Migrate an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server - AWS Prescriptive Guidance

Migrate an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server

Created by Henrique Lobao (AWS), Jonathan Pereira Cruz (AWS), and Vishal Singh (AWS)

Environment: PoC or pilot

Source: Microsoft SQL Server

Target: Amazon RDS for SQL Server

R Type: Replatform

Workload: Microsoft

Technologies: Migration; Databases

AWS services: Amazon RDS

Summary

This pattern provides guidance for migrating from an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database to Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) for SQL Server. It describes two options for migration: using AWS Data Migration Service (AWS DMS) or using native Microsoft SQL Server tools such as Copy Database Wizard.

Prerequisites and limitations

Prerequisites

  • An active AWS account

  • A source Microsoft SQL Server database in an on-premises data center

Limitations

  • Database size limit: 16 TB

Product versions

Architecture

Source technology stack

  • An on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database

Target technology stack

  • An Amazon RDS for SQL Server DB instance 

Source and target architecture

Using AWS DMS:

Architecture for migration from on-premises SQL Server to Amazon RDS using AWS DMS

Using native SQL Server tools:

Architecture for migration from on-premises SQL Server to Amazon RDS using SQL Server tools

Tools

  • AWS DMS supports several types of source and target databases. For details, see AWS DMS Step-by-Step Walkthroughs. If AWS DMS doesn't support the source database, select another method for migrating the data. 

  • Native Microsoft SQL Server tools include backup and restore, Copy Database Wizard, copy and attach database.

Epics

TaskDescriptionSkills required

Validate the source and target database version and engine.

DBA

Identify the hardware requirements for the target server instance.

DBA, Systems administrator

Identify the storage requirements (storage type and capacity).

DBA, Systems administrator

Choose the proper instance type based on capacity, storage features, and network features.

DBA, Systems administrator

Identify the network access security requirements for source and target databases.

DBA, Systems administrator

Identify the application migration strategy.

DBA, Systems administrator
TaskDescriptionSkills required

Create a virtual private cloud (VPC).

Systems administrator

Create security groups.

Systems administrator

Configure and start an Amazon RDS DB instance.

DBA, Systems administrator
TaskDescriptionSkills required

Use native SQL Server tools or third-party tools to migrate database objects and data.

DBA
TaskDescriptionSkills required

Migrate data with AWS DMS.

DBA
TaskDescriptionSkills required

Follow the application migration strategy.

DBA, App owner, Systems administrator
TaskDescriptionSkills required

Switch the application clients over to the new infrastructure.

DBA, App owner, Systems administrator
TaskDescriptionSkills required

Shut down the temporary AWS resources.

DBA, Systems administrator

Review and validate the project documents.

DBA, App owner, Systems administrator

Gather metrics such as time to migrate, percentage of manual versus automated tasks, and cost savings.

DBA, App owner, Systems administrator

Close out the project and provide feedback.

DBA, App owner, Systems administrator

Related resources

References

Tutorials and videos