The answer is to create a compressed backup using Percona XtraBackup, upload it to Amazon S3, and restore it directly to RDS. This approach is the most suitable because it leverages a native physical backup that captures the entire database at the file level, allowing for a fast, single-step restore that easily completes within a 2-hour downtime window for a 500 GB MySQL database. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of migration strategies under strict time constraints, often contrasting physical backups against logical tools like mysqldump, which are too slow for large volumes, or AWS DMS, which introduces endpoint setup overhead. A common trap is choosing DMS for its perceived simplicity, but for a one-time, time-sensitive migration, the S3 backup and restore method minimizes transfer and recovery time. Memory tip: think “Physical for Speed” — when downtime is tight, go with a raw file backup to S3 over logical exports.
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 wants to migrate a 500 GB MySQL database from an on-premises server to Amazon RDS for MySQL. The migration must be completed within a 2-hour downtime window. Which migration approach is MOST suitable?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a compressed backup using Percona XtraBackup, upload it to S3, and restore it to RDS.
Creating a full backup, transferring to S3, and restoring to RDS is the fastest method with minimal downtime for the given size. DMS requires setting up endpoints and may have overhead. mysqldump is slower for large databases. Read replicas are not applicable for on-premises migration.
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.
✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with a full load.
Why it's wrong here
DMS full load may be slower than a direct restore due to network overhead.
✗
Use mysqldump to export the database and then import it into RDS.
Why it's wrong here
mysqldump is slower for 500 GB and may not complete within 2 hours.
✗
Create an RDS Read Replica of the on-premises database and promote it.
Why it's wrong here
RDS Read Replicas cannot be created from on-premises databases.
✓
Create a compressed backup using Percona XtraBackup, upload it to S3, and restore it to RDS.
Why this is correct
Percona XtraBackup creates a fast physical backup; restoring from S3 is efficient and can complete within 2 hours.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Create a compressed backup using Percona XtraBackup, upload it to S3, and restore it to RDS. — Creating a full backup, transferring to S3, and restoring to RDS is the fastest method with minimal downtime for the given size. DMS requires setting up endpoints and may have overhead. mysqldump is slower for large databases. Read replicas are not applicable for on-premises migration.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 wants to migrate a 10 GB PostgreSQL database from an on-premises server to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The migration can tolerate several hours of downtime. Which migration method is the MOST straightforward?
easy
A.Use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication
B.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) to migrate the data
C.Create an Amazon RDS Read Replica from the on-premises database
✓ D.Use pg_dump to export the database and pg_restore to import into RDS
Why D: Option D is correct because pg_dump and pg_restore are native PostgreSQL utilities that provide a straightforward, reliable method for migrating a 10 GB database with acceptable downtime. The 10 GB size is well within the practical limits of a logical dump, and the process requires no additional AWS services or complex configuration, making it the simplest approach for a migration that can tolerate several hours of downtime.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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.
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