DBS-C01 AWS Snowball Edge Practice Question
A company is migrating a 2 TB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The on-premises database is 2 TB and the network link is 1 Gbps. The migration must complete within 48 hours with minimal data loss. The DBA has extracted the schema using AWS SCT and created an Aurora cluster. The DBA now needs to transfer the data. The DBA tried using AWS DMS over the network but estimates it will take 72 hours due to network overhead. The DBA also considered using an AWS Snowball Edge device but is concerned about the time to order and ship the device. Which approach should the DBA take to meet the deadline?
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
✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the database dump and then use DMS for change data capture
It combines the speed of Snowball Edge for the initial bulk data transfer (2 TB) with AWS DMS for ongoing change data capture (CDC) to minimize data loss. Although ordering and shipping a Snowball device takes time, once received, the data transfer is much faster than over a 1 Gbps network, which would take over 48 hours. DMS alone (option A) is estimated to take 72 hours, exceeding the deadline. Option B (S3 upload) still relies on network speed and would be too slow. Option D (full load only) abandons CDC and does not meet the minimal data loss requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS with change data capture and optimize the network by enabling compression
Why it's wrong here
Using DMS with CDC and network optimization may improve speed but still likely exceeds 48 hours due to the 2 TB size and network overhead.
- ✗
Use AWS S3 to upload the database dump and then load into Aurora
Why it's wrong here
Uploading via S3 over a 1 Gbps link would still take approximately 4.4 hours for 2 TB under ideal conditions, but DMS overhead adds time; also does not address ongoing changes.
- ✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the database dump and then use DMS for change data capture
Why this is correct
Correct. Snowball Edge provides fast bulk transfer, and DMS CDC captures changes during and after the transfer, minimizing data loss and meeting the deadline.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS to perform a full load and then stop replication, accepting some data loss
Why it's wrong here
Full DMS load over network will take ~72 hours, exceeding the deadline, and stopping replication causes data loss, which is not acceptable.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is migrating a 5 TB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. They have a 4-hour maintenance window weekly. Which THREE steps should be taken to minimize downtime? (Choose 3)
hard- A.Create an Aurora read replica for testing.
- ✓ B.Use AWS Snowball to transfer the initial data load.
- C.Use AWS Direct Connect for network connectivity.
- ✓ D.Use AWS DMS with change data capture (CDC).
- ✓ E.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema.
Why B: AWS Snowball provides a physical data transfer mechanism that avoids saturating the network for the initial 5 TB load, which could otherwise take days over typical internet connections. This allows the bulk data to be loaded into Amazon S3 and then into Aurora PostgreSQL before the cutover, while AWS DMS with CDC (Option D) captures ongoing changes to keep the target synchronized with the source during the migration window. Option E is correct because the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) is essential for converting the Oracle schema (including data types, stored procedures, and indexes) to Aurora PostgreSQL-compatible format before data migration begins, ensuring compatibility and reducing downtime during the final sync.
JA
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.