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    Data Management:Initialize empty databases

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    Data Management:Initialize empty databases

    Last Updated:Feb 28, 2026

    Empty database initialization copies table structures (schemas) from a source database to a destination database that contains no tables. Use this operation to replicate database schemas across regions, units, or environments without migrating data.

    To synchronize schemas to a destination database that already contains tables, use schema synchronization instead.

    Prerequisites

    Before you begin, make sure that:

    • The source and destination databases are one of the following supported types:

      Engine Supported database services
      MySQL ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL, PolarDB for MySQL, MyBase for MySQL, PolarDB for Xscale, AnalyticDB for MySQL V3.0, and MySQL databases from other sources
      SQL Server ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server, MyBase for SQL Server, and SQL Server databases from other sources
      PostgreSQL ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL, PolarDB for PostgreSQL, MyBase for PostgreSQL, AnalyticDB for PostgreSQL, and PostgreSQL databases from other sources
      MariaDB ApsaraDB RDS for MariaDB and MariaDB databases from other sources
      OceanBase ApsaraDB for OceanBase in MySQL mode
      Oracle-compatible PolarDB for PostgreSQL (Compatible with Oracle)

    • The security rule Enable execution capability (if closed, other rules are invalid) is enabled for the destination database. For more information, see Enable execution capability.

      Note

      If this rule is disabled, schema synchronization can only compare schemas but cannot run SQL statements to synchronize them.

    • The destination database is empty and contains no tables.

    • Your account has query permissions on the source database. For more information, see View owned permissions.

    • Your account has permissions to alter tables in the destination database. For more information, see View owned permissions.

    Procedure

    1. Log on to the DMS console V5.0.

    2. In the top navigation bar, click Database Development. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Schema Change > Empty Database Initialization.

    3. On the Table/Database Synchronization Application page, configure the following parameters.

      Parameter

      Description

      Source Database

      The source database. After you select a database, you can optionally specify a schema version number. By default, the latest schema version is used. For more information, see Manage schema versions.

      Destination Database

      The destination database. You can optionally specify a schema version number. For more information, see Manage schema versions.

      Initialized Table

      The tables to initialize. Partial Tables: initialize only the tables that you select. All Tables: initialize all tables in the source database.

      Whether to Ignore Error

      The error handling mode. Not Ignore: DMS stops execution when an error occurs. Ignore: DMS skips the failed statement and continues to run the remaining statements.

    4. Click Submit.

      DMS analyzes the schemas of the source and destination databases.

      Note

      If the schemas change during analysis, click Re-analyze to restart the analysis.

    5. Click Submit for Approval and wait for the request to be approved.

    6. After approval, click Submit and Synchronize to Target Database.

    7. Review the SQL statements, then click Confirm Synchronization.

      DMS runs the SQL statements to synchronize the schemas. Click Details to view the operation logs, including SQL statements, execution duration, and scheduling details.

    Next steps