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Question 950 of 1,730

Workload-Specific Database Design →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL Migration with Ongoing Replication

This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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 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?

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.

A
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema, then import data
Why wrong: SCT only converts schema; data migration still requires another tool.
B
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
DMS supports continuous change data capture (CDC) to minimize downtime.
C
Use pg_dump to export the database and pg_restore to import
Why wrong: This would cause significant downtime and cannot handle ongoing changes.
D
Create an Aurora read replica from the Oracle database
Why wrong: Aurora cannot have an Oracle source as a read replica.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 ongoing replication

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.

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 Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert schema, then import data
Why it's wrong here
SCT only converts schema; data migration still requires another tool.
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
Why this is correct
DMS supports continuous change data capture (CDC) to minimize 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.
✗
Use pg_dump to export the database and pg_restore to import
Why it's wrong here
This would cause significant downtime and cannot handle ongoing changes.
✗
Create an Aurora read replica from the Oracle database
Why it's wrong here
Aurora cannot have an Oracle source as a read replica.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often assume native database tools like pg_dump/pg_restore can be used across different database engines, or that Aurora read replicas can be created from non-Aurora sources, leading them to choose options that are technically impossible or would cause excessive downtime.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

AWS DMS uses Oracle LogMiner or binary reader APIs to capture changes from Oracle redo logs for ongoing replication (CDC), supporting heterogeneous migrations like Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL. The 1 Gbps network connection is sufficient for the initial full load (2 TB at ~450 Mbps sustained throughput takes roughly 10-12 hours), and CDC handles the 10% daily change rate (200 GB/day) with minimal latency, allowing a cutover window of minutes. DMS also integrates with AWS SCT to automate schema conversion, including data types, indexes, and constraints, which is critical for Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DBS-C01 question test?

Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — 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 ongoing replication — 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.

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.

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Same concept, more angles

1 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.

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