How to Bring Microsoft Apps to AWS to Unlock Your Budget

© 2017, Amazon Web Services, Inc. or its Affiliates. All rights reserved.
AWS re:INVENT
How to Bring Microsoft Apps to AWS
to Unlock Your Budget
J i l l S t o d d a r t , L a n c e S p r a t t – A W S
R i c h a r d S h a r p – I n f o r
N o v e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 7
WIN304

What to Expect from the Session
• Understanding Microsoft on Amazon Web Services (AWS)
licensing options
• Using AWS licenses
• License Mobility
• Bringing licenses to AWS
• Infor case study
• License optimization strategies

What Isn’t Covered Here
• Service provider license agreement
• Microsoft Office
• Amazon WorkSpaces
• Please email: microsoft@amazon.com

Microsoft Server Software
Licenses
• For on-premises environments
• Need identifiable server hardware
• Need access to an identifiable
number of sockets and physical cores
• License can be assigned to a physical
server
Microsoft Licensing in Public
Cloud
• Public cloud infrastructure is generally
multitenant
• Individual servers host multiple
customers
• Customers utilize Windows instances
licensed by the public cloud provider
Microsoft Licensing Basics

Microsoft Licensing Options on AWS
Microsoft
Licenses on
AWS
License-
Included
Instances
Bring
Licenses to
AWS
Default
Tenancy
Dedicated
Tenancy
Dedicated
Instance
Dedicated
Host

Advantages:
• “Pay-as-you-go” with on-demand,
Reserved Instances, and Spot Instances
• AWS manages the Windows image
• Current and legacy versions of Microsoft
software available
• No software upgrade fees; same price
• Reduce or eliminate Microsoft EA
• No audits or true-ups
Buy License-Included Instances From AWS

Windows Server
• 2003, 2008/R2, 2012/R2, 2016
• Includes two administrative
Remote Desktop Services (RDS)
connections
Note: you can bring additional RDS
licenses thru License Mobility
License-Included Options
SQL Server for Windows
• 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016,
2017
• Enterprise, Standard, Web Editions
• No CALs needed
• Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud
(EC2) or Amazon RDS

Maximize Benefits of New X1e Instances
Model vCPUs
Memory
(GiB)
x1e.xlarge 4 122
x1e.2xlarge 8 244
x1e.4xlarge 16 488
x1e.8xlarge 32 976
x1e.16xlarge 64 1,952
x1e.32xlarge 128 3,904
Optimize SQL Server workloads
• X1e offers highest memory per
vCPU among Amazon EC2 instance
types
• Allocate maximum memory and
reduce SQL Server licensing costs

Optimize SQL Server with X1e Instances
Model vCPU Memory (GiB)
SQL Standard
Price/hr.*
Savings over
r4.4xlarge
r4.4xlarge 16 122 $3.720
x1e.xlarge 4 122 $1.498 60%
Maximize memory usage for SQL Server Standard
Model vCPU Memory (GiB)
SQL ENT
Price/hr.*
Savings over
r4.8xlarge
r4.8xlarge 32 244 $15.630
x1e.2xlarge 8 244 $5.036 68%
Higher memory capacity ideal for SQL Server Enterprise Edition
* OD prices in US East (N. Virginia)

Advantages
• Leverage AWS Cloud and existing investments
in on-premises software
• Extend the lifecycle of prior software versions
• Import your existing Windows images to the
AWS Cloud
Bringing Licenses to AWS (BYOL)

Default Tenancy Instances
EC2 Instances: Default and Dedicated Tenancy
Dedicated Instances Dedicated Hosts
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D
Customer E
Customer E
Multi-tenant servers host instances
for multiple customers
AWS determines which host
instances run on
You pay per-instance
Single-tenant servers host instances
dedicated to one AWS account
AWS determines which host
instances run on
You pay per-instance + hourly fee per
region
Single-tenant servers host instances
dedicated to one AWS account
Launch instances to same physical
server through targeted placement
You pay per-host, per-hour
Customer A Customer A

License Mobility
• License Mobility is a benefit of Microsoft Software Assurance
• You import your application software
• Requires verification process with Microsoft
• Allows use on default tenant Amazon EC2
• Per-core licensing (except SPLA)
• Per-user licensing (CAL/SAL)
• Remember!
• OS licenses not eligible (Windows Server/Desktop)
• Desktop applications not eligible (Office, Visual Studio)

Bringing Licenses to Default Tenancy Instances
Amazon EC2
Windows Server AMI
Microsoft Application
with License Mobility
Windows Server, Windows Desktop
and Microsoft Office licenses cannot
be brought to default instances
With License Mobility, you can bring
your own Microsoft application
software to a license-included EC2
instance
Includes SQL Server, Remote Desktop
Services, Exchange, SharePoint,
Dynamics, Systems Center
Linux AMI
SQL Server 2017 with
License Mobility

• Per-core licensing applies per
vCPU and not by physical core
• SQL Server has a minimum of
four cores licensed per
instance
• SQL Server passive failover
benefits within the public
cloud
SQL Server License Mobility
Instance Type Virtual
Representation of
Hardware Threads
r4.8xlarge 32
r4.4xlarge 16
r4.2xlarge 8
r4.xlarge 4
r4.large 4
https://aws.amazon.com/windows/resources/licensemobility/sql

Coming Soon: Optimize CPUs
• Optimize CPU provides greater
control of EC2 instances
• Specify max number of vCPUs per EC2
instance
• Disable Intel Hyper-Threading
Technology
• Reduce SQL Server licensing costs
when you bring your own license
• Optimize instance for memory and
use fewer SQL license cores
• Cores and threads can be re-enabled
after stop instance; instance pricing
does not change
Instance Type
Min
vCPUs
Max
vCPUs
Available
Memory
(GiB)
x1e.32xlarge 4 128 3904
x1e.16xlarge 2 64 1952
x1e.8xlarge 2 32 976
x1e.4xlarge 2 16 488
x1e.2xlarge 2 8 244
x1e.xlarge 1 4 122

Dedicated Instances
Customer A
When to Use Dedicated Instances
BYOL Windows Server not eligible
(except MSDN licenses)
BYOL SQL Server Virtual OSEs without
Software Assurance
User-based BYOL options including
Windows Desktop OS and Microsoft
Office
MSDN deployment—even Windows
Server (bring your own AMI)
Amazon EC2
Windows Server AMI
Microsoft Application
(customer-provided)

Dedicated Host
When to Use Dedicated Hosts
Pay per host—no OS included
Bring any Microsoft application—
regardless of SA or License Mobility
Bring your own Windows Server
license
Maximize licensing benefits of
Windows Datacenter and SQL Server
Enterprise Edition
Option to license by physical core
Customer-provided
Windows Server AMI
Customer A

Instance
Type Sockets
Physical
Cores large xlarge 2xlarge 4xlarge 8xlarge 10xlarge 16xlarge 32xlarge
c4 2 20 16 8 4 2 1 - - -
m4 2 24 22 11 5 2 - 1 - -
r4 2 36 32 16 8 4 2 - 1 -
i3 2 36 32 16 8 4 2 - 1 -
x1e 4 72 - 32 16 8 4 - 2 1
Dedicated Host Attributes Instance Capacity Per Host by Instance Size
Dedicated Hosts Configuration Options
• Windows Datacenter and SQL Enterprise = maximum
virtualization
• Windows Standard—two instances per physically licensed host
• SQL Standard—one instance per physically licensed host
https://aws.amazon.com/ec2/dedicated-hosts/pricing/

Bring Your Licenses to Dedicated Hosts
Allocate
Dedicated
Hosts3 Launch onto
Dedicated
Hosts4Activate AWS
Config
21
Import VM
images with
VM
Import/Export
Video Demo

EC2 Instances: Default and Dedicated Tenancy
Dedicated Instances Dedicated Hosts
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D
Customer E
Customer E
Licensing options:
§ License-included Windows Server
and SQL Server
§ License-included Windows Server
with your License Mobility-entitled
applications
Licensing options:
• License-included Windows Server and
SQL Server
• License-included Windows Server
with your Microsoft applications—with
or without Software Assurance
• MSDN (including Windows Server)
• BYOL—Windows client OS and Office
Licensing options:
• BYOL Windows Server—with or
without Software Assurance
• Maximize virtualization rights for
Windows Server Datacenter and
SQL Server Enterprise Edition
Customer A Customer A

Infor Case Study

A Microsoft Windows Application

DevOps and Microsoft Windows Application
• Using AWS Services wherever possible
• Scalable, code-able, robust
• Amazon Route 53, S3, ASG, AMI, EBS,
Snapshots, ELB, etc.
• Servers come up through code and
know basically how to behave
• Behavior can be updated
• Throw them away when not needed or
if they “break”
• Contain in VPC
• Sprinkle across AZs
Which parts are good for dedicated hosts?

Two Licensing Paths…
If you already own…
• If you are transferring in a workload and own the licenses, you have a
rapid start
• SQL Server Enterprise and Windows Datacenter seems to be the
combination that works
• Enablers for paying physical cores at the host level
If buying new…
• First year you are buying licenses (if you don’t have them)
• Subsequent years you are paying support/maintenance only; less
money

Comparing Dedicated Hosts to Default EC2 Instances
• Single-tenant servers host instances for
only your workloads (one AWS account)
• You pay per-host
• Continually reuse the same physical server
through targeted placement, or let EC2
place your instances automatically
• Visibility into physical cores and sockets
• Multi-tenant servers host instances for
multiple customers’ workloads
• AWS determines which host
instances run on
• You pay per-instance
Customer A
Customer B
Customer C
Customer D
Customer E
Customer E
Dedicated Hosts
Customer A

C o m p arin g D e dicat e d Ho sts to D e fau l t E C 2 I n stan ce s

R4 Host with 4xlarge instances
• 36 Physical Cores
• Holds four 4xlarge instances
• You pay Linux cost for one host
• You license 36 cores for Windows
• You license 36 cores for SQL Server
You are paying for 36 cores for the entire host
(Fractionally, you are paying for nine cores per instance)
R4.4xlarge instances
• 16 CPU each
• The cost for Windows and SQL Server is built into your
run rate
• Four of these equate to 64 core
You are paying for 64 cores if you have four of these
(You are paying for 16 CPUs for one instance)
D e f a u l t I n s t a n c e sD e d i c a t e d H o s t
Comparing Dedicated Hosts to Default EC2
Instances
There would appear to be a 36/64 (9/16) fractional advantage?

The Advantage of a Single Host
Enterprise licensing normally consists of purchasing the licenses followed by
the lower maintenance and support costs of subsequent years
So, if you own the licenses already:
• Compare your maintenance support costs of 36 cores as compared to the AWS run rate of 64 cores:
• 36 cores of SQL Server support, 36 cores of Windows support
• Linux cost of host
-or-
• Run rate of four R4.4xlarge instances created with the Windows Server on AWS, SQL Server
AMI
• Use RIs in your calculation if you use them
• There are host reservations that play the same role
• Filling the host for cost efficiency suddenly becomes the driver to your planning

Single Host Advantage—Continued
Enterprise licensing normally consists of purchasing the licenses followed by
the lower maintenance and support costs of subsequent years
If you do not own the licenses already:
• Compare your purchase costs of 36 cores as compared to the AWS rate of 64 cores for the first year,
and use the maintenance support costs for subsequent years
• 36 cores of SQL Server, 36 cores of Windows Server
• Linux cost of host
-or-
• Run rate of four R4.4xlarge instances created with Windows Server on AWS, SQL Server
AMI
• Your purchase will likely offset the savings you had discovered before
• Calculate two years throwing in the lower support cost on the second year

What about HA for Databases?

Multi-AZ AlwaysOn Availability Group
Availability Zone 1
Private Subnet
EC2
Primary
Replica
Availability Zone 2
Private Subnet
EC2
Secondary
Replica
AWS Region
Synchronous Commit
Automatic Failover
Multi-AZ Always-On Availability Group

Multi-AZ Failover Cluster Instance

SQL Server Architecture Impacts Licensing
• Network latency between AWS Availability Zones is so low that you
can synchronous commit (therefore automatic failover) for most
applications
• Does HA=DR?
• Data corruption protection/correction
• AWS also provides multi-region DR (RTO = a few hours)
• Deploy new farm from AWS CloudFormation
• Restore data from snapshots in Amazon S3

The Cluster
• SQL Server
• You can choose to allow read-only connections on the second node
• You can also choose to not allow them
• If the node is truly passive, then you don’t pay for the second node
• This means no workloads like backups, reports, ETL, etc.
• Requires SQL Server with Software Assurance
• Windows
• You pay for all nodes

The Two Host Advantage (Passive 2nd)
Windows
SQL
Node1
Windows
SQL
Node2
Pay
Pay
Pay
Passive!
Always-On

Two Host Advantage—Continued
• The fractional advantage just tipped significantly in your
favor
• To do this, all instances on your host need to be active, or
all need to be passive
• What about failovers?
• You have 90 days to move them back to their normal
home

Multi-Region Always-On Availability Group

Set-up and Operations
• Set-up:
• You create your own AMI
• We used VMware workstation to create and export the
image
• VM Import to get it into the cloud
• Image maintenance:
• You are responsible for keeping this image up to date
• Windows patches
• PV drivers, EC2, Amazon Config, etc.
• EC2 Systems Manager can automate this

Best Practices
• Host Reservations:
• Host Reservations, like Reserved Instances, need to be
planned and managed to maintain TCO targets
• The Host Reservation is on a _particular_ host
• Moving Host Reservations requires emails
• Maintenance events:
• Need to manage/track when host is “active” to trigger
failbacks during maintenance windows
• Maintenance events notifications are per instance

The Savings
• Already own licenses?
• Single node – 70% savings
• With Passive Node benefits – 80% savings
• Purchasing new licenses?
• Over 2 years – 20% savings
• 3 years – 37% savings, and keeps growing

Reprise
• There are particular workloads suited to this
• Significant $$ to be saved!
• Takes some work and planning, but is worth it

Reducing Overall Licensing Costs

Microsoft Workloads Optimization POC for
AWS
• Optimization POC offered through select partners
• Discover current software assets
• Assess asset performance
• Identify how to maximize assets on AWS
• Design for the future—Linux, open source
• Identify savings for Microsoft EA renewals

AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
AWS Database
Migration
Service
Amazon
DynamoDB
Amazon
Aurora
https://aws.amazon.com/dms/free-dms/
Free for six months for migrations to Amazon Aurora,
Amazon DynamoDB, and Amazon Redshift!
Amazon
Redshift
Amazon S3

Credits for new Windows-based workloads
AWS re:Think for Windows
Faster time to results Highly flexible Easy to use

Optimize Your Licensing Spend
• Combine licensing models across your architecture
• Use BYOL for core (slowly varying) infrastructure
• Use license-included for variable infrastructure
• Design for the future
• Reduce dependency on Windows Server and SQL Server
• Consider migration strategies before going into EA renewal
• Programs to help
• AWS Competency Partners: Software Optimization Service
• Free migrations for six months when using AWS Database Migration Service
• Free credits when you migrate new Windows workloads to AWS

More Help!
• For more information on using Microsoft software on AWS, visit our
FAQ:https://aws.amazon.com/windows/faq/
• To view the steps to sign up for License Mobility, visit the link:
https://aws.amazon.com/windows/resources/licensemobility/
• For any questions on Microsoft licensing on AWS, write to
Microsoft@Amazon.com

Thank you!

How to Bring Microsoft Apps to AWS to Unlock Your Budget

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