In the evolving landscape of data management, the diversity of data has increased rapidly. Therefore, it is crucial to move data between different data management platforms and tools to manage data efficiently. The dynamic nature of data has also increased the need for advanced data analytics, real-time processing, and scalable storage systems. This has led many data-driven organizations to transition from traditional databases like MongoDB to advanced storage platforms like Snowflake. 

In this article, we will discuss two easy ways to migrate from MongoDB to Snowflake.

MongoDB Overview

MongoDB is a modern database that is non-relational in nature. It allows you to use a document-oriented approach instead of tables for storing and querying data in documents. Each document in MongoDB is an independent unit, representing a hierarchical relationship within the database. In addition, exciting features like indexing, geospatial analysis, and query performance make MongoDB a go-to choice for organizations. It has more than 46,400 customers, and some of the major organizations that use this database in their tech stack include Toyota, Coinbase, Forbes, and Uber.

Key features of MongoDB include:

• Indexing: In MongoDB, each document field is indexed with primary and secondary indices. This makes it easy and quick to get or search data from a huge pool.‍
• Schema Design Flexibility: MongoDB stores data in Binary JavaScript Object Notation (BSON) format, which makes its data model flexible and schema-less. This feature allows you to be more adaptive to the changing requirements of database applications.‍
• Query Language: MongoDB offers a robust query language for manipulating and querying data from databases. Using this, you can run searches to filter data, sort results, and even perform geospatial queries for locating data based on its coordinates.

Snowflake Overview

Snowflake is a unified platform that offers many data management services, including storage and analytics. Of all services, it is well-known for cloud data warehousing. Snowflake is one of the first data warehouses to offer decoupled storage and computing for efficient use of resources. Its shared architecture allows you to manage huge volumes of data in real time. Some major organizations that use Snowflake for data management include jetBlue, Disney Advertising, Honeywell, and Albertsons. 

Key features of Snowflake include: 

• Cloud Provider Agnostic: Snowflake is available on three widely known cloud providers, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This gives you the flexibility to deploy to the cloud provider of your choice.‍
• Time-Travel: Snowflake allows you to track historical data changes with its time travel feature. Therefore, you can find out how your data table looked at a specific time. This is essential for data auditing, data loss, and recovery from any accidental change.

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Methods to Migrate Data from MongoDB to Snowflake

• Method 1: Move Data from MongoDB to Snowflake Using Airbyte
• Method 2: Move Data from MongoDB to Snowflake Manually With CSV Files

Method 1: Move Data from MongoDB to Snowflake Using Airbyte

Airbyte is a data integration tool used to automate the creation of specific data pipelines according to your requirements. In this case, we will use this tool to streamline the connection between MongoDB and Snowflake. Here's a detailed guide:

Step 1: Setting MongoDB as a Source

• Sign up or log in to Airbyte. 
• On the home page, click the Sources tab from the left navigation bar. 

• You'll be directed to the Sources page, where you can use the search field to look for the MongoDB connector. 
• Click on the MongoDB connector card when it appears in the search results. 

• Now, you will be on the Create a source page. Select your Cluster Type and fill in other details, including the Connection String, Database name, Username, and Password of your MongoDB database.

• At the bottom, toggle the advanced window and optionally make changes for default configurations.
• Click on Set up source.

Step 2: Setting Snowflake as a Destination

• After configuring MongoDB as the source, click on the Destinations tab from the left navigation bar.
• You will see the Destinations page, where you can type in Snowflake in the search field.
• Click on the Snowflake connector card when you see it in the search results.

• Now, you'll be directed to the Create a destination page. Fill in fields including Host, Role, Database, Warehouse, Default_Schema, and Username. 
• Then, in the Authorization Method section, select between OAuth2.0, Key Pair Authentication, Username, and Password. 

• Click on Set up destination. 

Step 3: Creating a Connection Between Source and Destination

• Now that you have configured the source and destination, you must connect the two in the Airbyte cloud.
• Click on the Connections tab from the left navigation bar.

• Click on Create a connection button on the Connections page.
• Make MongoDB from Step 1 as the source and Snowflake from Step 2 as the destination.
• Provide a unique Connection Name and the other required details, including Sync mode, Replication frequency, and Streams section.
• Click on Set up connection > Sync now to start synchronization between MongoDB and Snowflake.

Within just a few clicks, you have successfully connected MongoDB to Snowflake using Airbyte.

Method 2: Move Data from MongoDB to Snowflake Manually With CSV Files

In this method, we will export data from MongoDB in a CSV file and import it on Snowflake. To perform this task, we will use MongoDB Compass, a graphical user interface (GUI) of MongoDB, and Snowsight, a web interface of Snowflake. Here's a detailed guide: 

Prerequisites

• MongoDB Atlas
• MongoDB Compass
• Snowsight

Step: 1 Connecting MongoDB Atlas to Compass

• Log in or sign up for a MongoDB Atlas account.
• On the home page, choose the database of your choice from the top left dropdown button.
• Then, choose cluster and click the Connect button inside the cluster section.

