- A
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with a full load.
Why wrong: DMS full load may be slower than a direct restore due to network overhead.
- B
Use mysqldump to export the database and then import it into RDS.
Why wrong: mysqldump is slower for 500 GB and may not complete within 2 hours.
- C
Create an RDS Read Replica of the on-premises database and promote it.
Why wrong: RDS Read Replicas cannot be created from on-premises databases.
- D
Create a compressed backup using Percona XtraBackup, upload it to S3, and restore it to RDS.
Percona XtraBackup creates a fast physical backup; restoring from S3 is efficient and can complete within 2 hours.
Question 1,547 of 1,730
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 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
✓
Create a compressed backup using Percona XtraBackup, upload it to S3, and restore it to RDS.
Option D is correct because Percona XtraBackup allows you to create a physical backup of the MySQL database that can be compressed and uploaded to Amazon S3, then restored directly to an Amazon RDS for MySQL instance. This approach is significantly faster than logical backups (like mysqldump) for a 500 GB database, as it bypasses SQL parsing and rebuilds the data files directly, enabling completion within a 2-hour downtime window.
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
The trap here is that candidates often assume mysqldump (Option B) is the simplest and fastest method for a one-time migration, but they overlook the massive performance penalty of logical backups for large datasets, and they may not realize that Percona XtraBackup is the only option among these that can reliably complete a 500 GB migration within a 2-hour window.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Percona XtraBackup performs a hot physical backup by copying InnoDB data files while the database is running, using redo log tracking to ensure consistency. The resulting backup can be compressed with tools like gzip or bzip2, uploaded to S3 via the AWS CLI, and then restored to RDS using the 'aws rds restore-db-instance-from-db-snapshot' command with the --source-db-snapshot-identifier pointing to the S3 backup. In real-world scenarios, this method is preferred for large databases because it reduces downtime to the time needed for the final incremental backup and restore, rather than a full logical dump.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
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. — Option D is correct because Percona XtraBackup allows you to create a physical backup of the MySQL database that can be compressed and uploaded to Amazon S3, then restored directly to an Amazon RDS for MySQL instance. This approach is significantly faster than logical backups (like mysqldump) for a 500 GB database, as it bypasses SQL parsing and rebuilds the data files directly, enabling completion within a 2-hour downtime window.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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