Data Collection Methods
Hayden Test. Test changes in docs. Another change. Dr Migrate supports two primary methods for collecting infrastructure data: DMC (Dr Migrate Collector) and Azure Migrate. Both enable comprehensive discovery and assessment, but each is suited to different scenarios.
DMC (Dr Migrate Collector) Overview
DMC is a secure, lightweight tool that runs locally within your environment, enabling agentless and secure data collection for Dr Migrate.
Key Features
- Runs locally from a jump box; no agents or external connections required
- Captures rich metadata from both hypervisor-level and guest VM environments
- In-memory credential handling for enhanced security
- Creates fully encrypted result sets
- No data is transmitted externally until explicitly uploaded by you
Setup Process
Download and run DMC locally
Download the Dr Migrate Collector (DMC) tool and execute it on your local environment. This lightweight tool is designed for quick and secure data collection.
Collect infrastructure data
DMC will automatically scan your environment and gather the necessary infrastructure data required for migration assessment.
DMC captures point-in-time performance data during discovery.
Where available, limited historical metrics are included.
Figures like IOPS, CPU, and memory are estimated using short-term sampling and predictive modeling.
For critical workloads or sizing decisions, validate with long-term data and app team input.
Upload results to Dr Migrate for assessment and planning
Once data collection is complete, upload the results to the Dr Migrate platform. You’ll receive actionable insights and a tailored migration plan.
Best for
- Environments with limited connectivity to Azure
- Organizations with strict security or data residency requirements
- Quick assessments without Azure Migrate deployment
- VMware environments
Resources
Azure Migrate Overview
Azure Migrate is a Microsoft-managed service that provides a unified platform for discovery, assessment, and migration to Azure.
Both methods are fully supported by Dr Migrate and can be selected based on your organization’s needs, existing infrastructure, and migration goals. For a detailed comparison, see the appendices in the DMC section.
Key Features
- Microsoft-managed service with unified platform for discovery, assessment, and migration
- Uses Azure Migrate appliance to collect configuration and performance data
- Supports VMware, Hyper-V, physical servers, databases, and web apps
- Integrates with Azure’s business case, assessment, and migration tools
Setup Process
Set up Azure Migrate appliance
Deploy and configure the Azure Migrate appliance in your environment to enable secure and automated data collection.
Collect configuration and performance data
The appliance gathers detailed configuration and performance metrics from your servers and workloads, ensuring a comprehensive assessment.
Use Azure Migrate tools for assessment and migration planning
Leverage Azure Migrate’s built-in tools to analyze collected data, generate migration assessments, and plan your migration strategy.
Best for
- Organizations already using Azure Migrate
- Hybrid discovery scenarios across multiple platforms
- Long-term Azure migration programs
- Integration with broader Azure ecosystem
Resources
Detailed Comparison
| DMC (Dr Migrate Collector) | Azure Migrate | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Secure, agentless, local infrastructure discovery tool for Dr Migrate. | Microsoft’s unified platform for discovery, assessment, and migration. |
| When to use? | When you need secure, agentless, and local data collection with full data control and no external connections. | When you want a Microsoft-managed, integrated solution for a wide range of migration scenarios. |
| How it works | Runs locally from a jump box; no agents, installs, or external connections required. Uses in-memory credential handling and produces fully encrypted result sets. | Uses an Azure Migrate appliance to collect configuration and performance data from on-premises servers and workloads. |
| Supported targets | VMware environments. | VMware, Hyper-V, physical servers, databases, web apps, and more. |
| Integration | Data is collected and encrypted locally, then uploaded by the customer to their dedicated Dr Migrate instance for cloud-native analysis and planning. | Integrates with Azure’s business case, assessment, and migration tools for a seamless cloud journey. |