- A
Use Oracle Data Pump to export the database and import into RDS.
Why wrong: Data Pump requires downtime during export/import and does not provide ongoing replication.
- B
Set up a VPN connection between on-premises and AWS for direct database link.
Why wrong: A VPN provides connectivity but does not automate migration or reduce downtime.
- C
Create a manual snapshot of the RDS instance during the migration.
Why wrong: Manual snapshots are for backup, not for migration from on-premises.
- D
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to perform a full load and ongoing replication.
DMS can migrate data with minimal downtime by using continuous replication after the full load.
- E
Configure change data capture (CDC) on the source database and apply to RDS.
DMS supports CDC to capture ongoing changes and apply them to the target, minimizing downtime.
How to Migrate Oracle to Amazon RDS with Minimal Downtime Using DMS and CDC
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 2 TB and has a high number of small transactions. The company needs to minimize downtime during the migration. Which TWO strategies should be used together? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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) to perform a full load and ongoing replication.
AWS DMS with ongoing replication (CDC) is the correct choice because it allows a full load of the 2 TB database followed by continuous replication of changes, minimizing downtime by keeping the target RDS instance nearly synchronized with the source until cutover. This approach is specifically designed for large databases with high transaction volumes, as it reduces the final outage window to seconds or minutes.
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 Oracle Data Pump to export the database and import into RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Data Pump requires downtime during export/import and does not provide ongoing replication.
- ✗
Set up a VPN connection between on-premises and AWS for direct database link.
Why it's wrong here
A VPN provides connectivity but does not automate migration or reduce downtime.
- ✗
Create a manual snapshot of the RDS instance during the migration.
Why it's wrong here
Manual snapshots are for backup, not for migration from on-premises.
- ✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to perform a full load and ongoing replication.
Why this is correct
DMS can migrate data with minimal downtime by using continuous replication after the full load.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Configure change data capture (CDC) on the source database and apply to RDS.
Why this is correct
DMS supports CDC to capture ongoing changes and apply them to the target, minimizing downtime.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
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 confuse 'minimizing downtime' with 'zero downtime' and select Data Pump (A) because it is a familiar Oracle tool, failing to recognize that DMS with CDC is the only option that provides near-continuous replication and a short cutover window.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS uses a task-based architecture that performs a full load by reading the source Oracle tables via a SELECT statement, then switches to CDC using Oracle's LogMiner or binary reader to capture redo logs. For high-transaction workloads, DMS can be tuned with parallel threads and task settings like 'MaxFullLoadSubTasks' to optimize throughput, but it requires supplemental logging to be enabled on the source for CDC to capture all changes without data loss.
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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Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — 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) to perform a full load and ongoing replication. — AWS DMS with ongoing replication (CDC) is the correct choice because it allows a full load of the 2 TB database followed by continuous replication of changes, minimizing downtime by keeping the target RDS instance nearly synchronized with the source until cutover. This approach is specifically designed for large databases with high transaction volumes, as it reduces the final outage window to seconds or minutes.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
6 more ways this is tested on DBS-C01
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 is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 2 TB in size. The company wants to minimize downtime during the migration. Which AWS service should be used to perform an online migration with minimal downtime?
medium- A.AWS Direct Connect
- ✓ B.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
- C.AWS Snowball
- D.Amazon S3
Why B: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) supports ongoing replication to minimize downtime. Snowball is for offline data transfer. S3 is not a migration service. Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection but is not a migration service itself.
Variation 2. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 500 GB and has a 4-hour downtime window. Which AWS service should be used to perform the migration with minimal downtime?
easy- ✓ A.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
- B.Oracle Data Pump using Amazon RDS option groups
- C.AWS Snowball Edge
- D.Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration
Why A: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is the correct choice because it supports ongoing replication (change data capture) to minimize downtime during the migration. Oracle Data Pump is an export/import tool that requires downtime and cannot perform continuous replication. AWS Snowball Edge is for offline bulk data transfer, not suitable for a 4-hour window with minimal downtime. Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration only speeds up uploads to S3, not a database migration tool. Therefore, DMS is the recommended service for minimal downtime migration.
Variation 3. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 2 TB in size and has a high transaction rate. The migration must have minimal downtime. Which migration strategy should a database specialist recommend?
hard- ✓ A.Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication to capture changes.
- B.Copy the data files to Amazon S3 and then load into RDS.
- C.Use Oracle Data Pump to export and import the database.
- D.Perform an RMAN backup and restore to RDS.
Why A: Option A is correct because AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows for minimal downtime by continuously replicating changes from the source Oracle database to the target Amazon RDS for Oracle, allowing a cutover with only a brief pause. Option B is incorrect because copying data files to S3 and loading into RDS is not a supported migration path for RDS for Oracle and would require significant downtime. Option C is incorrect because Oracle Data Pump export and import requires the source database to be offline or in read-only mode during export, causing downtime. Option D is incorrect because RMAN backup and restore is not natively supported for RDS for Oracle and would involve complex manual steps and downtime.
Variation 4. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 500 GB in size and has a 24/7 uptime requirement. The migration window is limited to 2 hours. Which strategy should be used to minimize downtime?
hard- A.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the schema and copy data
- B.Take an on-premises backup and restore to RDS using Oracle RMAN
- C.Export the database to a dump file and import into RDS
- ✓ D.Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
Why D: Option D is correct because AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) can perform ongoing replication from the source Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle, allowing a minimal cutover window of under 2 hours. Option A is incorrect because AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) only converts schema and does not handle data migration. Option B is incorrect because performing an on-premises backup and restoring via Oracle RMAN would require significant downtime and may exceed the 2-hour window for a 500 GB database. Option C is incorrect because exporting to a dump file and importing into RDS requires the database to be offline or in read-only mode, causing prolonged downtime.
Variation 5. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database size is 500 GB. The migration must have minimal downtime. Which AWS service should be used to perform the migration?
medium- A.AWS Snowball Edge
- ✓ B.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
- C.AWS DataSync
- D.Amazon RDS for Oracle snapshot copy
Why B: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is the correct choice because it supports heterogeneous migrations from Oracle to Amazon RDS for Oracle with minimal downtime. DMS can perform continuous replication using Oracle's change data capture (CDC) via LogMiner or binary reader, allowing the source database to remain operational during the migration. This makes it ideal for a 500 GB database where downtime must be minimized.
Variation 6. A company is migrating its on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 2 TB in size and has a 24-hour maintenance window. The company needs to minimize downtime during the migration. Which AWS service should be used to perform the migration with minimal downtime?
medium- ✓ A.AWS Database Migration Service
- B.Oracle Data Guard
- C.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT)
- ✓ D.AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS)
Why A: AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) is the correct service for migrating the on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle with minimal downtime because it supports continuous replication of ongoing changes after the initial load, enabling near-zero downtime. Both Option A and Option D refer to the same service (AWS DMS), so both are correct answers. Option B (Oracle Data Guard) is not supported by Amazon RDS for Oracle for cross-environment replication. Option C (AWS SCT) is used for schema conversion, not data migration.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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