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Business

Is this migration mandatory?

Yes, migration is required, as SWITCHengines will be decommissioned by end of 2026.

How do costs compare to the current solution?

The new platform runs on a completely modernized infrastructure. Costs must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please Contact Switch Cloud directly. For beneficiaries there is a cost per resource table for Switch Cloud on the Switch Cloud Portal

Can we request a test system before migrating?

Yes. A test environment can be provided upon request. Please contact your local "Informatikdienste". There is no difference between test system and prod system, but it is recommended to work with different environments as per IT Standards.

How can I open a new project on the Switch Cloud?

Here you find more information about how to open a new project on the Switch Cloud. Switch Cloud documentation

Technical

What certifications does the new platform have?
  • Data centers and physical infrastructure: Certified under ISO 27001
  • Software stack certification: Planned for early 2026
What is the architecture of the new cloud platform?
  • Highly available setup across two geographic regions: Lupfig (zhw) and Dielsdorf (zhc - ready by 2026)
  • Hosted in energy-efficient data centers (Green Datacenter AG)
  • Connected via the Switch network
What performance can we expect?

The new infrastructure is faster, more secure, and future-ready. Specific performance details can be found on the Switch Cloud documentation here. Other important benchmark measurements, like storage performance and network bandwith, can be found on the Cloud Portal.

Where can I find more technical details about the Switch Cloud offer?

Pleaes refere to the general Switch Cloud documentation here

Can we reuse customer IPs via a proxy setup?

Possibly. If the proxy remains stable and the rebuild doesn't change the IP mapping, reuse might be feasible. Our team needs detailed proxy configuration information to assess and confirm this.

Migration

Can we transfer full VMs?
  • Yes, cou can trasfer full VMs by using Switch's Auto-Migration tool. Our recommendation is to perform a rebuild as indicated in our Migration Guide.
Can we transfer full IP ranges?
  • Floating IPs cannot be reused, you will get a new one.
  • Own private networks created inside your OpenStack projects on the other hand can be migrated one to one. So project local connectivity can be arranged in the absolute same way. The Switch Auto-Migration tool could help to perform this step.
  • Details depend on your current architecture – please go through the 4 steps listed on the Engine2Cloud Migration Portal and consult with the migration team if needed.
Can Floating IPs be retained?
  • No, existing Floating IPs assigned to VMs cannot be reused
  • VMs will receive new Floating IPs
Are there limitations when reusing the current architecture?

This depends on how your current environment is structured. If you're unsure, please walk through the phases listed on the Engines2Cloud Migration Portal and if needed, please share your architecture diagram and the Self-Assessment Checklist (collect key fact) with the Migration Team. Our team can help determine whether a rebuild or a tool-based migration is more appropriate. Our recommendation is a rebuild as indicated on the Portal.

How do we handle S3 storages (OSv1 and OSv2) during the migration?

In the Switch Cloud Portal you have the option to register a new S3 Object Storage created on OSv3 for each of your projects. This newly registered S3 Object Storage is your target storage for your workloads. Migration or synchronisation of source and target data pools is in your responsibility. All S3 buckets in OSv1 and OSv2 should be decommissioned once all data has been transferred and all tests and validations have been successfully completed. OSv1 = intrinsic S3 Object Storage on SWITCHengines zhdk and unil - EOL on SWITCHengines by the end of 2026 OSv2 = Claudian S3 Object Storage Zurich/LEE - EOL on SWITCHengines by the end of 2026

What happens with the Flavors we used on SWITCHengines? Can we keep the same ones on Switch Cloud?

The Flavors on Switch Cloud come with different names and need to be reviewed carefully. - If you choose the Rebuild option, you can select and combine the new Flavors as you need for your workloads. - If you choose the Auto-Migration option, the old SWITCHengines Flavors will be mapped automatically to the corresponding new Flavors on Switch Cloud, providing the same resource offerings under new naming conventions. 

# Mapping of similar flavors between SWITCHengines and Switch Cloud for OpenStack
# Engines           Cloud
c1.c4r16.d20        c004r016
c1.large            c004r004
c1.medium           c002r002
c1.small            c001r001
c1.xlarge           c008r008
c1.xxlarge          c016r016
c1.xxxlarge         c032r032
i1.04.16.100        c004r016
m1.large            c004r008
m1.medium           c002r004
m1.small            c001r002
m1.xlarge           c008r016
m1.xxlarge          c016r032
m1.xxxlarge         c032r064
n1.large            c004r016
n1.medium           c002r008
n1.small            c001r004
n1.xlarge           c008r032
n1.xxlarge          c016r064
n1.xxxlarge         c032r128
windows.c1r4d50     c001r004
windows.c2r4d50     c002r004
windows.c4r16d50    c004r016
windows.c4r8d50     c004r008
windows.c8r32d50    c008r032
windows.large       c004r004
windows.medium      c002r002
windows.micro       c001r002
windows.small       c001r001
windows.xlarge      c008r008
x1.xxlarge          c008r032

Are there two locations on Switch cloud?

At the current time (September 2025), there is only one location called zhw (Lupfig). Switch will have established a second location in Dielsdorf zhc planned by the first quarter of 2026.

What backup solutions are available on Switch Cloud?

SWITCHengines does not provide a backup solution for customers. On Switch Cloud we are currently building a backup service, which will become available to customers during 2026. Until then, customers remain responsible for managing their own backup solutions.

Are there any specialities to be consicered for Windows instances for the Migration?

As the official Switch Windows images are available only in Q1 2026, you can upload your own Windows images into your own project instead and use them for the Rebuild.

Can Windows servers also migrated with the Auto-Migrate option?

Yes, this is possible as the Auto-Migrate tool will copy the volumes one by one, there is no need for a corresponding Windows image on the destination side. If you choose the Rebuild option please be aware that Switch does not offer predefined "Windows Server" images for the time being, mainly due to open licensing questions.

Will it be possible on the Switch Cloud to request an externally reachable public subnet, similar to Engines?

On Engines, customers could request externally reachable public subnets. On the Switch Cloud, this feature is currently under review. Further information will be provided once the decision is finalized.

Is it possible to establish a VPN tunnel between Engines and Switch Cloud, provided by Switch?

At present, Switch Cloud does not provide a managed VPN tunnel between Engines and the Cloud. Customers who require such connectivity may need to implement their own VPN solution. We are evaluating whether a Switch-provided option will become available in the future.

For Switch internal customers only: What are the limitations of instances outside the Switch VPC?
  • You won't get a IP address of the Switch IP range.
  • Your instances will not be able to communicate to other Switch networks like SITA, SWITCHengines or the VPC itself.