Windows Workload Modernization - Bulk Conversion of .NET and SQL Server with AWS Transform
Learn about .NET Framework and SQL Server modernization with AWS Transform for Windows. Covers full-stack conversion, wave-based migration, and cost reduction benefits.
Why Windows Workload Modernization Is Urgent
Many enterprise core systems run web applications and Windows services built on .NET Framework 4.x, along with SQL Server databases. These run only on Windows Server, and with Windows Server 2012 R2 end of support (October 2023) approaching, licensing costs (Windows Server CAL, SQL Server licenses) represent a significant portion of operating expenses. Additionally, Microsoft has ended new feature development for .NET Framework, recommending migration to .NET (formerly .NET Core). However, migrating the application layer and database layer separately leads to dependency mismatches and increased testing effort. AWS Transform for Windows is an agentic AI service that performs full-stack bulk conversion of applications (.NET), UI frameworks, databases (SQL Server), and deployment processes.
Full-Stack Conversion Architecture
AWS Transform connects to your source code repository (a .NET codebase of up to millions of lines) and SQL Server, and automatically analyzes application and database dependencies. Based on the analysis results, it creates modernization waves (conversion groups) and proceeds with conversion incrementally, starting with groups that have fewer dependencies. In each wave, the following conversions run in coordination. (1) .NET Framework to .NET conversion: Converts ASP.NET Web Forms/MVC to ASP.NET Core and replaces Windows-dependent APIs with cross-platform APIs. (2) SQL Server to Aurora PostgreSQL conversion: Automates schema conversion, conversion of stored procedures to PL/pgSQL, and modification of application-side connection strings and ORM settings. (3) Deployment conversion: Converts IIS deployments on Windows Server to deployments on Linux containers (ECS) or EC2 Linux.
SQL Server Migration Details and Considerations
Conversion from SQL Server to Aurora PostgreSQL is a particularly complex process within AWS Transform. Schema conversion automatically maps data types (for example, NVARCHAR → VARCHAR, DATETIME2 → TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE, UNIQUEIDENTIFIER → UUID). Stored procedures are converted from T-SQL to PL/pgSQL, but T-SQL-specific syntax such as cursor processing, temporary tables, and dynamic SQL sometimes requires individual handling. Transform detects these hard-to-convert areas in advance and reports the locations that require manual intervention. On the application side, the Entity Framework connection provider is changed to Npgsql, and SQL Server-specific LINQ queries are modified to be PostgreSQL-compatible. After conversion, automatically generated tests verify behavioral equivalence with the original SQL Server.
Transform for Windows Pricing
AWS Transform for Windows pricing is based on individual quotes determined by the number and complexity of applications to be converted. For full-stack conversions including .NET Framework to .NET 8 and SQL Server to Aurora PostgreSQL migration, significant timeline reduction is expected compared to manual migration effort (several months to a year). After conversion, Windows Server and SQL Server licensing costs are eliminated, and the Linux + Aurora combination often reduces annual infrastructure costs by 50-70%.
Approaches to .NET Modernization
Applications written in older versions of .NET Framework depend on Windows and tend to face constraints in licensing costs and scalability. Modernization migrates them to the new cross-platform .NET so that they can run on Linux and in containers. This reduces Windows licensing costs and makes flexible scaling on container platforms possible. AWS Transform for Windows supports these conversions and assists with rewriting code. Rather than rewriting everything at once, a practical approach is to modernize incrementally, starting with the parts where the impact is small.
How to Proceed with Migration
Proceeding in a planned way is the key to successfully modernizing Windows workloads. To begin, assess the target applications and understand their dependencies and migration difficulty. Based on the scope of impact and relationships, divide them into units that are migrated together (waves), prioritize them, and proceed incrementally. Start with a pilot on small applications with limited impact, confirm the procedure and results, and then roll out fully. By verifying thoroughly at each stage and confirming that there are no problems before moving on, you can modernize steadily while keeping risk low. Avoid migrating everything together, because the risk is high.
Reducing Licensing Costs
One of the major benefits of modernizing Windows workloads is reduced licensing costs. Licenses for Windows Server and commercial databases sometimes account for a large part of operating costs. By making applications cross-platform so that they run on Linux, or by migrating databases to open-source ones, you can potentially cut these licensing costs significantly. Because the savings vary by configuration, estimate the costs before and after migration and assess the return on investment. Freedom from licensing becomes an important motivation that leads to lower long-term operating costs.
Risks and Validation
Modernization carries the risk that application behavior changes. Windows-specific features and parts that depend on particular libraries do not necessarily work the same way in the target environment. It is important to assess compatibility and identify dependencies before migration. After conversion, test thoroughly whether features work as before, and check for differences in performance and behavior. Switch to production incrementally, and make sure that you can roll back if problems occur. Humans also verify the artifacts generated by automated conversion tools to ensure quality. Careful, repeated verification is the prerequisite for completing modernization without trouble.
Summary - Windows Modernization Guidelines
AWS Transform for Windows performs full-stack bulk conversion of .NET Framework, SQL Server, and deployment processes, carrying out modernization at 5 times the speed of conventional approaches. Incremental conversion with the wave approach lets you proceed with migration steadily while keeping risk low. In addition to reducing Windows Server and SQL Server licensing costs (up to 70%), long-term benefits include improved scalability through Linux containerization and use of the open-source ecosystem.
References (Official AWS Resources)
The primary sources for this page are the official AWS website and documentation. Check the official pages below for the latest specifications and pricing.
- AWS Transform official page
- Amazon Aurora official page
- Amazon ECS official page
- AWS Documentation (official)
If this page and the official documentation disagree, treat the official documentation as authoritative.