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The simplified experience leverages an enhanced agent-based migration stack tailored for physical and VMware environments, offering several key advantages:
- Broader OS support: It enables migration of newer Linux distributions to Azure, expanding compatibility and allowing customers to benefit from the latest innovations in Linux technology.
- Modern replication appliance: It utilizes Windows Server 2022 (WS2022) for the replication appliance, ensuring robust and up-to-date infrastructure.
- Unified OS support matrix: This provides a consistent and streamlined approach to operating system support across migration workflows, simplifying planning and execution.
Overall, the upgraded stack equips customers with powerful tools to efficiently migrate newer Linux distributions, leverage modern Windows Server platforms for replication, and benefit from a unified OS support framework—enhancing the entire migration journey to Azure.
Key differences between classic and simplified experience
The key differences between the Classic and Simplified experience:
| Aspect | Classic experience | Simplified experience |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade and replacement | Old version with traditional interface | Upgraded version offering a more streamlined and user-friendly interface. |
| Enhanced compatibility | Limited support for newer Linux distributions | Supports newer Linux distributions and uses Windows Server 2022 as the replication appliance. |
| Improved performance and reliability | Standard performance and reliability | Leveraging latest technologies for better performance and reliability in physical and VMware agent-based migrations. |
| Streamlined migration process | Traditional migration process | Provides a more seamless and efficient migration process, addressing multiple customer concerns. |
| Deprecation of classic experience | Support for ongoing replications will remain active until September 2026, while support for initiating new replications will end on October 30, 2025 | NA |
Action required
- Classic experience is scheduled for deprecation on 30 September 2026. We recommend using the simplified experience for initiating agent-based replication of any new VMware or physical servers.
Note
Classic experience will not support starting replications on new servers after October 30, 2025.
- If you have servers discovered through the replication appliance under the classic experience, ensure replication is initiated before October 30, 2025, and plan your subsequent migrations before the deprecation date (September 30, 2026).
- Existing VMware and physical machines can continue using the classic experience until September 30, 2026. After that date, any changes to replication configurations will require an upgrade to the new simplified experience. Plan your migrations for these machines before the deprecation date.
- New features, enhancements, and mobility agent support for additional Linux distributions will only be made available in the simplified experience.
- If you don’t migrate your machines by September 30, 2026, replication health may be affected. You won’t be able to view, manage, or perform operations on these machines through the Azure portal after this date.
Next steps
- Learn more about the Simplified experience.