Migrate data from a self-managed SQL Server database to an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance

Prerequisites

• The version of the self-managed SQL Server database is supported by DTS. For more information, see Overview of data migration scenarios.
• The destination ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance is created. For more information, see Create an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
• The available storage space of the ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance is larger than the total size of the data in the self-managed SQL Server database.

Limits

Migration types

• Schema migration

  DTS migrates the schemas of required objects from the source database to the destination database.

  • DTS supports schema migration for the following types of objects: table, view, trigger, synonym, SQL stored procedure, SQL function, plan guide, user-defined type, rule, default, and sequence.
  • DTS does not migrate the schemas of assemblies, service brokers, full-text indexes, full-text catalogs, distributed schemas, distributed functions, CLR stored procedures, CLR scalar-valued functions, CLR table-valued functions, internal tables, systems, or aggregate functions.
• Full data migration

  DTS migrates historical data of required objects from the source database to the destination database.

• Incremental data migration

  After full data migration is completed, DTS migrates incremental data from the source database to the destination database. Incremental data migration ensures service continuity when you migrate data between self-managed databases.

SQL operations that can be migrated

Permissions required for database accounts

For more information about how to create a database account and grant permissions to the account, see the following topics:

• Self-managed SQL Server databases: CREATE USER
• ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instances: Create an account for an RDS SQL Server instancy and Modify the permissions of a standard account on an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance

Data migration process

1. Migrate the schemas of tables, views, synonyms, user-defined types, rules, defaults, and plan guides.
2. Perform full data migration.
3. Migrate the schemas of SQL stored procedures, SQL functions, triggers, and foreign keys.
4. Perform incremental data migration.

Preparations

1. Run the following command in the self-managed SQL Server database to change the recovery model to full:

   use master;
   GO
   ALTER DATABASE <database_name> SET RECOVERY FULL WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;
   GO

   Parameters

   <database_name>: the name of the source database.

   Example:

   use master;
   GO
   ALTER DATABASE mytestdata SET RECOVERY FULL WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;
   GO

2. Run the following command to create a logical backup for the source database. Skip this step if you have already created a logical backup.

   BACKUP DATABASE <database_name> TO DISK='<physical_backup_device_name>';
   GO

   Parameters
   • <database_name>: the name of the source database.
   • <physical_backup_device_name>: the storage path and file name of the backup file.
   Example:

   BACKUP DATABASE mytestdata TO DISK='D:\backup\dbdata.bak';
   GO

3. Run the following command to back up the log entries of the source database:

   BACKUP LOG <database_name> to DISK='<physical_backup_device_name>' WITH init;
   GO

   Parameters
   • <database_name>: the name of the source database.
   • <physical_backup_device_name>: the storage path and file name of the backup file.
   Example:

   BACKUP LOG mytestdata TO DISK='D:\backup\dblog.bak' WITH init;
   GO

4. Incremental data migration by parsing logs of the source database is not supported for heap tables, tables without primary keys, compressed tables, and tables with calculated columns. Execute the following SQL statements to check whether the source database contains the preceding table types:
   1. Check for heap tables.

      select s.name, t.name from sys.schemas s inner join sys.tables t on s.schema_id = t.schema_id where t.type = 'U' and t.object_id in (select object_id from sys.indexes where index_id = 0)

   2. Check for tables without primary keys.

      select s.name, t.name from sys.schemas s inner join sys.tables t on s.schema_id = t.schema_id where t.type = 'U' and t.object_id not in (select parent_object_id from sys.objects where type = 'PK')

   3. Check for compressed tables.

      select s.name as schema_name,t.name as table_name from sys.objects t, sys.schemas s, sys.partitions i where s.schema_id=t.schema_id and t.object_id = i.object_id and i.data_compression != 0

   4. Check for tables with calculated columns.

      select s.name, t.name from sys.schemas s inner join sys.tables t on s.schema_id = t.schema_id where t.type = 'U' and t.object_id in (select object_id from sys.columns where is_computed = 1)

Procedure

1. Go to the Data Migration page of the new DTS console.
   Note You can also log on to the Data Management (DMS) console. In the top navigation bar, click DTS.
2. In the upper-left corner of the page, select the region in which the data migration instance resides.
   
3. Click Create Task. On the page that appears, configure the source and destination databases.
   Warning After you select the source and destination instances, we recommend that you read the limits displayed at the top of the page. This helps you create and run the data migration task.

   

   Section	Parameter	Description
   N/A	Task Name	DTS automatically generates a task name. We recommend that you specify a descriptive name that makes it easy to identify. You do not need to use a unique task name.
   Source Database	Database Type	Select SQL Server.
   	Access Method	Select Public IP Address. Note If your source database is a self-managed database, you must deploy the network environment for the database. For more information, see Preparation overview.
   	Instance Region	The region where the self-managed SQL Server database resides.
   	Hostname or IP address	The endpoint that is used to access the self-managed SQL Server database. In this example, enter the public IP address.
   	Port Number	The service port number of the self-managed SQL Server database. The default port number is 1433.
   	Database Account	The account that is used to log on to the self-managed SQL Server database. For more information about the permissions that are required for the account, see Permissions required for database accounts.
   	Database Password	Enter the password of the database account.
   Destination Database	Database Type	Select SQL Server.
   	Access Method	Select Cloud Instance.
   	Instance Region	The region where the destination ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance resides.
   	Instance ID	The ID of the destination ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
   	Database Account	The database account of the destination ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance. For more information about the permissions that are required for the account, see Permissions required for database accounts.
   	Database Password	Enter the password of the database account.

4. If a whitelist is configured for your self-managed database, you must add the CIDR blocks of DTS servers to the whitelist. Then, click Test Connectivity and Proceed.
   Warning

   • If the source or destination database instance is an Alibaba Cloud database instance, such as an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL or ApsaraDB for MongoDB instance, or is a self-managed database hosted on Elastic Compute Service (ECS), DTS automatically adds the CIDR blocks of DTS servers to the whitelist of the database instance or ECS security group rules. For more information, see Add the CIDR blocks of DTS servers to the security settings of on-premises databases. If the source or destination database is a self-managed database on data centers or is from other cloud service providers, you must manually add the CIDR blocks of DTS servers to allow DTS to access the database.
   • If the CIDR blocks of DTS servers are automatically or manually added to the whitelist of the database instance or ECS security group rules, security risks may arise. Therefore, before you use DTS to migrate data, you must understand and acknowledge the potential risks and take preventive measures, including but not limited to the following measures: enhance the security of your account and password, limit the ports that are exposed, authenticate API calls, regularly check the whitelist or ECS security group rules and forbid unauthorized CIDR blocks, or connect the database to DTS by using Express Connect, VPN Gateway, or Smart Access Gateway.
   • After the DTS task is completed or released, we recommend that you manually detect and remove the added CIDR blocks from the whitelist of the database instance or ECS security group rules.
5. Configure objects to migrate and advanced settings.
   • Basic Settings

