AWS Server Migration Service AWS Application Migration Service
Legacy names AWS Server Migration Service, CloudEndure Migration
Automated lift-and-shift server migration service that continuously replicates physical, virtual, and cloud source servers at the block level to run natively on AWS.
Naming timeline
- AWS Server Migration Service (AWS SMS) & CloudEndure Migration
AWS Server Migration Service launched on October 24, 2016 for VM snapshot replication, alongside CloudEndure Migration (acquired by AWS in January 2019) for continuous block-level replication.
- AWS Application Migration ServiceCurrent name
Launched on May 18, 2021 on the mgn API as the AWS-native evolution of CloudEndure Migration and replacement for AWS Server Migration Service (which reached End of Support on March 31, 2023); also branded in 2026 documentation as AWS Transform MGN.
What replaced AWS Server Migration Service?
AWS Server Migration Service has been superseded by AWS Application Migration Service, with the latest change on 18 May 2021 (General Availability (AWS SMS Retired Mar 31, 2023)). Earlier names covered by this entry also include CloudEndure Migration. Automated lift-and-shift server migration service that continuously replicates physical, virtual, and cloud source servers at the block level to run natively on AWS. The underlying legacy API or CLI surface is deprecated, so a technical migration is required.
Also known as
- AWS SMS
- AWS Transform MGN
- MGN
Technical identifiers
Legacy identifiers deprecated. The underlying API or CLI surface for the legacy name is officially deprecated, so this change requires a technical migration rather than a label update.
| AWS Service APIs / SDKs | mgn sms |
|---|---|
| AWS CLI Commands | aws mgn aws sms |
| IAM Actions & Policies | mgn:* sms:* |
| Terraform Resources (aws_*) | aws_mgn_replication_configuration_template aws_mgn_launch_configuration_template aws_mgn_application aws_mgn_wave |
The legacy sms API and aws sms CLI for AWS Server Migration Service were retired on March 31, 2023; active migrations use the mgn API, aws mgn CLI, mgn:* IAM actions, and aws_mgn_* Terraform resources.
Notes & disambiguation
- Launched on May 18, 2021 based on CloudEndure Migration technology (acquired by AWS in January 2019), AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) became the primary lift-and-shift migration service integrated into the AWS Management Console.
- Agentless snapshot-based AWS Server Migration Service (AWS SMS, launched October 24, 2016) reached End of Support on March 31, 2023, and standalone CloudEndure Migration was also retired in favor of AWS MGN.
- In 2026, AWS updated the product page (aws.amazon.com/application-migration-service) and documentation (docs.aws.amazon.com/mgn/latest/ug/what-is-mgn.html) to also brand the service as 'AWS Transform MGN' alongside AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN), while retaining the mgn API, CLI, IAM, and Terraform identifiers.
Sources & official documentation
- Official documentation ↗
- Product page ↗
- Announcing general availability of AWS Application Migration Service — AWS What's New (May 18, 2021)
- What Is AWS Transform MGN? (AWS Application Migration Service) — User Guide
- New AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) makes it easier and faster to migrate on-premises servers to AWS — AWS What's New (Oct 24, 2016)
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