- A
Create a read replica of the on-premises database and promote it to RDS.
Why wrong: Read replicas cannot be created from on-premises databases.
- B
Use mysqldump to export the database and then import it into RDS.
mysqldump with --single-transaction provides a consistent export without locking.
- C
Use AWS DMS with a full load task.
Why wrong: DMS full load may not finish within 2 hours for 500 GB depending on bandwidth.
- D
Take a physical backup of the data directory and copy it to RDS.
Why wrong: RDS does not support direct import of physical backups from on-premises.
Question 207 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 is migrating an on-premises MySQL database to Amazon RDS for MySQL. The database uses InnoDB tables and is 500 GB in size. The migration must be completed within a 2-hour maintenance window. Which approach is MOST likely to meet the requirement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 mysqldump to export the database and then import it into RDS.
B is correct because mysqldump creates a logical backup that can be imported into Amazon RDS for MySQL within the 2-hour window for a 500 GB database, assuming sufficient network bandwidth and parallel import optimizations. The migration must complete within a fixed maintenance window, and mysqldump allows direct control over the export and import process, making it predictable for a single-shot 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.
- ✗
Create a read replica of the on-premises database and promote it to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas cannot be created from on-premises databases.
- ✓
Use mysqldump to export the database and then import it into RDS.
Why this is correct
mysqldump with --single-transaction provides a consistent export without locking.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS with a full load task.
Why it's wrong here
DMS full load may not finish within 2 hours for 500 GB depending on bandwidth.
- ✗
Take a physical backup of the data directory and copy it to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not support direct import of physical backups from on-premises.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose AWS DMS (Option C) assuming it is the fastest migration tool, but for a one-time migration within a strict 2-hour window, mysqldump's simplicity and direct control often outperform DMS's overhead, especially when CDC is not required.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
mysqldump exports data as SQL statements, which can be piped directly into the RDS MySQL endpoint using a single command like `mysqldump --single-transaction --quick --compress | mysql -h <rds-endpoint>`, leveraging the `--single-transaction` flag to avoid locking InnoDB tables during the dump. For a 500 GB database, the actual time depends on network bandwidth (e.g., 1 Gbps link yields ~6 minutes per 50 GB under ideal conditions) and the target RDS instance's write throughput, but the 2-hour window is feasible with proper tuning, such as disabling foreign key checks and using `max_allowed_packet` adjustments.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Deployment and Migration practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DBS-C01 questions
1,730 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DBS-C01 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DBS-C01 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Workload-Specific Database Design practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Workload-Specific Database Design.
Deployment and Migration practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Deployment and Migration.
Management and Operations practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Management and Operations.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Monitoring and Troubleshooting.
Database Security practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Database Security.
DBS-C01 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to DBS-C01 fundamentals.
DBS-C01 scenario practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to DBS-C01 scenario.
DBS-C01 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to DBS-C01 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DBS-C01 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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 mysqldump to export the database and then import it into RDS. — B is correct because mysqldump creates a logical backup that can be imported into Amazon RDS for MySQL within the 2-hour window for a 500 GB database, assuming sufficient network bandwidth and parallel import optimizations. The migration must complete within a fixed maintenance window, and mysqldump allows direct control over the export and import process, making it predictable for a single-shot migration.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 →
Keep practising
More DBS-C01 practice questions
- A company is deploying a new application on Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The security policy requires that all data be enc…
- Match each AWS service to its primary purpose.
- A financial services company runs a production Amazon Aurora MySQL database cluster (1 writer, 2 readers) in us-east-1.…
- A company is designing a database for a global e-commerce platform that requires low-latency reads and writes from multi…
- A security auditor reviews the output of a DynamoDB table description command as shown in the exhibit. Which statement a…
- A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database contains sensitive data tha…
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.