PAS-C01 Migration Practice Question
A company plans to migrate a 10 TB on-premises SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server. The migration must be completed within a 4-hour window. The network bandwidth is 1 Gbps. Which migration approach should they choose?
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 Snowball Edge to transfer data and then perform a cutover
AWS SCT only converts schema, not data; export/import via native tools would still need to transfer the full 10 TB over the internet, which at 1 Gbps takes ~22 hours, far exceeding the 4-hour window. Option B is incorrect because DMS over the internet is limited by the 1 Gbps bandwidth, resulting in a transfer time of ~22 hours, too slow. Option C is incorrect because while Direct Connect provides a dedicated connection, it still has a 1 Gbps bandwidth limit, so the transfer would still take ~22 hours, exceeding the window. Option D is correct because AWS Snowball Edge physically ships the data, bypassing network bandwidth limitations, and allows a fast cutover.
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 SCT to convert schema and then export/import via native tools
Why it's wrong here
AWS SCT converts schema but does not transfer data; the subsequent export/import via native tools over the internet would take ~22 hours because of the 1 Gbps bandwidth, exceeding the 4-hour window.
- ✗
Use AWS DMS over the internet
Why it's wrong here
AWS DMS over the internet is limited by the 1 Gbps bandwidth; transferring 10 TB would take ~22 hours, making this approach too slow for the 4-hour window.
- ✗
Set up an AWS Direct Connect connection and use DMS
Why it's wrong here
Even with an AWS Direct Connect connection, the network bandwidth remains 1 Gbps, so transferring 10 TB still takes ~22 hours, which exceeds the time window.
- ✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer data and then perform a cutover
Why this is correct
AWS Snowball Edge physically ships the data, avoiding network transfer time. The cutover can be performed within the 4-hour window after the data is loaded to Amazon RDS.
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