Nowadays lot of companies migrate their databases from commercial on-premises servers to open-source systems or cloud platforms. However, the database migration is a hard to implement procedure that takes a lot of resources and involve risks of data loss or corruption due to human factor when running it manually. That is why experiences developers and system administrators use special software called database converter to simplify and automate the migration.
Following this way, it is extremely important to choose the converter that fits the particular migration project in the best way. These are key features that must be checked when choosing the database converter:
- Compatibility: Ensure that the database converter supports all major versions of both the source and target database management systems (DBMS). If the data source or target is a cloud platform, the converter should also be compatible with it.
- High Performance: Look for a converter that offers efficient and speedy data migration capabilities. It should be able to handle large volumes of data without compromising performance.
- Customizable Type Mapping: The converter should provide the flexibility to customize type mappings between the source and target databases. This allows for seamless conversion of data types during the migration process.
- Logging and Reporting: A reliable converter should offer comprehensive log reports, enabling you to monitor and control the database migration effectively. These logs help in troubleshooting and ensuring the accuracy of the conversion.
- Fast and Secure Conversion: Choose a converter that prioritizes both speed and security. It should efficiently convert the database while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the data.
- Row Filtering: The converter should include functionality to filter specific rows during the conversion process. This allows you to select and migrate only the relevant data, saving time and resources.
- Command Line Support: Look for a converter that provides a command line interface, allowing for automation and integration with other tools or scripts. This enhances the converter’s usability and scalability.
Performance
Corporate data warehouses may contain millions of rows and reach a volume of hundreds of gigabytes. When selecting a database converter, it is crucial to ensure that it incorporates highly efficient algorithms for bulk data reading and writing. These algorithms should be implemented at a low level to achieve optimal performance during the migration process. Using middleware is not recommended as it can negatively impact the speed and efficiency of the database migration. It is essential to prioritize converters that employ efficient algorithms directly, allowing for the swift and seamless migration of large volumes of data within a short timeframe.
Types Mapping
The default behavior of the database converter should be to map all types from the source database management system (DBMS) to the most suitable equivalents in the target system, taking into account the accepted value ranges. Nevertheless, certain migration projects may necessitate custom rules for type mapping. An advanced converter should offer this capability, allowing users to define their own rules for type mapping. Additionally, the converter should provide the functionality to save these custom type mappings along with other conversion settings, making it easier for future runs of the migration process. This approach simplifies the overall process and ensures consistency in type mapping for subsequent conversions.
Log Reports
After the conversion process is finished, the database converter generates a comprehensive log report that offers a detailed overview of the entire conversion procedure. This report includes crucial information such as the start and end times of the conversion, the version of the converted database, the size of the database, the filename, and a comprehensive status report of the converted database tables. The log report provides valuable information that serves multiple purposes, including the ability to review and validate the conversion details, as well as for auditing and compliance purposes. Having access to this thorough documentation ensures transparency, accountability, and the ability to track and analyze the conversion process effectively.
Filtering Data to Migrate
While converting data between different database file formats, users may occasionally need the flexibility to selectively migrate specific components of the database. An advanced database converter should offer the capability to migrate individual tables or filter rows within a table with ease. This convenient feature not only saves time but also empowers users to transfer only the desired data to their preferred database file format. With just a few clicks, users can selectively choose the components they want to convert, enhancing the efficiency and customization of the migration process.
Command Line
Command line support can be highly beneficial for scripting and scheduling the database conversion process. Even if the database converter itself does not offer built-in scheduling capabilities, the availability of command line support enables users to create scripts and execute them at regular intervals using dedicated system tools like the Windows scheduler or Unix cron. This flexibility allows for the automation of the conversion process, making it easier to schedule recurring conversions without manual intervention. By utilizing command line support in conjunction with system tools, users can streamline and automate the database conversion according to their specific requirements.