     Parameter	Description
     Task Stages	To perform only full data migration, select Schema Migration and Full Data Migration. To ensure service continuity during data migration, select Schema Migration, Full Data Migration, and Incremental Data Migration. Note If Incremental Data Migration is not selected, we recommend that you do not write data to the source instance during data migration. This ensures data consistency between the source and destination instances.
     Processing Mode of Conflicting Tables	Precheck and Report Errors: checks whether the destination database contains tables that have the same names as tables in the source database. If the source and destination databases do not contain identical table names, the precheck is passed. Otherwise, an error is returned during precheck and the data migration task cannot be started. Note You can use the object name mapping feature to rename the tables that are migrated to the destination database. You can use this feature if the source and destination databases contain identical table names and the tables in the destination database cannot be deleted or renamed. For more information, see Map object names. Ignore Errors and Proceed: skips the precheck for identical table names in the source and destination databases. Warning If you select Ignore Errors and Proceed, data inconsistency may occur and your business may be exposed to potential risks. If the source and destination databases have the same schema, DTS does not migrate data records that have the same primary keys as data records in the destination database. If the source and destination databases have different schemas, only specific columns are migrated or the data migration task fails.
     SQL Server Incremental Synchronization Mode	Use the incremental synchronization based on logs of source database mode for non-heap tables, and the CDC-based incremental synchronization mode for heap tables. CDC-based Incremental Synchronization: Advantages: Supports heap tables,tables without primary keys, compressed tables, and tables with calculated columns. Provides higher stability and a variety of complete DDL statements. Disadvantages: DTS creates the trigger dts_cdc_sync_ddl, the heartbeat table dts_sync_progress, and the DDL storage table dts_cdc_ddl_history in the source database and enables Change Data Capture (CDC) for the source database and specific tables. Incremental Synchronization Based on Logs of Source Database: Advantages: Provides no intrusion to the source database. Disadvantages: Does not support heap tables, tables without primary keys, compressed tables, and tables with calculated columns.
     Select Objects	Select one or more objects from the Source Objects section and click the icon to add the objects to the Selected Objects section.
     Rename Databases and Tables	To rename an object that you want to migrate to the destination instance, right-click the object in the Selected Objects section. For more information, see Map the name of a single object. To rename multiple objects at a time, click in the upper-right corner of the Selected Objects section. For more information, see Map multiple object names at a time. Note If you use the object name mapping feature to rename an object, other objects that are dependent on the object may fail to be migrated.
     Filter data	You can specify WHERE conditions to filter data. For more information, see Use SQL conditions to filter data.
     Select the SQL operations to be migrated	In the Selected Objects section, right-click an object. In the dialog box that appears, select the DDL and DML operations that you want to migrate. For more information, see SQL operations that can be migrated.

   • Advanced Settings

     Parameter	Description
     Set Alerts	Specify whether to set alerts for the data migration task. If the task fails or the migration latency exceeds the threshold, the alert contacts will receive notifications. Select No if you do not want to set alerts. Select Yes to set alerts. In this case, you must also set the alert threshold and alert contacts.
     Retry Time for Failed Connections	Specify the retry time range for failed connections. Valid values: 10 to 720. Unit: minutes. Default value: 720. We recommend that you set the retry time range to more than 30 minutes. If DTS reconnects to the source and destination databases within the specified time range, DTS resumes the data synchronization task. Otherwise, the data synchronization task fails. Note If an instance serves as the source or destination database of multiple data synchronization tasks, the value that is set later takes precedence. When DTS retries a connection, you are charged for the DTS instance. We recommend that you specify the retry time range based on your business needs. You can also release the DTS instance at your earliest opportunity after the source and destination instances are released.

6. Click Next: Save Task Settings and Precheck in the lower part of the page.
   Note

   • Before you can start the data migration task, DTS performs a precheck. You can start the data migration task only after the task passes the precheck.
   • If the task fails to pass the precheck, you can click the icon next to each failed item to view details.
     • You can troubleshoot the issues based on the causes and run a precheck again.
     • If you do not need to troubleshoot the issues, you can ignore failed items and run a precheck again.
7. Wait until the Success Rate becomes 100%. Then, click Next: Purchase Instance.
8. On the Purchase Instance page, specify the Instance Class parameter for the data migration instance. The following table describes the parameter.

   Section	Parameter	Description
   Parameters	Instance Class	DTS provides various migration specifications. The migration speed varies based on the migration specifications that you select based on your business requirements. For more information, see Specifications of data migration instances.

9. Read and select Data Transmission Service (Pay-as-you-go) Service Terms.
10. Click Buy and Start to start the data migration task. You can view the progress of the task in the task list.