DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
A company is migrating a 5 TB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database has a 4-hour maintenance window weekly. Which migration approach minimizes downtime?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume a full load plus manual sync (Option D) is sufficient, but they overlook the fact that for a 5 TB database, the manual sync window would be too long to fit within the 4-hour maintenance window, whereas CDC enables a near-zero-downtime cutover.
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 Database Migration Service (DMS) with change data capture (CDC).
AWS DMS with CDC allows you to perform an initial full load of the 5 TB database and then continuously replicate ongoing changes from the source Oracle database to the target Aurora PostgreSQL. This minimizes downtime because you can keep the source database fully operational during the migration and only perform a brief cutover to switch applications to the new database, well within the 4-hour maintenance 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 Oracle Data Pump to export and pg_restore to import.
Why it's wrong here
Requires significant downtime and manual steps.
- ✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with change data capture (CDC).
Why this is correct
DMS with CDC provides near-zero downtime.
- ✗
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema and then copy data.
Why it's wrong here
SCT only converts schema; separate data migration needed.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS full load only and then manually sync.
Why it's wrong here
Missing CDC; manual sync increases downtime.
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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 financial services company is migrating a 500 GB Oracle database to Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition. The migration must have minimal downtime and support bidirectional replication for a test-and-cutover approach. The company currently uses Oracle GoldenGate for replication. Which migration strategy should be used?
hard- ✓ A.Use AWS DMS with a full load and ongoing replication from Oracle to Aurora MySQL, then cut over.
- B.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the schema and then use AWS DMS for a one-time full load.
- C.Use AWS DMS with Oracle GoldenGate as a source for continuous replication to Aurora MySQL.
- D.Use Oracle GoldenGate to replicate directly to Aurora MySQL, then cut over.
Why A: AWS DMS with full load and ongoing replication is the correct strategy because it supports minimal-downtime migration from Oracle to Aurora MySQL and can handle bidirectional replication for a test-and-cutover approach. DMS uses change data capture (CDC) from Oracle's redo logs to keep the target in sync, allowing you to validate the target before cutting over. This meets the requirement for minimal downtime and a test-and-cutover workflow without relying on Oracle GoldenGate.
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.