DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
A company is migrating a 2 TB PostgreSQL database from on-premises to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The database has a 4-hour downtime window. The company requires minimal data loss and wants to use AWS DMS. The on-premises network has a 100 Mbps internet connection. Which migration method should the company use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume pg_dump/pg_restore or a full-load-only DMS job can complete within the downtime window, ignoring the bandwidth calculation (2 TB at 100 Mbps = ~46 hours) and the need for minimal data loss, which only CDC can satisfy.
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 DMS with a full load and ongoing change data capture (CDC) replication.
AWS DMS with a full load and ongoing change data capture (CDC) replication allows the company to migrate the 2 TB database with minimal data loss within the 4-hour downtime window. The full load transfers the existing data, and CDC captures and applies ongoing changes from the source database to the target RDS instance, reducing the final cutover downtime to seconds or minutes. This approach is ideal for large databases with tight downtime constraints and limited bandwidth (100 Mbps), as the initial full load can run before the downtime window, and only the final CDC catch-up occurs during the window.
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 Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to migrate the data to Amazon RDS.
Why it's wrong here
AWS SCT is for schema conversion, not data migration.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS with a full load only, then stop the source database and resume applications.
Why it's wrong here
Full load only does not capture ongoing changes during migration, causing data loss.
- ✗
Use pg_dump and pg_restore to export and import the database during the downtime window.
Why it's wrong here
pg_dump/pg_restore does not support CDC, requiring a full dump during downtime.
- ✓
Use AWS DMS with a full load and ongoing change data capture (CDC) replication.
Why this is correct
Full load plus CDC minimizes downtime by replicating changes continuously.
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