cost per month.
Recommendations for disk size are pulled based on the size of the disk currently being used. We iterate through each Azure profile offer and find a Standard SSD that is either the same size or bigger. The reason for recommending a standard SSD is because it is mid-tier.
Storage sheet
Gives an overview of how much optimized storage will cost for each machine.
Sizing sheet
Look at each machine’s resource utilization, action recommended, and costs/savings associated.
Azure VM Prices sheet
Overview of the details associated with each of the Azure VMs.
Azure Managed Disk Prices sheet
Lists the details associated with each of the Azure managed disks such as price, speed, size, etc.
Azure SQL Managed Prices sheet
Catalogs the features associated with each of the Azure SQL management options.
Export Azure TCO
The Azure TCO calculator, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator | Microsoft Azure, is a service hosted by Microsoft to help customer in calculating their potential Azure costs. Customers are able either manually enter details or bulk upload via a CSV file. The Block 64 Azure TCO export mirrors the formatting of the bulk upload document. It is populated by the discovery data Block 64 gathers.
Servers
Lists all the servers in the environment and associated specs.
Databases
An overview of all the databases in the environment and associated specs.
Storage
Outlines of all the storage in the environment and associated specs.
Networking
Gives a value for outbound bandwidth (GB).
Export AVD Assessment Functionality & Sheets
The Azure Virtual Desktop export provides cloud sizing recommendations for customers looking to adopt AVD. It follows the same logic as the Export Cloud Assessment for servers, but focuses on providing desktop sizing instead.
When exporting, you have the option to select the Azure Region, Currency, Instance Type (Pooled/Personal), Scenario Type (Multi-Session/Single-Session), Concurrency (Peak Concurrency & Off-Peak Currency), and Usage Hours.
The calculations come from the Azure Windows Virtual Desktop Calculator. This can be found by navigating to https://azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/pricing/calculator/ and searching for Windows Virtual Desktop.
AVD Pooled Cost Summary sheet
Breakdowns of the cost associated with each workload and savings option.
AVD Personal Cost Comparison sheet
A general cost comparison for optimized server sizing costs.
Metrics Summary sheet
Provides the details on OS editions/versions/service packs, and machine resource utilization.
Personal Storage Groups sheet
It is the storage group that each disk would fall into and how much it would cost per month.
Personal Storage sheet
Look at how much optimized storage will cost for each machine.
Personal Sizing sheet
Describes each machine’s resource utilization, forecasted usage, action recommended, and costs/savings associated.
Azure VM Prices sheet
Gives an overview of how much each Azure VM option costs and the performance details associated.
Azure Managed Disk Prices sheet
Details associated with each of the Azure disk management options.
Insight Reports
The Insights Reports provide a visualization of the resource utilization data sets gathered by Block 64. This report provides two ways to slice the data, SQL servers and Windows Servers. By clicking on the view data button on either graph on the initial page of this report, you will be brought to new page that enables you to interact further with these data sets.
The goal of these reports is to provide a more interactive way of working with the resource usage data sets we gather. While the Cloud Migration Dashboard provides tabluar data, this report provides a graphical UI that can be easier to work with.
SQL Performance Summary
This bar graph showing the consumption of CPU, Storage, and RAM of the top 20 most utilized servers. Servers are organized from left to right by the highest consumption percentage.
Hitting the view data button in the top right section of this window will bring you to an SQL performance report.
Utilization Summary
This bar graph showing the consumption of CPU and RAM of the top 20 most under-utilized servers. The servers are organized from left to right by lowest consumption percentage.
Clicking on the view data button in the top right section of this window will bring you to a Underutilization Capacity Report.
Performance Reports
By clicking the View Data button on either report you will be brought to the a new report that enables you to work with the data for that category. The goal is provide more graphical UI for users to engage with our cloud data sets.
Both reports have slight differences but the key takaways for both relay on the options section. Configuring the options and then clicking refresh data, users can define the metic they are looking to observer and underestand a machines usage as such.
After selecting, Refresh Data, the page will load the insights on the graph to the left of the options section.
By selecting a data point of interest, users can drill down onto that device and understand more about it. For this report, that means understanding time series data. By clicking on an endpoint, we can visualize the trend in their usage to see how that device has be used over time.
A table will also generate once data has been Refreshed at the bottom of the page. This provides a summary level view of the data sets visualized in the graph
Dependency Map
Through out the discovery process, Block 64 is able to gather network dependency data. For information on this process please review the article here -> Bitstream basics – Block 64 (zendesk.com)
Through network traffic monitoring we are able to view which machines are sending data where and visualize that data so users can work off the data discovered.
Dependency Map
This visual is an interactive map of network traffic. Each circle contains source IP/Domain, and the lines symbolize the connections. Hover your cursor over each circle to see details on the Source Domain Name, Source IP, and Traffic.
Network Traffic
Displays a table showing the details on links between domains. The Table provides summary level data of each connection depicted in the visual.
Relationship Map
The relationship map presents the details on the connection between the different domains and amount of traffic.