DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
A company is migrating an on-premises MySQL database to Amazon RDS for MySQL. The database has a large table with frequent inserts and updates. To minimize downtime during migration, which AWS service should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse AWS DMS with AWS SCT, assuming SCT handles data migration, but SCT only converts schema/code for heterogeneous migrations, while DMS handles the actual data transfer and CDC for both homogeneous and heterogeneous migrations.
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
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is the correct choice because it supports ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) from an on-premises MySQL source to Amazon RDS for MySQL, allowing the source database to remain fully operational during the migration. This minimizes downtime by continuously applying inserts and updates from the source to the target until you perform the final cutover, which can be a brief pause of seconds to minutes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Amazon RDS read replica
Why it's wrong here
Read replica requires existing RDS instance, not for on-prem migration.
- ✗
AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
Why it's wrong here
SCT converts schema, not replicate data continuously.
- ✗
AWS Glue
Why it's wrong here
Glue is for ETL, not continuous replication.
- ✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why this is correct
DMS supports minimal downtime with ongoing replication.
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