The answer is using AWS Database Migration Service with ongoing replication and setting up an Aurora read replica from an external MySQL instance via binlog replication. AWS DMS with ongoing replication continuously captures changes from the source MySQL database and applies them to Aurora, enabling a cutover with near-zero downtime. The Aurora read replica method works by configuring MySQL binlog replication from the external instance directly to Aurora, allowing the replica to stay synchronized until you promote it. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of live migration strategies versus batch or snapshot-based approaches. A common trap is confusing an Aurora clone—which only works within existing Aurora clusters—with a cross-engine migration, or thinking that a snapshot restore alone achieves minimal downtime when it actually requires taking the source offline. Remember the memory tip: “DMS streams, binlog syncs—both keep the clock ticking during the switch.”
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 a MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The migration must be completed with minimal downtime. Which TWO methods can achieve this? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an Aurora MySQL read replica from the external MySQL instance using binlog replication
Using an Aurora read replica from an external MySQL instance is possible via the MySQL binlog replication, but it requires setting up replication from on-premises to Aurora. This is a valid method for minimal downtime. Creating an Aurora clone is for cloning existing Aurora clusters, not migration. Using DMS with ongoing replication is the standard approach. Taking a snapshot and restoring requires downtime. Enabling binlog replication is part of setting up a read replica. So correct are B and D. Option A: clone is not for migration. Option C: snapshot restore requires downtime. Option E: binlog replication alone is not a migration method; it's a configuration step.
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.
✓
Create an Aurora MySQL read replica from the external MySQL instance using binlog replication
Why this is correct
This allows near-zero downtime replication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Take a physical backup of the source database and restore to Aurora
Why it's wrong here
This requires downtime during backup and restore.
✗
Create an Aurora clone from the source database
Why it's wrong here
Aurora clone is for cloning existing Aurora clusters, not for migration from MySQL.
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication
Why this is correct
DMS supports minimal downtime migration with CDC.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable binlog replication on the source MySQL instance
Why it's wrong here
This is a prerequisite but not a complete migration method.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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 an Aurora MySQL read replica from the external MySQL instance using binlog replication — Using an Aurora read replica from an external MySQL instance is possible via the MySQL binlog replication, but it requires setting up replication from on-premises to Aurora. This is a valid method for minimal downtime. Creating an Aurora clone is for cloning existing Aurora clusters, not migration. Using DMS with ongoing replication is the standard approach. Taking a snapshot and restoring requires downtime. Enabling binlog replication is part of setting up a read replica. So correct are B and D. Option A: clone is not for migration. Option C: snapshot restore requires downtime. Option E: binlog replication alone is not a migration method; it's a configuration step.
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 1 TB MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL with minimal downtime. The database has a high write load. Which TWO options are valid approaches? (Choose two.)
medium
✓ A.Use AWS DMS with full load and ongoing replication.
B.Export to flat files, transfer via AWS Snowball, and import.
C.Perform a mysqldump and restore to Aurora.
✓ D.Use MySQL native replication to replicate to Aurora MySQL.
E.Use AWS SCT to convert the schema and then use DMS.
Why A: Options B and D are correct. Option A is not minimal downtime. Option C is incorrect because SCT is for schema conversion, not data migration. Option E is incorrect because Snowball is not minimal downtime (requires downtime for transport).
Variation 2. A company is migrating a 500 GB MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The migration must have minimal downtime and the source database is already using binary logging. Which migration approach should be used?
hard
A.Take a snapshot of the source database and restore to Aurora
B.Use AWS DMS with full load only
✓ C.Set up binary log replication from the source to an Aurora MySQL cluster
D.Use mysqldump to export the data and import into Aurora
Why C: Option C is correct because setting up replication from the source MySQL database to an Aurora MySQL cluster using binary log replication allows minimal downtime by continuously syncing changes. Option A is wrong because taking a snapshot and restoring requires downtime during the restore process. Option B is wrong because AWS DMS with full load only does not capture ongoing changes. Option D is wrong because using mysqldump is a logical export/import that requires downtime.
Variation 3. A company is migrating a 200 GB MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The migration must be completed within a 1-hour downtime window. Which TWO methods can achieve this?
easy
A.Use AWS SCT to convert the schema and then perform a data load.
B.Use AWS DMS with full load only.
✓ C.Use Percona XtraBackup to create a physical backup, upload to S3, and restore to Aurora.
✓ D.Use mysqldump with parallel threads and import using mysql command.
E.Create an RDS Read Replica of the on-premises database and promote it.
Why C: Using mysqldump with parallel threads can speed up export/import. Percona XtraBackup creates a fast physical backup that can be restored to Aurora. DMS full load may be slower. RDS read replica is not applicable. SCT is for schema conversion.
Variation 4. A company is migrating a 100 GB MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The migration must have minimal downtime and the source database is currently in use. Which approach should the company take?
easy
A.Create an Aurora Replica from the on-premises MySQL database and promote it.
B.Export the database using mysqldump and import it into Aurora during a maintenance window.
C.Take a physical backup of the MySQL database, upload to S3, and restore to Aurora.
✓ D.Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the source MySQL database to Aurora.
Why D: Creating an Aurora Replica from a MySQL dump is not possible; Aurora Replicas can only be created from an existing Aurora instance. Using DMS with ongoing replication allows minimal downtime. mysqldump requires downtime. Backup and restore also requires downtime.
Variation 5. A company is migrating a 5 TB MySQL database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. The migration must have zero downtime and the source database is continuously written to. The team plans to use AWS DMS with ongoing replication. However, they notice that the target Aurora instance is not receiving all changes from the source. Which configuration change is most likely required to resolve this?
hard
A.Create an Amazon RDS read replica of the source database and use it as the source endpoint.
B.Set the target table preparation mode to 'Do nothing' in the DMS task.
✓ C.Enable binary logging (binlog) on the source MySQL database with row-based logging.
D.Configure a VPC endpoint for the DMS replication instance.
Why C: Option D is correct because AWS DMS uses binary logs (binlogs) for ongoing replication from MySQL. If binlogs are not enabled or retained properly, DMS cannot capture changes. Option A is wrong because DMS does not require a VPC endpoint; it uses a replication instance in a VPC. Option B is wrong because DMS requires a target database, but not necessarily a read replica. Option C is wrong because DMS replication tasks have a target table preparation mode, but the issue is about capturing changes, not applying them.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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