Migrate from AWS Aurora to Xata
Learn how to migrate your AWS Aurora PostgreSQL database to Xata using xata clone. Step-by-step instructions for secure migration from Aurora.
Prerequisites
- AWS Aurora PostgreSQL cluster
- Access to AWS Console
- Xata account and project setup
- Network access to your Aurora cluster
Install and Configure the Xata CLI
Install the Xata CLI:
curl -fsSL https://xata.io/install.sh | bash
Authenticate with your Xata account:
xata auth login
Network Configuration
Option 1: Public Endpoint (Less Secure)
If your Aurora cluster has a public endpoint:
- Whitelist Your IP:
- Go to your Aurora cluster → Security Groups
- Add a rule allowing PostgreSQL (port 5432) from your IP address
- Or temporarily allow from anywhere (0.0.0.0/0) for migration
Option 2: VPC Access (Recommended)
For better security, run the migration from within AWS:
-
EC2 Instance in Same VPC:
- Launch an EC2 instance in the same VPC as your Aurora cluster
- Install Xata CLI on the EC2 instance
- Run the migration from there
-
GitHub Actions with AWS Credentials:
- Use GitHub Actions with AWS credentials
- Configure the action to run in your VPC
- Use the private endpoint for connection
Get Connection String
postgresql://your_username:your_password@your-aurora-endpoint:5432/your_database
You can find the endpoint in the AWS Aurora Console under your cluster details.
Initialize Xata Project
Set up your Xata project configuration:
xata init
Configure the Migration
Set up your clone configuration with optional anonymization:
# Set your source URL
export XATA_CLI_SOURCE_POSTGRES_URL="postgresql://your_username:your_password@your-aurora-endpoint:5432/your_database"
# Configure anonymization rules
xata clone config --source-url $XATA_CLI_SOURCE_POSTGRES_URL --mode prompt
Start the Migration
Begin the data transfer:
# Start the migration
xata clone start --source-url $XATA_CLI_SOURCE_POSTGRES_URL
Monitor Progress
Check the migration status:
xata clone status
Verification
After migration, verify your data:
-
Connect to Xata Branch:
psql `xata branch url`
-
Check Data Integrity:
-- Compare row counts SELECT COUNT(*) FROM your_table; -- Check sample data SELECT * FROM your_table LIMIT 10;
-
Test Relationships: Verify foreign key relationships work correctly
Next Steps
- Explore Xata branching for development workflows
- Learn about schema changes with zero downtime
- Set up continuous sync for ongoing replication
- Consider deployment options for your Xata instance