AWS Certified Database – Specialty — Question 9

A company is running an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance and wants to migrate it to an Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster. The current database is 1 TB in size. The migration needs to have minimal downtime.
What is the FASTEST way to accomplish this?

Answer options

• A. Create an Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster. Set up replication from the source RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance using AWS DMS to the target DB cluster.
• B. Use the pg_dump and pg_restore utilities to extract and restore the RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance to the Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster.
• C. Create a database snapshot of the RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance and use this snapshot to create the Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster.
• D. Migrate data from the RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance to an Aurora PostgreSQL DB cluster using an Aurora Replica. Promote the replica during the cutover.

Correct answer: D

Explanation

The correct answer is D because using an Aurora Replica allows for a continuous replication of data with minimal downtime and seamless cutover. Options A and B involve more manual processes and downtime due to replication setup or data extraction and restoration. Option C does not support minimal downtime as it requires the creation of a new cluster from a snapshot, which can lead to longer migration times.