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AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)

What is it​

A cloud service that makes it easy to migrate relational databases, data warehouses, NoSQL databases, and other types of data to AWS quickly and securely.

What it's for​

Migrate data between different types of databases (heterogeneous) or between the same type of database (homogeneous), with minimal or zero downtime.

Use cases​

  • Migrating on-premises databases to AWS (e.g., from Oracle to Amazon RDS PostgreSQL)
  • Consolidating multiple databases into a single database in AWS
  • Continuous data replication for disaster recovery or analysis purposes
  • Migrating data warehouses to Amazon Redshift
  • Migrating NoSQL databases to Amazon DynamoDB or DocumentDB

Key points​

  • Heterogeneous and homogeneous migration: Supports migration between different database platforms
  • Minimal downtime: Enables near-zero downtime migrations using continuous replication
  • Fully managed: AWS handles the provisioning, patching, and monitoring of the migration infrastructure
  • Multiple source and target support: Connects to a wide variety of databases and AWS services
  • Continuous replication: Keeps data synchronized between source and target

Comparison​

  • AWS DMS: Simplifies and accelerates the database migration process, automating many complex tasks and minimizing downtime. Ideal for large-scale or complex migrations.
  • Manual migration: Can be time-consuming, error-prone, and requires careful planning to minimize downtime. Generally suitable only for small and simple databases.