AWS re:Invent 2016: Migrating a Scalable Database from Oracle to DynamoDB (ARC404)

In this session, we share how an Amazon.com team that owns a document management platform that manages billions of critical customer documents for Amazon.com migrated from a relational to a non-relational database. Initially, the service was built as an Oracle database. As it grew, the team discovered the limits of the relational model and decided to migrate to a non-relational database. They chose Amazon DynamoDB for its built-in resilience, scalability, and predictability. We provide a template that you can use to migrate from a relational data store to DynamoDB. We also provide details about the entire process: design patterns for moving from a SQL schema to a NoSQL schema; mechanisms used to transition from an ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) model to an eventually consistent model; migration alternatives considered; pitfalls in common migration strategies; and how to ensure service availability and consistency during migration.