The answer is to create an Oracle user with required privileges for DMS and enable supplemental logging on the source database. Supplemental logging is critical because AWS DMS uses Oracle’s redo logs to capture ongoing changes for CDC; without it, the logs lack the column-level detail needed to reconstruct row modifications, causing DMS to fail during the change data capture phase. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of pre-migration tasks for log-based replication, often appearing as a distractor where candidates mistakenly focus only on network connectivity or target configuration. A common trap is forgetting that supplemental logging must be enabled at the database level, not just for specific tables, so DMS can read all relevant redo entries. Memory tip: think “SUPP” for Supplemental logging, User privileges, and Primary key logging—three essentials before starting DMS with Oracle CDC.
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The migration uses AWS DMS with ongoing replication (CDC). Which TWO tasks must be completed before starting the migration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable supplemental logging in the Oracle source database
Option A is correct because AWS DMS requires supplemental logging to be enabled on the Oracle source database for ongoing replication (CDC). Supplemental logging ensures that the redo logs contain sufficient information (e.g., primary key, unique key, or all column values) to reconstruct the changes for DMS to capture and apply to the target. Without it, DMS cannot generate the necessary log-based change data for CDC.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Enable supplemental logging in the Oracle source database
Why this is correct
Supplemental logging is required for DMS to capture changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Create an Oracle user with required privileges for DMS
Why this is correct
DMS needs a user with SELECT, LOGMINING, and other privileges.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure DMS to use only full load without CDC
Why it's wrong here
This would not meet the ongoing replication requirement.
✗
Disable archive logging on the Oracle source
Why it's wrong here
Archive logging must be enabled for CDC.
✗
Enable binary logging on the Oracle source
Why it's wrong here
Binary logging is for MySQL, not Oracle.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Oracle's redo logging with MySQL's binary logging, leading them to incorrectly select 'Enable binary logging on the Oracle source' (Option E) instead of understanding that Oracle requires supplemental logging for CDC.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
For Oracle CDC with DMS, you must enable at least minimal supplemental logging at the database level (ALTER DATABASE ADD SUPPLEMENTAL LOG DATA) and, for tables without primary keys, additional logging such as ALL or KEY columns. DMS reads the redo logs via LogMiner, which relies on supplemental logging to interpret row changes. In real-world scenarios, failing to enable supplemental logging on tables with unique indexes but no primary key can cause DMS to miss updates or fail to capture changes accurately.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable supplemental logging in the Oracle source database — Option A is correct because AWS DMS requires supplemental logging to be enabled on the Oracle source database for ongoing replication (CDC). Supplemental logging ensures that the redo logs contain sufficient information (e.g., primary key, unique key, or all column values) to reconstruct the changes for DMS to capture and apply to the target. Without it, DMS cannot generate the necessary log-based change data for CDC.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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