Single service comparison

AWS MGN bundles continuous block-level replication, test/cutover orchestration, and lifecycle tracking behind one API and console. Huawei separates these concerns: SMS performs agent-based full and incremental replication of disk partitions and file systems to ECS targets, while MgC is the planning hub for discovery, dependency mapping, right-sizing, and batch workflow templates. Map MGN jobs to SMS server tasks and MGN waves/projects to MgC orchestration; do not treat SMS and MgC as interchangeable.

MGN relies on continuous block-level replication with a near-synchronous data plane and built-in test/launch/cutover state machines for minimal-downtime cutover. SMS performs feasibility-checked, full-then-incremental synchronization at partition and file-system level over the internet, Direct Connect, or VPN, using AK/SK-authenticated SSL channels; it does not advertise a continuous block-level mode. Plan for catch-up synchronization windows and pre-cutover delta resync when migrating large fleets.

MGN is self-contained and provides a time-limited free migration period while customers pay for AWS resources used during replication, test, and cutover. Huawei splits operational responsibility and billing: MgC for governance, SMS for server runtime, with OMS/CDM for object and bulk data, IMS for image flows, and CBR for backup. MgC orchestration does not eliminate separate destination ECS, EVS, EIP, or network charges; recalculate TCO because per-server MGN metering has no single Huawei equivalent.

Run MgC discovery and assessment on AWS sources to inventory servers, dependencies, and performance; MgC recommends right-sized ECS targets and surfaces TCO. Validate each host with the SMS feasibility check and the supported-OS list before committing. For wave planning, group servers into MgC batch-migration workflow templates rather than cloning MGN waves; confirm network paths (Direct Connect or VPN) and Huawei account and region quotas first.

Install the SMS agent on each x86 source, register it with AK/SK, and configure the target ECS, Flexus, or DeH instance. SMS performs full replication followed by incremental synchronization of system and data disks; use Direct Connect or VPN for throughput and keep sources running. For object or bulk data not covered by SMS, run OMS or CDM in parallel; persist OS images via IMS where rebuild is preferred over in-place replication.

Before cutover, run incremental sync until the delta is minimal, then perform a SMS-supported test launch of the target ECS to validate boot, services, and dependencies without stopping the source. Schedule a fixed cutover window, run a final delta sync, stop source workloads, and start the target. Keep the source intact as rollback until acceptance tests pass; create CBR snapshots of the target immediately after go-live.

MGN's single-service metering does not map to one Huawei unit: verify current MgC and SMS charging, and budget destination ECS, EIP, EVS, and cross-region or Direct Connect egress separately. Confirm the SMS supported-OS list per host, and note that MGN continuous block-level replication has no exact SMS equivalent—expect catch-up sync and plan longer staging for large database volumes. For stateful data services, combine DRS or CDM rather than forcing server-level migration.