What is AWS Database Migration Service?
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) migrates databases to AWS quickly and securely with minimal downtime. The source database remains fully operational during migration, allowing applications to continue running with minimal interruption.
DMS supports homogeneous migrations (same database engine) and heterogeneous migrations (different engines like Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL). For schema conversions in heterogeneous migrations, the built-in DMS Schema Conversion is available; for more complex cases (data warehouse schemas, big data frameworks, application code), the separate AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) remains relevant.
Core Features
- Continuous Replication: CDC (Change Data Capture) for ongoing synchronization
- Heterogeneous Migration: Migration between different database engines
- Schema Conversion: Automatic schema conversion via the built-in DMS Schema Conversion or the separate AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
- Validation: Automatic validation of migrated data
- Serverless: DMS Serverless scales automatically based on workload
Typical Use Cases
Cloud Migration: Migrate on-premises databases to AWS RDS, Aurora, or self-managed databases on EC2. DMS minimizes downtime through continuous replication until cutover.
Database Modernization: Switch from commercial databases (Oracle, SQL Server) to open-source alternatives (PostgreSQL, MySQL) on AWS. DMS Schema Conversion or the AWS Schema Conversion Tool identify the code adjustments needed.
Ongoing Replication: Use DMS for continuous data replication to data warehouses (Redshift), data lakes (S3), or DR scenarios with geographically separated databases.
Benefits
- Minimal downtime through continuous replication during migration
- Support for all common database engines
- Built-in and standalone schema conversion tools reduce manual effort
- Serverless option eliminates capacity planning
Integration with innFactory
As an AWS Reseller, innFactory supports you with AWS DMS: migration planning, schema conversion, test migration, cutover planning, and validation of migrated data.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AWS Database Migration Service?
AWS DMS migrates databases to AWS with minimal downtime. The service continuously replicates data while the source database remains active. Supports homogeneous (e.g., Oracle to Oracle) and heterogeneous migrations (e.g., Oracle to PostgreSQL).
Which databases are supported?
DMS supports Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, SAP ASE, IBM Db2, and Amazon databases (Aurora, Redshift, DynamoDB, S3). Schema conversion is done with the AWS Schema Conversion Tool.
How does migration with minimal downtime work?
DMS first performs a full data load. Then changes are continuously replicated (CDC: Change Data Capture). At cutover, you switch to the target database with only seconds to minutes of downtime.
What is the Schema Conversion Tool?
For most OLTP schema conversions, AWS recommends the browser-based DMS Schema Conversion built into DMS. The separate desktop AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) remains relevant for data warehouse schemas, big data frameworks, and application code conversion, and analyzes incompatibilities that require manual adjustment.
What does AWS DMS cost?
With classic replication instances, you pay for the compute capacity used and associated storage. DMS Serverless bills on a usage basis for the capacity actually consumed, without needing to size instances upfront.
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