How to migrate Business Central from on-premise to cloud using extensions?

July 12th, 2019 Suraj Patel Dynamics 365, Microsoft Dynamics

While Business Central is a cloud-first service, many customers who need to run their workloads fully on-premises or on the intelligent edge connected to the cloud can also have access to the scenarios such as KPI that are based on machine learning or the data you have in Power BI.
To stay on-premise or to move your data completely on cloud is totally your decision. But, if you are interested in the cloud experience then we are here to guide you.
When you move your data from locally deployed Business Central to the cloud, as a result, your data is replicated to the cloud for an intelligent cloud scenario.

Things to remember when planning an on-premise to cloud migration for Business Central:

1. Before setting up the connection to the intelligent cloud, ensure that at least one user in the system that has SUPER permissions. This will be the only user to make changes in the Business Central tenant.
2. The amount of data that can be replicated for any tenant is limited to 150 GB. However, if your database is larger than 150 GB, try reducing the number of companies you are replicating data for. (Current Limitation)
3. SQL Business Central on Premises Database Compatibility Level: 130

Here is the step-by-step instruction to follow:

1 – Business Central on Cloud – Assisted Setup

2 – Setup Intelligent Cloud

3 – Intelligent Cloud Setup

4 – Replicate Data From Business Central

5 – SQL Database Connection

Server={SQL Server Name};Database={Database Name};User Id={SQL Server Authenticated UserName};Password={SQL Server Authenticated Password};
Server=SERVER01\SQLSERVER2016; Database=Base DB BC Spring 2019 Build 29530 Cloud;User Id=sa;Password=xxxx;

6 – Self Hosted Integration Run-time

• Copy the Authentication Key in Notepad to use it in later steps.
• Download and install Self Hosted Integration Run-time from the link in the screenshot.
• Complete Steps 7, 8, 9 and 10 before clicking Next in Step 6.
• After clicking Next in Step 6 Go-to Step 11.

7 – Install Microsoft Integration Run-time

8 – Authentication Key – Register

9 – Integration Run-time Registered Successfully

10 – Integration Run-time Configuration Manager

11 – Replicate Companies from Business Central On-Premises

12 – Schedule Replication

13 – Intelligent Cloud Setup Completed

14 – Setup Intelligent Cloud Completed

15 – Replication Initialization Completed

16 – Company CRONUS Canada, Inc. – Created Successfully – On Cloud

17 – Intelligent Cloud Management – Run Replication Now

This process would replicate data from Business Central On-Premises to Business Central On Cloud.

18 – Replication Triggered Successfully

19 – Replication Results

20 – Replication Statistics

21 – Replication Status Information Data Replicated Successfully.

22 – Extension – Business Central On-Premises – Item Table

Now we have created a simple Extension extending Item Table and created a new Custom Table in On-Premises Environment. We have a sample data for same in On-Premises Environment.

23 – Extension – Business Central On-Premises – Custom – Intelligent Cloud Table

24 – Extension – Business Central – On Cloud

We have installed the same Extension created above in Business Central On Cloud Environment.

25 – Run Replication – On Cloud

Now as the same Extension is installed in Business Central On-Premises and Business Central On Cloud, this process would replicate data for the same.

26 – Replication Completed Successfully

27 – Data – Item Table – Business Central On Cloud

28 – Data – Custom Intelligent Cloud Table – Business Central On Cloud

This is it! You have successfully migrated your data to Cloud. If you still have the questions or confusion then feel  free to reach out to us at sales@intech-systems.com

*This blog was originally posted here.

**Reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/administration/about-intelligent-edge