- A
Create a read replica of the on-premises database and promote it to Aurora.
Why wrong: Creating a read replica requires additional setup and still impacts the source.
- B
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the source to Aurora.
Why wrong: DMS can cause overhead on the source due to continuous change capture.
- C
Use pglogical to set up logical replication from the source to Aurora.
pglogical provides logical replication with minimal overhead on the source.
- D
Set up native PostgreSQL streaming replication from on-premises to Aurora.
Why wrong: Streaming replication requires the source to be a primary and can impact performance.
Question 123 of 1,730
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
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 a 2 TB PostgreSQL database from on-premises to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database has high write throughput and the migration must have minimal impact on source performance. Which solution is MOST appropriate?
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 pglogical to set up logical replication from the source to Aurora.
Option C is correct because pglogical is a PostgreSQL extension that provides logical replication with minimal overhead on the source, making it ideal for high-write-throughput databases. It allows selective table replication and does not require physical changes to the source, thus avoiding performance impact. AWS DMS (Option B) can also perform ongoing replication but introduces additional overhead and complexity, and it is not as tightly integrated with PostgreSQL's native replication mechanisms as pglogical.
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 Aurora.
Why it's wrong here
Creating a read replica requires additional setup and still impacts the source.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the source to Aurora.
Why it's wrong here
DMS can cause overhead on the source due to continuous change capture.
- ✓
Use pglogical to set up logical replication from the source to Aurora.
Why this is correct
pglogical provides logical replication with minimal overhead on the source.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set up native PostgreSQL streaming replication from on-premises to Aurora.
Why it's wrong here
Streaming replication requires the source to be a primary and can impact performance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume AWS DMS is always the best choice for minimal-impact migrations, but for PostgreSQL-to-Aurora migrations, native logical replication via pglogical is more efficient and less intrusive on high-write-throughput sources.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
pglogical works by decoding the write-ahead log (WAL) at the logical level, capturing changes as row-level operations (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) without requiring physical block-level replication. This allows the source to continue processing writes with minimal latency, as logical replication uses a separate replication slot and does not block the primary's write path. In real-world scenarios, pglogical is preferred for migrations where the source must remain fully operational and the target (Aurora) can be kept in sync with minimal lag.
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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Deployment and Migration — study guide chapter
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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 pglogical to set up logical replication from the source to Aurora. — Option C is correct because pglogical is a PostgreSQL extension that provides logical replication with minimal overhead on the source, making it ideal for high-write-throughput databases. It allows selective table replication and does not require physical changes to the source, thus avoiding performance impact. AWS DMS (Option B) can also perform ongoing replication but introduces additional overhead and complexity, and it is not as tightly integrated with PostgreSQL's native replication mechanisms as pglogical.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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