DynamoDB Database Backup using AWS-CLI

In this practice, we will take the backup of DynamoDB database using AWS CLI but we can also take the backup using AWS console.

Here, we are going to create a backup named 'students-bkp-cli' for an existing table named 'students' using AWS CLI.

Steps we need to follow:

1.  Create an IAM user who will access the database
2.  Download the AWS CLI MSI installer

3.  Login to AWS CLI from user 'Charlie'

4.  Take backup named 'students-bkp-cli'

5.  Get brief details about the backup

Step 1: Create an IAM user named 'Charlie' who will access the database:

We will create a user named 'Charlie' to access the database.

AWS ➔ Services ➔ IAM ➔ Users ➔ Add user ➔ User name: Charlie ➔ Access type: Programmatic access ➔ Next: Permission ➔ Create group ➔ Group name: DynamoDB ➔ Filter policy: DynamoDB ➔ select AmazonDynamoDBFullAccess ➔ Create Group ➔Next ➔ Review ➔ Create user ➔ Download .csv file ➔ Close.

In this file, we have an access key and a secret access key. By using these keys we can access the AWS CLI.

Step 2: Download the AWS CLI MSI installer:

To download AWS CLI use the below-mentioned link:

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/install-windows.html

Now, install the downloaded file.

Step 3: Login to AWS CLI from user 'Charlie':

Open PowerShell ➔ use command:

C:\> aws configure
C:\> AWS Access Key ID: <provide the .csv file which you downloaded>
C:\> AWS Secret Access Key ID: <provide the .csv file which you downloaded>
C:\> Default region name: us-east-1
C:\> Default output format: table

Fig: Login to AWS CLI

Step 4: Take backup named 'students-bkp-cli':

To take backup from CLI use below-mentioned command:

C:\> aws dynamodb create-backup --table-name students --backup-name students-bkp-cli

As we hit enter the backup will be created named 'students-bkp-cli' and we can verify this from AWS console also.

Fig: Take Database Backup

Within a couple of moments the status of this backup will convert from Creating to Available. We can see we got the input value of backup-arn.

Fig: Available State of Backup

If you want to verify it from console you can. For this navigate to:

AWS ➔ Services ➔ DynamoDB ➔ Backups.

Here, we can see the backup we created named 'students-bkp-cli' from AWS CLI is listed.

Fig: Verify the Backup from AWS Console

Step 5: Get brief details about the backup:

If we want we can get full details of our backup using its ARN number.

Syntax:

C:\> aws dynamodb describe-backup --backup-arn <Backup_ARN>

Example:

C:\> aws dynamodb describe-backup --backup-arn arn:aws:dynamodb:us-east-1:401300871758:table/students/backup/01564256808673-1e23e170

Fig: Verify the Backup from AWS CLI

Enjoy!