ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL provides the cloud migration feature. This feature uses physical streaming replication to accelerate and simplify cloud migration in various business scenarios. You can use this feature to migrate the data of a self-managed PostgreSQL instance that is deployed on an Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instance or in a data center to an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance. You can also use this feature to migrate the backup files of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance across regions or accounts. This topic describes the scenarios in which you can use the cloud migration feature.

The following table describes the scenarios.
Scenarios Source instance Destination instance Migration link References
  • Migration to the cloud

    Migrate the data of a self-managed PostgreSQL instance to an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.

  • Read capability expansion in the cloud

    Use an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance to offload read requests from a self-managed PostgreSQL instance.

  • Disaster recovery in the cloud

    Use an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance to run as a hot standby for a self-managed PostgreSQL instance. If the self-managed PostgreSQL instance fails, you can manually switch your workloads over from the self-managed PostgreSQL instance to the ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.

  • Internet-based data migration
    Migrate the data of a PostgreSQL instance that is connected by using a public IP address or provided by a third-party cloud service provider to an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.
    Note A PostgreSQL instance that is provided by a third-party cloud service provider can be a self-managed PostgreSQL instance or a managed PostgreSQL instance, such as a Google Cloud SQL instance or an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL instance.
  • Self-managed PostgreSQL instance that is deployed on an Alibaba Cloud ECS instance
  • Self-managed PostgreSQL instance that is deployed in a data center
  • PostgreSQL instance that is connected by using a public IP address or provided by a third-party cloud service provider
ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance VPC and Internet
  • If the self-managed PostgreSQL instance is deployed on an ECS instance, the ECS instance and the ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance must reside in the same virtual private cloud (VPC). If the ECS instance and the ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance reside in different VPCs, you must use Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN) to connect the VPCs. For more information, see What is CEN?
  • If the self-managed PostgreSQL instance is deployed in a data center, you must use CEN, VPN Gateway, Express Connect, or Smart Access Gateway to connect the data center and the ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance over an internal network.
  • If the source PostgreSQL instance is connected by using a public IP address or provided by a third-party cloud service provider, you can migrate data from the source PostgreSQL instance to your ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance over the Internet.
Migrate the data of a self-managed PostgreSQL instance to an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance
  • Cross-region migration

    Migrate the data of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance to another ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance that resides in a different region.

  • Geo-disaster recovery

    Add ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances that reside in different regions to a group to improve disaster recovery capabilities.

ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance that is created within the same Alibaba Cloud account but resides in a different region VPC

You must use CEN to connect the ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances over an internal network.

Migrate data between ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances that reside in different regions
Cross-account migration

Migrate the data of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance to another ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance that is created within a different Alibaba Cloud account.

ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance that is created within a different Alibaba Cloud account VPC

You must use CEN to connect the ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances over an internal network.

Migrate data between ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances within different accounts
Instance configuration downgrade

Migrate the data of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance to another ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance that has fewer storage resources in full and incremental synchronization modes. Then, interchange the endpoints of the RDS instances.

ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance VPC

The source and destination ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instances must reside in the same VPC.

Scale down an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance