Oracle to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL Migration Strategy for AWS Database Specialty
A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database is 1 TB and has complex stored procedures. The migration must be completed within a 4-hour downtime window. Which migration approach is most efficient?
Quick Answer
The answer is to use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) for schema and code conversion, then AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for the data migration. This combination is correct because AWS SCT handles the complex stored procedures and Oracle-specific schema constructs, converting them into Aurora PostgreSQL-compatible code, while AWS DMS performs the bulk data transfer of the 1 TB database efficiently within the 4-hour downtime window. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the division of labor between SCT and DMS: SCT addresses the schema and code conversion challenges, and DMS handles the continuous or one-time data load. A common trap is assuming DMS alone can convert schema or that a native PostgreSQL dump is faster, but SCT is essential for complex procedural logic. Remember the memory tip: SCT for the structure and code, DMS for the data and load.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers think DMS alone can handle the entire migration, overlooking that schema and stored procedure conversion is a prerequisite that SCT must address first.
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 SCT to convert schema and code, then AWS DMS for data migration.
AWS SCT converts the Oracle schema and complex stored procedures to Aurora PostgreSQL-compatible code, while AWS DMS performs the full data migration within the 4-hour window. This combination handles both schema/code conversion and bulk data transfer efficiently, meeting the time constraint.
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 Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema only.
Why it's wrong here
Does not migrate data.
- ✓
Use AWS SCT to convert schema and code, then AWS DMS for data migration.
Why this is correct
SCT converts schema/code, DMS migrates data.
- ✗
Use Oracle Data Pump to export and pg_restore to import.
Why it's wrong here
Does not convert stored procedures.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication.
Why it's wrong here
DMS does not convert stored procedures.
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Same concept, more angles
2 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 Aurora PostgreSQL. The database contains a large table that is partitioned by date. The company wants to minimize downtime during migration and ensure compatibility. Which TWO actions should the company take?
medium- ✓ A.Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication to migrate the data.
- B.Migrate the database using a full load only and accept downtime.
- C.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the schema automatically without any manual adjustments.
- D.Replace the Oracle database with Amazon RDS for MySQL.
- ✓ E.Convert Oracle partitions to PostgreSQL table inheritance or declarative partitioning.
Why A: AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) allows continuous synchronization from the source Oracle database to the target Aurora PostgreSQL, minimizing downtime by keeping the target nearly up-to-date until the final cutover. This approach supports large partitioned tables and reduces the migration window compared to a full load only.
Variation 2. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database is 2 TB and has a daily change rate of 10%. They have a 1 Gbps network connection to AWS. They want to minimize downtime during the migration. Which migration approach should they use?
medium- A.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema, then import data
- ✓ B.Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
- C.Use pg_dump to export the database and pg_restore to import
- D.Create an Aurora read replica from the Oracle database
Why B: AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture) is the correct choice because it allows continuous replication of changes from the source Oracle database to the target Aurora PostgreSQL, minimizing downtime by keeping the target nearly in sync until a final cutover. The 2 TB size and 10% daily change rate make a full offline export impractical, and DMS handles both schema conversion (via SCT integration) and data migration with minimal interruption.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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