AWS Application Discovery Service

• AWS Application Discovery Service helps plan migration to the AWS cloud by collecting usage and configuration data about the on-premises servers.
• helps enterprises obtain a snapshot of the current state of their data center servers by collecting server specification information, hardware configuration, performance data, details of running processes, and network connections
• is integrated with AWS Migration Hub,
  • which simplifies migration tracking as it aggregates migration status information into a single console.
  • can help view the discovered servers, group them into applications, and then track the migration status of each application.
• discovered data for all the regions is stored in the AWS Migration Hub home Region.
• The data can be exported for analysis in Microsoft Excel or AWS analysis tools such as Amazon Athena and Amazon QuickSight.
• supports both agent and agentless-based on-premises tooling, in addition to file-based import for performing discovery and collecting data about the on-premises servers.

Application Discovery Service Modes

Agentless discovery

• is an on-premises application that collects information through agentless methods.
• can be performed by deploying the Agentless Collector (OVA file) through the VMware vCenter.
• After Agentless Collector is configured,
  • it identifies VMs and hosts associated with vCenter.
  • collects the following static configuration data: Server hostnames, IP addresses, MAC addresses, and disk resource allocations.
  • Additionally, it collects the utilization data for each VM and computes average and peak utilization for metrics such as CPU, RAM, and Disk I/O.
• Note: The Discovery Connector (legacy agentless tool) was deprecated on November 17, 2025. Customers should use the Agentless Collector or migrate to the AWS Transform Discovery Tool.

Agent-based discovery

• can be performed by deploying the Application Discovery Agent on each of the VMs and physical servers.
• supports most Windows and Linux operating systems.
• can be deployed on physical on-premises servers, EC2 instances, and virtual machines.
• collects static configuration data, detailed time-series system-performance information, inbound and outbound network connections, and processes that are running.
• pings the Discovery Service at 15-minute intervals for configuration information.
• transmits data securely to the Discovery Service using TLS encryption.

AWS Transform – Recommended Replacement

• AWS Transform is the next-generation, agentic AI-powered service that replaces Application Discovery Service and AWS Migration Hub.
• Launched in May 2025, it brings together 20 years of AWS migration experience with specialized AI agents.
• Provides comprehensive discovery and assessment capabilities:
  • Discovery: Agent-based and agentless collectors with enhanced VMware environment analysis.
  • Assessment: Automated application dependency mapping, what-if analysis, and cost estimates.
  • Planning: AI-driven wave planning, migration strategy recommendations.
  • Execution: End-to-end agentic cloud migrations from discovery through cutover.
• AWS Transform Discovery Tool (replaces Agentless Collector):
  • Deployed as an OVA in VMware infrastructure.
  • Operates as a self-contained application without requiring cloud connectivity or external dependencies.
  • Suitable for highly regulated industries with strict data governance requirements.
  • Collects performance data, network connections, and database/SQL Server inventory.
  • Exports data in AWS Migration Portfolio Assessment (MPA) format.
  • All data stored locally; no data transmitted to AWS unless explicitly uploaded.
• Additional AWS Transform capabilities include:
  • Windows modernization and containerization.
  • Mainframe modernization.
  • VMware migration.
  • Code transformation (runtime upgrades, SDK updates, framework migrations).
  • Continuous modernization (preview) for autonomous tech debt remediation.
• No data migration required from Application Discovery Service to AWS Transform.

AWS Certification Exam Practice Questions

• Questions are collected from Internet and the answers are marked as per my knowledge and understanding (which might differ with yours).
• AWS services are updated everyday and both the answers and questions might be outdated soon, so research accordingly.
• AWS exam questions are not updated to keep up the pace with AWS updates, so even if the underlying feature has changed the question might not be updated
• Open to further feedback, discussion and correction.

1. A company is migrating its on-premises systems to AWS. The user environment consists of the following systems:
   • Windows and Linux virtual machines running on VMware.
   • Physical servers running Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
   The company wants to be able to perform the following steps before migrating to AWS:
   • Identify dependencies between on-premises systems.
   • Group systems together into applications to build migration plans.
   How can these requirements be met?
   1. Install the AWS Systems Manager Discovery Agent on each of the on-premises systems.
   2. Install the AWS Application Discovery Service Discovery Agent on each of the on-premises systems.
   3. Install the AWS Application Discovery Service Discovery Connector on each of the on-premises systems and in VMware vCenter.
   4. Install the AWS Application Discovery Service Discovery Agent on the physical on-premises servers. Install the AWS Application Discovery Service Discovery Connector in VMware vCenter.

   Note: Discovery Connector was deprecated in Nov 2025. The current equivalent would use the Agentless Collector or AWS Transform Discovery Tool for VMware VMs, and the Discovery Agent for physical servers.

2. A company wants to migrate to AWS and needs to discover on-premises server dependencies, map applications, and generate a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis. Which AWS service should they use?
   1. AWS Migration Hub
   2. AWS Application Discovery Service
   3. AWS Transform
   4. AWS Server Migration Service
3. A company operating in a highly regulated industry needs to discover on-premises VMware workloads for migration planning but cannot allow any data to leave their premises. Which tool should they use?
   1. AWS Application Discovery Service Agent
   2. AWS Application Discovery Service Discovery Connector
   3. AWS Transform Discovery Tool
   4. AWS Migration Hub

References

• AWS Application Discovery Service Documentation
• AWS Application Discovery Service Availability Change
• Deprecation of Discovery Connector (Nov 2024 Announcement)
• AWS Transform Documentation
• Introducing the AWS Transform Discovery Tool