Azure Database Migration Service

While Azure DMS excels at migrations from SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL, migrating an Oracle database often requires different tools. Microsoft typically recommends using Oracle Data Guard or third-party solutions, or preparing for a modernization path to PostgreSQL. Azure DMS is not the primary tool for an active direct Oracle sync.

Azure DMS integrates CloudEndure technology to replicate data blocks continuously, allowing for near-zero downtime migrations. It performs an initial bulk seed of the database while capturing ongoing changes, keeping the target in sync. This means you can cut over to the Azure database with only minutes of application downtime.

Yes, to use Azure DMS, you must provision a migration service instance, which is essentially a managed Virtual Machine within your Azure environment. You also need network connectivity between this instance, your source database, and your target destination. Microsoft offers various pricing tiers for this VM based on compute needs.

Microsoft is shifting its focus towards the Azure Data Studio extension and the Azure Migrate hub for many newer database migration scenarios. While Azure DMS is still available for legacy workloads, you should check the Azure documentation for the most currently recommended tool. Some older DMS features are being deprecated in favor of newer, more modular services.