The Best Way to Create a New Target Database

Overview of Creating a New Target Database

Creating a new target database is not something that the average DBA does every day. For this reason, it’s a procedure that may pose some challenges to new team members as well as those with more experience. To assist the database professionals tasked with setting up a new target database, IDERA has posted a series of instructive videos regarding this subject.

In this post, we will provide an overview of the videos’ content and talk about the factors that go into a successful database migration. The videos walk users through the process of creating a new target database and provide extensive screenshots that will help those new to the tool quickly navigate the interface.

Performing a Successful Data Migration

Creating a new target database is not something that your database team does just because it sounds interesting. There is usually a data migration project that requires the new target to be set up. Here are some general tips for successful data or database migration.

Budget for Expert Help and Tools

• Allocate budget for expert assistance or specialized tools essential for a smooth migration.
• In cases where the team is inexperienced in migrations, consider hiring expert consultants.

Plan the Migration Strategy

• Define a comprehensive strategy before beginning the process.
• Set schedules, agree on backup and replication settings, and select the migration approach.
  • Big Bang Migration: Completes within a specific time window, offering minimal downtime.
  • Trickle Migration: Divides the process into phases, allowing more testing and reduced downtime.

Engage End-Users

• Work with end-users to understand their expectations for the new database.
• Keep users informed as the plan progresses.

Audit the Database

• Identify and remove unused fields and obsolete records that don’t require migration.
• This helps in refining the new target setup.

Backup the Source Data

• Always back up source data before initiating the migration.
• Following basic data security practices ensures you are prepared in case of unexpected issues.

Execute, Validate, and Finalize

• Perform the migration, validate the data, and conduct final testing.
• Shut down the source only after successful validation.

Adhering to these guidelines greatly improves the likelihood of a successful database migration.

Steps to Create a New Target Database Using ER/Studio Data Architect

The tool highlighted in the videos is IDERA’s ER/Studio Data Architect. Using this application, users are walked through the steps used to prepare for successful database migration. Specifically, the videos look at these aspects of the procedure:

• Consolidating databases;
• Documenting a database;
• Reverse engineering a database;
• Documenting a database with a logical model;
• Comparing models and making design decisions;
• Creating a new target database;
• Designing data movement (ETL).

The combination of the functionality offered by ER/Studio and the videos explaining how to use it efficiently gives database teams the tools and knowledge required when creating a new target database and migrating from a legacy platform. It’s just up to the team to use these elements to their advantage.