• A pop will appear. Click on Compass and copy the connection string from the input field.
• In the copied connection string, replace username and password with your credentials.

• Now, open MongoDB Compass on your system. Paste the modified connection string into the connection field and click on Connect. This will establish the connection between MongoDB Atlass and your MongoDB Compass.

Step 2: Export MongoDB Data as a CSV file

• In MongoDB Compass, navigate to the database you connected in Step 1.
• Click on the Collections tab and select the collection from which you want to export.
• Then, click Export Data dropdown and select Export the full collection.
• Now select the file type to which you want to export; it can be either JSON or CSV. In this case, it's a CSV file.

• Lastly, click on Export. Choose where to export the file and click Select.

Step 3: Import the CSV File into Snowflake Using Snowsight

• Login to the web interface of Snowflake. 
• After you’ve successfully logged in, you'll be directed to the home page.
• Create a database for MongoDB data by selecting Data > +Database from the left navigation bar.
• Give your database a name and create a schema by clicking the +Schema button.
• Now, create a table inside the newly created schema. Click on Create > Table > Standard.
• You'll be redirected to the SQL interface, where you can write an SQL query for your table. Use the CREATE TABLE statement to create a table that matches the CSV file structure you downloaded in Step 2.
• After you complete the SQL query, click on Create.
• Next, select the table you created and click the Load Data button. A screen will appear where you’re prompted to select a file from your system. Select the CSV file you exported from MongoDB Compass.
• Set the file format to CSV and configure other fields per your requirements.
• Click Next.

That’s all it takes to successfully replicate a MongoDB collection in the form of CSV files to the Snowflake data warehouse.

Limitations of Migrating MongoDB to Snowflake Manually

• Incremental Updates: Manually connecting MongoDB to Snowflake lacks an incremental update feature; you would have to manually update Snowflake if there is even a small change in MongoDB. However, tools like Airbyte allow you to capture incremental changes by using its Change Data Capture (CDC) functionality. 

• Error-prone: The manual method of migrating data between both systems is a long process that requires custom coding. This involves tweaking data types and writing SQL queries, which can lead to data loss and human error.

• Technical Expertise: Manual migration between MongoDB and Snowflake requires high technical expertise. It involves writing custom scripts, understanding the query languages of both databases, and understanding data warehousing concepts.

Pre-migration plan to move data from MongoDB to Snowflake

Migrating data from MongoDB to Snowflake involves careful planning and execution to ensure data integrity, minimal downtime, and successful transition. Here is a pre-migration plan covering essential points, including additional considerations:

Assessing data volume and structure

Before moving the data, the data structure in MongoDB should be checked. The document schemas, relationships between data, and collections should be reviewed.

Identifying data schemas and relationships

One important task is to normalize the flexible and schema-less structure of MongoDB into a rational format suitable for Snowflake’s efficient analytics.

Define migration strategy

You can do full data load which is migrating all data at once or you can do incremental data migration which only transfers the new or edited data. 

Select a migration method

You can use SnowPipe for continuous data ingestion, develop a Python custom script, or use ETL platforms like Airbyte. 

Create the target environment

The Snowflake environment needs to be properly prepared for data migration. This includes creating the required database, assigning the appropriate roles and permissions for data access, and setting up the correct storage location.

Why migrate from MongoDB to Snowflake?

Structured data and SQLs - Snowflake has standard SQL, while MongoDB’s query language is not that familiar to analysts.

Simplified data integration -  Snowflake is preferred for its ability to easily connect and consolidate data from various sources, simplifying data integration without the need for complex processes.

Scalability - Both Snowflake and MongoDB can handle large-scale data, but many analysts have shifted from MongoDB to Snowflake because of the efficient processing of data queries.

Better data warehousing - Snowflake is dedicated to data warehousing that helps in zero-copy cloning, robust data sharing, semi-structured data support, etc.

Conclusion

The two approaches for integrating MongoDB into Snowflake have their use cases and advantages. While the Airbyte method allows you to automate the process efficiently, the manual method provides more control as well as flexibility for data transformations before loading data to Snowflake.

However, if you want a streamlined MongoDB to Snowflake integration solution, Airbyte is an ideal choice. It offers rich features like an extensive library of pre-built connectors, a user-friendly interface, robust orchestration, and data governance capabilities. By using these features, you can simplify the process of connecting MongoDB and Snowflake; even better—to any source or destination of your choice.

FAQ

1. What's the easiest way to migrate data from MongoDB to Snowflake?

Airbyte is the easiest way to migrate data from MongoDB to Snowflake due to the automatic data integration. 

2. Is Snowflake SQL or NoSQL?

Snowflake is primarily considered an SQL tool. It is a cloud-based data warehousing platform that uses SQL (Structured Query Language) to query and manage data.

3. How can I continuously load data from MongoDB into Snowflake?

To continuously load data from MongoDB into Snowflake, use Airbyte. It automates syncing between MongoDB and Snowflake, ensuring your data stays up-to-date.