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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchYou can migrate an Ubuntu server from Azure to AWS, but do not assume an Azure image will boot unchanged on EC2. Azure Ubuntu images can use Canonical’s linux-azure kernel and platform-specific configuration; Canonical’s documented import workflow installs the AWS-oriented linux-aws kernel after launch. Whether that works for a particular server depends on its Ubuntu release, architecture, boot mode, image format, drivers and workload, so test a copy before production cutover.
Why the linux-azure kernel matters
Canonical says Ubuntu images for Azure can include a custom linux-azure kernel, extra configuration files and packages that support Azure features. Its AWS offerings instead use AWS-customized images; Canonical documents linux-aws as the kernel used in most of those offerings to enable AWS-specific features. That platform difference is the kernel trap: a VM image prepared for Azure is not automatically a ready-to-run EC2 image.
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Canonical’s import guide recommends launching the imported VM, installing linux-aws and restarting. This is a documented adaptation step, not a guarantee that every imported machine will boot or that changing kernels alone resolves all incompatibilities. AWS warns that VMs using custom Linux kernels might not migrate successfully. Canonical’s local VM import instructions and AWS VM Import/Export prerequisites should be checked for the specific source image and current requirements.
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Choose between importing and rebuilding
There are two practical paths. Importing preserves more of the existing server, but also carries its kernel, boot configuration, disk layout, installed software and Azure-specific settings into the migration. Rebuilding from a fresh Ubuntu AWS image avoids carrying some source-image customizations, but requires provisioning and validating the application and its data on the new instance. The official guidance does not establish which path is faster or safer for a particular workload.
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| Approach | What it involves | Key checks |
|---|---|---|
| Import the existing VM | Prepare the VM image, import it, launch an EC2 instance, then adapt and validate the running system. | Current AWS OS, architecture, image-format and firmware requirements; kernel and module compatibility; storage and network drivers; Azure-specific agents and configuration. |
| Rebuild on an AWS Ubuntu image | Provision a fresh AWS-oriented Ubuntu server and move the application, data and configuration. | Application and data migration, required packages and services, and any operational dependencies on the old server. |
AWS recommends importing VMs as AMIs rather than directly as instances. Its supported image formats and operating-system requirements can change. The AWS prerequisites page also states that VM Import/Export ends support for i386 imports and exports starting April 1, 2026; verify current eligibility there before planning around a particular image.
Inventory the Azure server before preparing an image
Record the details that determine whether the source can be imported and whether it can run on the target. Do not infer them from the fact that the server currently runs Ubuntu on Azure.
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- Azure-specific configuration: agents, packages, network configuration and other settings that may need replacement or removal.
Prepare and test the imported EC2 instance
Follow the current AWS and Canonical instructions for the chosen release and image. AWS discusses NVMe and ENA driver preparation for imported Linux systems running on Nitro-based EC2 instances, and warns about custom-kernel migration. Check that the target has the storage and network support it needs before relying on it for production.
- Validate import eligibility. Confirm the Ubuntu release, architecture, boot mode and image format against the current AWS VM Import/Export prerequisites. Canonical documents an import workflow for local Ubuntu VM images; follow its release-specific guidance rather than assuming that all Azure images use identical preparation.
- Import as an AMI and launch a test instance. AWS recommends AMI import instead of direct instance import. Use a copy or a non-production server first so that boot and service problems can be diagnosed without disrupting the Azure workload.
- Check boot and device support. Confirm the instance reaches a usable state and that its storage and network devices work. Review AWS guidance for Linux VM import and Nitro compatibility, including ENA and NVMe driver considerations.
- Install the AWS kernel after the imported VM is reachable. Canonical’s documented command is
sudo apt update && sudo apt install linux-aws. Then restart the instance. - Verify the result after restart. Check that the expected kernel actually booted, then test storage, networking, monitoring and application services. A successful package installation alone does not demonstrate that the workload is ready.
- Prepare a reusable image if needed. Canonical’s import workflow includes installing AWS-specific tools and running
sudo cloud-init clean --machine-idso cloned instances can initialize their identity and detect the cloud environment. Check the full command sequence against the current release before making an image for reuse. - Move traffic gradually. Put a validated copy or canary into service before scaling the migration. Canonical cautions that its kernel-variant migration example is not intended for scale and that existing instances may require manual intervention for incompatibilities.
When the kernel change is not enough
Installing linux-aws addresses the kernel choice in Canonical’s documented workflow; it does not establish that every dependency carried from Azure is compatible with EC2. If the instance fails to boot, lacks network or storage access, or loses a required service, pause the rollout and investigate the specific failure rather than repeating the package command across more servers.
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- Recheck that the image met the current import, architecture and firmware requirements.
- Confirm the instance is using the intended kernel after restart and that any external modules support it.
- Review network and storage driver requirements for the target EC2 platform, including ENA and NVMe where applicable.
- Identify Azure-specific agents or configuration that may conflict with the new environment or need an AWS equivalent.
- Test the actual application and operational services on the EC2 copy before directing production traffic to it.
Canonical’s public-cloud documentation notes that existing instances can need manual intervention when kernel-variant changes expose incompatibilities. Its example is not presented as a scale migration method; a controlled test and staged rollout are therefore more appropriate than treating one command as a fleet-wide fix. Canonical’s Ubuntu on AWS guidance provides additional context on kernel variants.
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