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SQL Server To AWS Migration

SQL Server to AWS Migration

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Rofiq Ahmed
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9 views

SQL Server To AWS Migration

SQL Server to AWS Migration

Uploaded by

Rofiq Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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https://www.sqldbachamps.

com

Migrating a SQL Server database to AWS (Amazon Web Services) offers several options, each suited for
different requirements in terms of downtime, complexity, and control.

Below are the main approaches to migrating SQL Server to AWS, along with their details:

1. AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)

Best for: Minimal downtime with continuous data replication.

How it works:
- AWS DMS allows you to migrate SQL Server databases to AWS with minimal downtime. It supports both
homogeneous migrations (SQL Server to SQL Server) and heterogeneous migrations (SQL Server to another
database engine).
- You can use full-load, full-load with CDC (Change Data Capture), or CDC-only methods.
- DMS automates much of the migration process, continuously replicating changes from the source to the target
until both databases are in sync.

Steps:
1. Create an AWS DMS replication instance.
2. Configure source (SQL Server) and target (AWS RDS, EC2, or another supported destination).
3. Set up the migration task with options for full load, CDC, or both.
4. Run the task to migrate the data.

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Pros:
- Continuous replication with near-zero downtime.
- Supports heterogeneous and homogeneous migrations.
- Simple and automated.

Cons:
- Might not suit highly complex database architectures or heavily customized environments.
- Some manual adjustments may be needed post-migration.

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https://www.sqldbachamps.com
2. SQL Server Native Backup and Restore

Best for: Simple, one-time migrations with minimal dependencies.

How it works:
- Perform a full database backup on your on-premise SQL Server, transfer the backup file to AWS, and restore it
on an AWS SQL Server instance (EC2 or RDS).

Steps:
1. Create a full database backup of your SQL Server database using `BACKUP DATABASE` in SQL Server.
2. Transfer the backup file to AWS (using AWS S3 or an SCP command to EC2).
3. Restore the backup using `RESTORE DATABASE` on the AWS SQL Server target.

Pros:
- Straightforward, no continuous replication.
- Well-suited for smaller databases.

Cons:
- Some downtime during backup/restore operations.
- No automatic data synchronization (you'll need to manage downtime for larger databases).

3. AWS RDS SQL Server Snapshot

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Best for: Migrating SQL Server databases to Amazon RDS.

How it works:
- If you're migrating from one AWS region to another or from an on-premises SQL Server to AWS RDS, you can
use RDS snapshots to take a snapshot of your on-premise or EC2 SQL Server instance and restore it in AWS
RDS.

Steps:
1. Take a snapshot of your SQL Server on AWS or on-premises.
2. Restore the snapshot to an RDS SQL Server instance in AWS.

Pros:
- Easy for cloud-to-cloud or on-premises-to-cloud migrations.
- Minimal effort if already using RDS.

Cons:
- No real-time data replication (some downtime may occur).
- Only supports AWS RDS as the target.

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https://www.sqldbachamps.com
4. SQL Server Log Shipping

Best for: Migrations requiring high availability with some manual intervention.

How it works:
- Use SQL Server log shipping to replicate transactions from your on-premise SQL Server database to an SQL
Server instance running on AWS EC2. This method is useful if you want to maintain a warm standby database in
AWS.

Steps:
1. Set up log shipping on the source SQL Server.
2. Ship transaction logs to the AWS SQL Server instance (on EC2).
3. Perform a final cutover when ready to switch to AWS.

Pros:
- High availability with manual intervention.
- Good for large databases.

Cons:
- Requires manual cutover to the target instance.
- More complex than backup/restore methods.

5. AWS EC2 with SQL Server (Lift-and-Shift)

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Best for: Full control over SQL Server instances and applications.

How it works:
- This method involves deploying a fully-managed SQL Server on AWS EC2, giving you full control over the SQL
Server instance, similar to on-premise deployment.

Steps:
1. Set up a SQL Server instance on an EC2 instance.
2. Use SQL Server native backup and restore, log shipping, or AWS DMS to migrate data.
3. Manually configure the SQL Server environment (security, configuration, etc.) on the EC2 instance.

Pros:
- Full control over SQL Server settings.
- Works with any database size or complexity.

Cons:
- Requires more manual configuration and management.
- Infrastructure management falls on your team.

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https://www.sqldbachamps.com
6. AWS RDS for SQL Server (Managed Service)

Best for: Reducing infrastructure management with a fully managed SQL Server instance.

How it works:
- Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service) for SQL Server is a managed service where AWS takes care of
backups, patches, scaling, and other administrative tasks, making migration and ongoing maintenance easier.

Steps:
1. Provision a SQL Server instance in RDS.
2. Use AWS DMS, backup and restore, or third-party tools to migrate your on-premises SQL Server to RDS.

Pros:
- Fully managed, reducing administrative overhead.
- Automatic backups and updates.

Cons:
- Limited control over server configuration compared to EC2.
- RDS SQL Server has limitations (e.g., no SQL Server Agent in some cases).

7. SQL Server Replication

Best for: Migrations requiring continuous data replication with near-zero downtime.

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How it works:
- SQL Server Replication allows you to replicate data from an on-premise SQL Server to an AWS SQL Server
instance (on EC2 or RDS). This method works well for cases where high availability is required.

Steps:
1. Set up replication on the source SQL Server.
2. Configure the target SQL Server instance (EC2 or RDS) to receive replicated data.
3. Cut over to the AWS SQL Server instance when ready.

Pros:
- Near-zero downtime.
- Continuous data replication for high availability.

Cons:
- Complex setup.
- Some SQL Server features may not be replicated.

https://www.sqldbachamps.com
https://www.sqldbachamps.com
8. Third-Party Tools

Best for: Complex migrations with advanced needs.

How it works:
- There are several third-party tools available (e.g., Quest SharePlex, CloudEndure, Attunity), which offer more
robust and customized migration processes.

Steps:
1. Choose a third-party migration tool that fits your requirements.
2. Configure the source and target databases.
3. Run the migration through the third-party tool.

Pros:
- Feature-rich and advanced customization options.
- Handles complex scenarios.

Cons:
- Often comes with licensing costs.
- May require vendor-specific expertise.

Choosing the Right Approach

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- For minimal downtime: Use AWS DMS or SQL Server replication.

- For simplicity and small databases: Use native backup/restore or RDS snapshots.

- For complex environments: Consider third-party tools or log shipping.

- For full control: Deploy SQL Server on AWS EC2.

https://www.sqldbachamps.com

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