What are the best ways to restore an RDS or Aurora database on-premises?
Asked by
MellowPine47
I'm exploring the available patterns for moving an RDS or Aurora database back to an on-premises environment. My current understanding is that the main choices are either using AWS Database Migration Service with change data capture to keep an on-premises database synchronized, or taking a logical backup such as mysqldump and restoring it on-premises. Are there other practical approaches, especially for minimizing downtime or performing a point-in-time migration?
Answers
You can also do a low-downtime cutover without necessarily using DMS. Establish connectivity between Aurora and the on-premises server, seed the on-premises database with a dump or snapshot-compatible export, then configure native replication where the database engines support it. Let the target catch up, stop writes briefly, and promote the on-premises system. A VPN or another secure TLS connection would be needed, along with careful attention to engine and version compatibility.
Reply to this answer
DMS with change data capture is a good fit when you need continuous synchronization during the migration. It can keep the target updated while the source remains active, allowing you to schedule a short final cutover. The other common choice is a logical export and restore, such as mysqldump, for a simpler one-time migration. The exact options depend on whether the Aurora engine is MySQL-compatible or PostgreSQL-compatible and whether native replication is supported for the target.
Reply to this answer
For a one-time move, the usual approach is to stop applications that write to the database, take a snapshot or logical dump, provision the on-premises database, and restore the data there. That gives you a consistent point-in-time copy, but requires downtime while the final backup is created and restored.
MellowPine47: This was mainly an academic question, but that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying the basic point-in-time option.
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
BrightCedar31: Right—there generally aren’t many additional magic options. The practical decision is usually between a dump and restore for a fixed point in time, or replication/change data capture when you need the on-premises copy to catch up before switching over.