Migrating Bold Reports from EC2 Docker to ECS Fargate

Objective

To migrate the Bold Reports application from a single-container Docker deployment in an EC2 instance to a scalable ECS Fargate-based architecture, ensuring data consistency and minimal downtime.

Step 1: Backup PostgreSQL Database

• Access the PostgreSQL container
• Take a database backup using:

docker exec postgres pg_dump -U postgres bold_services > bold_services_backup.sql 

• Copy the backup file to a safe location

Step 2: Backup app_data Folder

• Locate the app_data directory inside the container or mounted volume
• Compress and back up:

tar -czvf app_data_backup.tar.gz app_data/ 

Migration to ECS Fargate:

Deploy Bold Reports application in ECS fargate using the documentation below:

Document : Deploy Bold reports on ECS Fargate

Step 3: Create Application Load Balancer

• Create an Application Load Balancer
• Configure:
  • Listener (HTTP/HTTPS)
  • Security groups
  • Subnets
    
    

Step 4: Create Target Group

• Create target group for ECS service
• Configure:
  • Target type: IP
  • Port: Application port (e.g., 80)
  • Health check path

step 5: Create Task Definition:

• Use Bold Reports Docker image
• Configure CPU & memory
• Add environment variables
• Configure port mappings

Example task definition:

{
   "taskDefinitionArn": "<task-definition-ARN>",    //provide the task definition ARN here
   "containerDefinitions": [
       {
           "name": "boldreports",
           "image": "syncfusion/boldreports",
           "cpu": 0,
           "portMappings": [
               {
                   "name": "port",
                   "containerPort": 80,
                   "hostPort": 80,
                   "protocol": "tcp",
                   "appProtocol": "http"
               }
           ],
           "essential": true,
           "environment": [],
           "mountPoints": [
               {
                   "sourceVolume": "boldreports-EFS",
                   "containerPath": "/application/app_data",
                   "readOnly": false
               },
               {
                   "sourceVolume": "boldreports-nginx",
                   "containerPath": "/etc/nginx/sites-available",
                   "readOnly": false
               }
           ],
           "volumesFrom": [],
           "logConfiguration": {
               "logDriver": "awslogs",
               "options": {
                   "awslogs-group": "/ecs/boldreports",
                   "awslogs-region": "us-east-1",
                   "awslogs-stream-prefix": "ecs"
               }
           },
           "systemControls": []
       }
   ],
   "family": "boldreports",
   "taskRoleArn": "<Taks-role-ARN>",     //provide task role arn here
   "executionRoleArn": "<task execusion role ARN>",  //Provide task execution role ARN
   "networkMode": "awsvpc",
   "revision": 73,
   "volumes": [
       {
           "name": "boldreports-EFS",
           "efsVolumeConfiguration": {
               "fileSystemId": "<file-system-id>",    //provide file system id here
               "rootDirectory": "/"
           }
       },
       {
           "name": "boldreports-nginx",
           "efsVolumeConfiguration": {
               "fileSystemId": "<file-system-id>",    //provide file system id here
               "rootDirectory": "/nginx"
           }
       }
   ],
   "status": "ACTIVE",
   "requiresAttributes": [
       {
           "name": "com.amazonaws.ecs.capability.logging-driver.awslogs"
       },
       {
           "name": "ecs.capability.execution-role-awslogs"
       },
       {
           "name": "ecs.capability.efsAuth"
       },
       {
           "name": "com.amazonaws.ecs.capability.docker-remote-api.1.19"
       },
       {
           "name": "ecs.capability.efs"
       },
       {
           "name": "com.amazonaws.ecs.capability.task-iam-role"
       },
       {
           "name": "com.amazonaws.ecs.capability.docker-remote-api.1.25"
       },
       {
           "name": "com.amazonaws.ecs.capability.docker-remote-api.1.18"
       },
       {
           "name": "ecs.capability.task-eni"
       }
   ],
   "placementConstraints": [],
   "compatibilities": [
       "EC2",
       "MANAGED_INSTANCES",
       "FARGATE"
   ],
   "requiresCompatibilities": [
       "FARGATE"
   ],
   "cpu": "4096",
   "memory": "8192",
   "runtimePlatform": {
       "cpuArchitecture": "X86_64",
       "operatingSystemFamily": "LINUX"
   },
   "registeredAt": "2026-03-17T18:06:35.679Z",
   "registeredBy": "<ARN -id>",
   "tags": []
} 

Create ECS Service:

• Set desired task
  
  
• Choose the launch type as Fargate
  
  
• Enable turn-on ECS Exec option for bash the task later
  
  
• Attach the load balancer
• Attach target group
  
  
• Then click create

Step 6: Mount app_data and nginx folder using EFS

Note: Mount the app_data and nginx folder in the separate VM using below Documentation:

Documentation: How to Mount a Persistent Volume for App Data in Amazon AWS ECS Service

Step 7: Restore Data

• Once ECS service went to running and completed state please do below steps for restore the app_data and db data

7.1 Replace app_data

• Copy backed-up app_data into EFS mount location

7.2 Nginx changes

• please mount your Nginx file path. Once it is mounted, open the boldreports-nginx-config file and make the changes below for all the services (id-web, id-api, id-ums, reporting-web, reporting-api, reporting-jobs, reporting-viewer, reporting-designer, reporting-etl).

From: proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;

To: proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto https;

7.3 Restore Database to RDS

• Create new DB in Amazon RDS
• Restore DB:

psql -h <rds-endpoint> -U <username> -d <database_name> -f boldreports_backup.sql 

Step 8: Execute Commands Inside ECS Task

• Access running ECS container (via exec/bash):

aws ecs execute-command \
 --cluster <cluster-name> \
 --task <task-id> \
 --container <container-name> \
 --interactive \
 --command "/bin/bash" 

Note: For bash the task you should allow the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore in your task role

Step 9: Run Bold Reports DB Utility to change the connection string in db

• Inside the container, run required Bold Reports DB migration/upgrade utility for update the new db details in new migrated site
• Documentation : Reset application database

Step 10: Restart ECS Service

• Restart ECS tasks/service to apply all configurations:
  
  

Step 11: Access Application

• Map domain to ALB
• Access Bold Reports using domain URL