- A
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with a full load and ongoing replication.
DMS supports ongoing replication to minimize downtime.
- B
Use mysqldump to export the database, then import into RDS.
Why wrong: Requires downtime; does not capture ongoing changes.
- C
Use AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) to migrate the database server.
Why wrong: SMS is for server migration, not database migration.
- D
Create a read replica of the on-premises database and promote it to RDS.
Why wrong: RDS cannot create read replicas of external databases.
Question 438 of 1,730
MySQL to RDS Migration with Minimal Downtime Using DMS | AWS Database Specialty Explained
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 an on-premises MySQL database to Amazon RDS for MySQL with minimal downtime. The database is 500 GB and has moderate write activity. Which 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
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with a full load and ongoing replication.
AWS DMS with full load and ongoing replication is the most suitable approach because it supports continuous change data capture (CDC) from the on-premises MySQL source to the Amazon RDS target, enabling minimal downtime. The full load transfers the initial 500 GB dataset, while ongoing replication applies incremental changes until cutover, meeting the requirement for minimal downtime with moderate write activity.
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 and ongoing replication.
Why this is correct
DMS supports ongoing replication to minimize downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use mysqldump to export the database, then import into RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Requires downtime; does not capture ongoing changes.
- ✗
Use AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) to migrate the database server.
Why it's wrong here
SMS is for server migration, not database migration.
- ✗
Create a read replica of the on-premises database and promote it to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
RDS cannot create read replicas of external databases.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) as a database migration tool or assume that creating a read replica from an on-premises database is possible, when in fact read replicas are an Amazon RDS-specific feature that requires the source to be an RDS instance, not an on-premises server.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS uses a replication instance to connect to the source MySQL database via binary log (binlog) position-based replication for CDC, capturing INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE operations in near real-time. During the full load phase, DMS creates tables and loads data in parallel using multiple threads, then switches to ongoing replication to keep the target synchronized, allowing a final cutover with seconds of downtime. In real-world scenarios, DMS can handle heterogeneous migrations (e.g., MySQL to Aurora) and supports validation to ensure data consistency, but for homogeneous MySQL-to-RDS, it leverages native MySQL replication protocols for efficiency.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with a full load and ongoing replication. — AWS DMS with full load and ongoing replication is the most suitable approach because it supports continuous change data capture (CDC) from the on-premises MySQL source to the Amazon RDS target, enabling minimal downtime. The full load transfers the initial 500 GB dataset, while ongoing replication applies incremental changes until cutover, meeting the requirement for minimal downtime with moderate write activity.
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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