Microsoft Solutions
6 min
Business Scenario:
Consider a scenario where one or all the customer’s VMs are running on Windows Server/Client OS, which is the end of support from Microsoft, and OS upgrade is not supported through update and management tool.
Challenges:
- Microsoft announced the end of support for Windows OS like Windows XP, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 long ago.
- Many customers’ client and server systems are still running on these OS on the Azure cloud.
- There are some complex application setups where the agent is installed on a client OS like windows 7, and the Management engine is on Server OS like Windows Server 2008, which is the end of support.
- Some complex applications are configured and hosted only on the server running on Server OS, which is the end of support from the Microsoft side.
- Due to code complexity or business revenue from any such application, it’s risky to deploy a new setup on the latest supported version of OS on new VMs.
- There is also a risk of keeping these application setups running on an unsupported version of OS as its vulnerable to new threats.
- As of Jan 2023, Microsoft doesn’t have any OOB tool to perform the in-place upgrade for an unsupported OS running on the Azure cloud.
Solution Strategy:
- Take a backup of VM configurations like NIC, IP, data discs, NSG rules, LAW connection, and more.
- Ensure complete and latest VM backup is in place.
- Download the Operating System VHD of the VM in the scope of OS upgrade to an isolated environment.
- Install the Hyper V feature and connect this VHD to have a VM running on an isolated hyper environment.
- Download the iso of the latest supported version of the OS you wish to proceed with.
- Attach this iso to the virtual drive and perform an in-place upgrade.
- Activate the OS by entering a valid license key.
- Check the application functionality in an isolated environment.
- Upload this VHD to Azure and spin a new VM.
- Check the application functionality in the Azure environment.
- Stop and deallocate the old VM by approving application downtime from business owners.• Stop and deallocate the old VM by approving application downtime from business owners.
- Update configuration of new VM as per backup taken for NIC, IP, data discs, NSG rules, and LAW connection.
- Check the application functionality in production.
- Delete the old VM and associated resources.
Outcome & Benefits:
- Minimum application downtime.
- Minimize risk in terms of security and application functionality.
- Get support from Microsoft as they have moved to a supported version of OS.
- Enhanced application performance on the latest platform with additional security features.
