Migrating data from DynamoDB to Azure Cosmos DB

Summary of Data Migration from DynamoDB to Azure Cosmos DB

Introduction

When migrating data from DynamoDB to Azure Cosmos DB, customers have the option of choosing between online and offline migration methods based on their specific requirements.

Online Migration

Online migration is preferred for applications needing real-time data transfer with zero downtime. It involves direct transfer of data from DynamoDB to Azure Cosmos DB without interrupting ongoing operations.

Offline Migration

Offline migration is suitable when applications can be paused during a maintenance window. Data is exported from DynamoDB to an intermediate location before being imported into Azure Cosmos DB in this method.

Hybrid Approach

A hybrid approach can also be adopted where bulk data migration occurs offline, followed by real-time synchronization to maintain data consistency between DynamoDB and Azure Cosmos DB.

Tools and Technologies

One popular offline migration approach involves using Azure Data Factory, Azure Storage (with Azure Data Lake Storage Gen v2), and Apache Spark on Azure Databricks. Data is processed in Azure storage using Spark on Azure Databricks and then written to Azure Cosmos DB using the Azure Cosmos DB Spark connector for NoSQL API.

Alternative Options

Other approaches include exporting data from DynamoDB to S3 and using Azure Data Factory to read from S3 and write to Azure Cosmos DB. Additionally, Spark on Azure Databricks can be leveraged to read from DynamoDB and write to Azure Cosmos DB.

Further Exploration

For those interested in exploring data migration further, documentation pages and GitHub repositories provide detailed walkthroughs of offline migration approaches and highlight pros and cons of different migration options.

Azure Cosmos DB Experience

Azure Cosmos DB is a fully managed and serverless NoSQL and vector database ideal for modern app development, including AI applications. With SLA-backed speed, availability, and scalability, it is well-suited for real-time NoSQL and MongoDB applications with high performance requirements.

Conclusion

Customers can try out Azure Cosmos DB for free to experience its capabilities firsthand and determine its suitability for their specific application needs.