The Importance of Cloud Migration to Mendix V4

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V3 was the trusted cloud environment for Mendix for a long time. In 2017, its successor came into existence, and Mendix Cloud v4 was born. If your application is still hosted in Mendix Cloud v3, it is crucial to migrate to v4 now. This is because Mendix applications running in the v3 of the public Mendix Cloud will no longer be supported from March 2021.

To make an informed choice, it is handy to know the differences between Mendix Cloud v4 and its predecessor. When should you move to v4? How does the migration process work? And what are the key advantages and functionalities of Mendix Cloud v4? In this article, we provide answers to these crucial questions. Additionally, we demonstrate why Emixa is the right partner to guide your cloud migration effectively.

What is Mendix Cloud v4?

V4 is the current version of Mendix Cloud, an environment where licensed applications run on a scalable and reliable platform. The applications operate on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud platform of the marketplace and tech giant Amazon. The strength of AWS lies in its high reliability and flexibility, ensuring that your applications run optimally with minimal downtime. Moreover, scaling up and down in AWS is not a problem, optimizing the available resources.

Why migrate to v4?

Mendix Cloud v4 is a mature and well-developed cloud solution with many advantages and additional functionalities that Mendix v3 lacked. The key benefits and improvements include:

  • Higher availability and faster hardware than v3, enabling the cloud platform to handle larger workloads without downtime or reduced application speed.
  • Utilization of the best industry standards for scalability and maintainability, resulting in increased reliability.
  • Enhanced security with the use of safety tools such as HTTP headers, client certificates, and TLS 1.2 or higher.
  • Continuous improvement of the platform, driven by the active and growing Mendix community of professional developers and citizen developers.
  • Improved monitoring features in Mendix Cloud v4.

In addition to a broader set of features and enhanced monitoring and security options, support is a crucial reason to transition to Mendix Cloud v4. Mendix is gradually phasing out v3, with support ending on March 30, 2021. Continuing to work in Cloud v3 after Mendix support ends increases the risk of security issues and jeopardizes the continuity of business processes supported by Mendix applications. Additionally, platform upgrades related to memory, disk space, and hardware capacity may experience delays during the phase-out of v3.

How to migrate?

Migrating to Mendix Cloud v4 can bring both short-term and long-term benefits. After deciding to move towards v4, how does the migration process work? Mendix recommends first upgrading to the highest minor release within the major release of an application. Simultaneously migrating and upgrading is discouraged.

Next, you need to migrate your applications from the v3 node to the v4 node. The migration process is outlined in the steps below:

  1. In the Developer Portal, go to 'Apps' and select one of your temporary apps. Link the temporary app to the v4 node.
  2. Copy the deployment package and necessary data from the v3 to the v4 node. Ensure that the app in v4 has the same configuration as in the v3 node before starting the app.
  3. Unlink the app from the v3 node by linking it to another app on the licensed node, automatically breaking the link with the existing app.
  4. Link the current app to the v4 node.
  5. Replace the app's URL, contacting Mendix Support for this step.
  6. Change the custom domain where the app will be in the v4 cloud.
  7. Discard the v3 node.

"Our growing investor base and loan portfolio result in more data in our Mendix application. Peak loads on our system are inherent to publishing interesting investment opportunities. Without the right tools, it is technically impossible for us to manage this growth. The complex but step-by-step migration from Cloud v3 to Cloud v4 has established a new technical foundation for this growth. The ability to scale performance on a reliable cloud platform makes us flexible in how we innovate in the Crowdfinance market." Bram ter Huurne, Information Manager, Collin Crowdfund.

Why Emixa is a good migration partner

Migrating from Mendix v3 to v4 is much faster and easier with the assistance of a reliable partner familiar with Mendix inside out. Emixa is such a specialist. There are several reasons why your Mendix cloud migration is in good hands with us.

  1. We follow the Mendix protocol: To keep the migration from v3 to v4 easy, pure, and clear, Mendix has established a special protocol outlining installation requirements, key considerations for migration, and the migration process itself. At Emixa, we always follow this protocol, ensuring a universal, best-practice-based approach.

  2. We have our own standardized playbook: Following a standardized playbook prevents forgetting things or doing them in the wrong order. If you encounter issues, the turnaround time can quickly increase, which is bad news for continuity and finances.

  3. We provide peace of mind: Emixa takes over communication with Mendix, allowing your company to focus on core tasks while we handle the key logistical and communicative aspects of the migration process.

  4. We leverage previous knowledge: Technology is a continuous learning process, and at Emixa, we are aware of this. We proactively address points that arose during previous migration projects.

  5. We consider databases and lead time: Emixa investigates whether the database size impacts the migration lead time and collaborates with Mendix's Cloud Support as needed.

  6. We offer customization: In close consultation with the customer, we determine how to share technical control of the Mendix applications. Whether you handle everything in-house or Emixa takes over, we always strive to find the solution that best fits your specific needs and preferences.

What you need to handle yourself While Emixa takes care of most aspects, there are a few actions you need to perform yourself. Firstly, ensure that you have a Mendix version that supports v4, meaning Mendix 6.0 or higher. Additionally, it is crucial to conduct functional tests after migration to ensure that all applications work optimally in Mendix v4.

Want to know more?

There are plenty of opportunities to drive forward digital transformation in the tech industry. Would you like to improve the digital state of your organisation? And are you looking for a partner who can help you achieve this goal? In that case, Emixa is the right fit for you. We translate complex issues into simple, user-friendly IT solutions that accelerate your digital transformation and take your business to a higher level. Don’t hesitate to contact us. We would be delighted to meet you!