Guides

Database Migrations

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Bringing your database to Facets.cloud is a crucial step in ensuring a smooth and scalable deployment. The right migration approach depends on your existing setup, downtime tolerance, and database size. Let’s walk through the most effective ways to migrate your database, whether you’re moving from an on-premise setup or a cloud provider.

Choosing the Right Migration Approach

Every migration method has its strengths. If you need a quick and simple transfer, a dump and restore might be the best fit. If you're using a cloud provider like AWS, a snapshot-based migration could be the easiest path. For enterprises requiring minimal downtime, AWS DMS (Database Migration Service) provides a seamless transition. Let’s explore each option:

1. Dump and Restore

For databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB, the dump and restore method is a straightforward way to migrate data. This involves:

  1. Exporting the database using tools like mysqldump, pg_dump, or mongodump.
  2. Transferring the dump file to the target environment.
  3. Restoring the database on Facets.cloud using mysql, psql, or mongorestore.

This method is simple but may involve downtime depending on the database size.

2. Provider Backup and Restore

Many cloud providers offer built-in backup and restore mechanisms. If your database is hosted on AWS RDS, GCP Cloud SQL, or Azure Database, you can:

  1. Create a backup (snapshot or dump) using the provider’s native tools.
  2. Restore the backup into a new database instance on Facets.cloud.

This ensures a structured migration while maintaining configurations and access controls.

3. Snapshot-Based Migration (Cloud)

For cloud-hosted databases, snapshot-based migration offers a quick way to replicate data. This typically involves:

  1. Taking a snapshot of the source database (AWS RDS, GCP Cloud SQL, or other managed services).
  2. Creating a new database from the snapshot on Facets.cloud.

Snapshots ensure a point-in-time migration but require additional steps for application cutover and data consistency validation.

4. AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)

For continuous data migration with minimal downtime, AWS DMS (Database Migration Service) can be used:

  1. Set up a replication task in AWS DMS to migrate data from the source database to Facets.cloud.
  2. Use full load for initial migration and change data capture (CDC) to sync ongoing changes.
  3. Once the data is fully migrated and validated, switch the application to the new database.

AWS DMS is particularly useful for large databases and complex migrations where minimal downtime is required.

Post-Migration Validation

After migration, perform thorough validation:

  • Data Integrity: Verify that all records have been successfully transferred.
  • Application Connectivity: Ensure the application can connect to the new database without issues.
  • Performance Testing: Monitor query performance and make adjustments if needed.

By choosing the right migration method based on your database and downtime requirements, you can ensure a smooth transition to Facets.cloud.

Updated 3 days ago