DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
A company is migrating a 2 TB MySQL database from on-premises to Amazon RDS for MySQL. They need to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. They plan to use AWS DMS. What is the first step they should take before starting the migration task?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse the need for binary logging on the source versus the target, or assume that a read replica or disabling constraints is the first step, but DMS specifically requires binlog on the source for continuous replication.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable binary logging (binlog) on the source MySQL database.
AWS DMS requires binary logging (binlog) to be enabled on the source MySQL database to capture ongoing changes during the full-load and change data capture (CDC) phase. This ensures data consistency and minimizes downtime by allowing DMS to replicate incremental changes after the initial load. Without binlog, DMS cannot perform CDC, and the migration would be limited to a one-time snapshot, risking data loss or extended downtime.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a read replica of the source database to reduce load.
Why it's wrong here
A read replica is unnecessary; DMS can read from the source directly.
- ✓
Enable binary logging (binlog) on the source MySQL database.
Why this is correct
Binlog is required for CDC to capture ongoing changes.
- ✗
Disable foreign key checks on the source database to speed up the load.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling foreign key checks can cause data inconsistency and is not recommended.
- ✗
Enable binary logging on the target RDS for MySQL instance.
Why it's wrong here
The target does not need binlog enabled for migration; it's for replication to another target.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DBS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DBS-C01 exam.