Replicate spatial data using AWS DMS and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Database Blog
This article provides a comprehensive guide for migrating geospatial data from PostgreSQL to Amazon RDS using AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS).
- Spatial data (points, lines, polygons) requires PostGIS extension on both source and target databases
- AWS DMS treats geometry columns as large objects (LOBs), not native spatial types
- Source and target tables must have primary or unique key constraints for successful replication
- Geometry columns must be nullable on target tables for LOB handling during migration
- Configure AWS DMS with Limited LOB mode and maximum LOB size of 2048 KB
- Enable CloudWatch logs for monitoring migration progress and troubleshooting
- Post-migration validation includes comparing row counts and verifying geometry data types preserved
- Common errors occur when PostGIS extension missing or geometry columns have NOT NULL constraints
The guide emphasizes proper configuration of PostGIS, LOB handling, and AWS DMS settings to successfully migrate spatial datasets while avoiding common pitfalls.
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