RDS for PostgreSQL allows you to upgrade the major version of your DB instance in either of the following methods:
- Upgrade without cutover: You can use it to test service compatibility of a new version. Upgrading a major version may cause service compatibility issues. A compatibility test is strongly recommended. After the test is passed, perform an upgrade in cutover mode. An upgrade without service cutover will not affect the original instance.
- Upgrade with cutover: During an upgrade, the original instance is set to read-only and services are interrupted for minutes. After the upgrade is complete, the original and new instances automatically exchange their virtual IP addresses and the application connection will be switched to the new instance. No changes need to be made to your application.
Important remark only by choosing "Upgrade with cutover":
In the case of a migration/upgrade with cutover option, the migration check should be carried out in all available versions. The reason for this is that after a successful cutover, another migration with cutover to another version is no longer possible.
Please check the Migrations Contrains before performing a check. After you have the right minor version, you can just select from the left menu panel "Major Version Upgrade" as follow: