MongoDB to AWS DocumentDB Migration Guide
Complete guide for migrating MongoDB to AWS DocumentDB. Learn compatibility requirements, migration strategies, and performance optimization for AWS-managed MongoDB.
What is AWS DocumentDB?
AWS DocumentDB is a fully managed document database service that's MongoDB-compatible. It provides the scalability, durability, and availability of AWS while supporting MongoDB 3.6, 4.0, and 5.0 APIs. DocumentDB automatically handles backups, patching, and scaling, making it ideal for production MongoDB workloads.
Key Migration Considerations
API Compatibility
DocumentDB supports MongoDB 3.6, 4.0, and 5.0 APIs but not all features. Check compatibility for aggregation pipelines, transactions, and specific operators.
Performance Differences
DocumentDB uses a different storage engine than MongoDB. Query patterns and indexing strategies may need adjustment for optimal performance.
Security & Compliance
DocumentDB integrates with AWS IAM, VPC, and encryption services. Configure security groups, encryption at rest, and audit logging.
Cost Optimization
DocumentDB pricing differs from MongoDB Atlas. Analyze instance types, storage costs, and I/O pricing to optimize total cost of ownership.
5-Step MongoDB to DocumentDB Migration
Compatibility Assessment
Analyze MongoDB features and identify DocumentDB compatibility issues before migration.
- Review MongoDB version and features used
- Check DocumentDB compatibility matrix
- Identify unsupported operators and aggregations
- Test critical queries against DocumentDB
Infrastructure Setup
Provision DocumentDB cluster and configure networking, security, and monitoring.
- Create DocumentDB cluster with appropriate instance size
- Configure VPC, subnets, and security groups
- Set up encryption at rest and in transit
- Enable CloudWatch monitoring and logging
Data Migration
Transfer data from MongoDB to DocumentDB using AWS Database Migration Service or mongodump/mongorestore.
- Use AWS DMS for continuous replication
- Or use mongodump/mongorestore for one-time migration
- Migrate indexes and create DocumentDB-optimized indexes
- Monitor migration progress and handle errors
Application Migration
Update application connection strings and test functionality with DocumentDB.
- Update MongoDB connection strings to DocumentDB endpoint
- Test application with DocumentDB cluster
- Adjust queries for DocumentDB-specific behavior
- Implement connection pooling and retry logic
Optimization & Cutover
Optimize performance, validate data, and execute final cutover to DocumentDB.
- Analyze query performance with CloudWatch Insights
- Optimize indexes based on query patterns
- Perform final data validation and reconciliation
- Execute cutover and monitor for 2-4 weeks
DocumentDB Feature Compatibility
MongoDB features and their DocumentDB support status
| MongoDB Feature | DocumentDB Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CRUD Operations | ✅ Full Support | All basic operations supported |
| Aggregation Pipeline | ✅ Mostly Supported | Some operators limited |
| Transactions | ✅ Supported | Multi-document ACID transactions |
| Change Streams | ✅ Supported | Real-time data changes |
| Indexes | ✅ Supported | B-tree, compound, TTL indexes |
| Text Search | ⚠️ Limited | Basic text search only |
| Graph Lookups | ❌ Not Supported | Use application logic |
| Map-Reduce | ❌ Not Supported | Use aggregation pipeline |
| GridFS | ❌ Not Supported | Use S3 for file storage |
| Capped Collections | ❌ Not Supported | Use TTL indexes instead |
AI-Powered vs Manual DocumentDB Migration
| Feature | DataMigration.AI | Manual Migration |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility Check | Automated feature analysis | Manual code review (3-5 days) |
| Data Migration Speed | 200GB in 2-3 hours | 200GB in 8-12 hours |
| Index Optimization | AI-recommended DocumentDB indexes | Manual index creation |
| Query Conversion | Automatic compatibility fixes | Manual query rewriting |
| Validation | Document-level comparison | Sample-based validation |
| Downtime | Near-zero with DMS | 2-6 hours typical |
| Total Timeline | 1-2 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Success Rate | 99% first-time success | 70-80% (compatibility issues) |