Blast From The Past – Amazon S3 Data Import Export On Removable Media

By Marc Handelman on May 27th, 2009

Amazon's New Data Loading Methods

Computing At A Snails Pace, The New Amazon Data Loading Method…

In an announcement trumpeted late last week, Amazon.com, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AMZN) has managed to make a giant step backwards for mankind in data importation via removal media the Amazonian Experts load for you via S3 Buckets (on AWS). Other than the BC and DR capabilities, this news can be summed up in one word – Astounding. More information appears after the jump…

From Amazon.com, Inc.: “Introducing AWS Import/Export for Physical Data Transfer“

We are excited to announce the limited beta of AWS Import/Export, a new offering that accelerates moving large amounts of data into and out of AWS using portable storage devices for transport. AWS transfers your data directly onto and off of storage devices using Amazon’s high-speed internal network and bypassing the Internet. For significant data sets, AWS Import/Export is often faster than Internet transfer and more cost effective than upgrading your connectivity.

You can use AWS Import/Export for:

Data Migration – If you have data you need to upload into the AWS cloud for the first time, AWS Import/Export is often much faster than transferring that data via the Internet.
Offsite Backup – Send full or incremental backups to Amazon S3 for reliable and redundant offsite storage.
Direct Data Interchange – If you regularly receive content on portable storage devices from your business associates, you can have them send it directly to AWS for import into your Amazon S3 buckets.
Disaster Recovery – In the event you need to quickly retrieve a large backup stored in Amazon S3, use AWS Import/Export to transfer the data to a portable storage device and deliver it to your site.

The AWS Import/Export Beta currently supports importing data into Amazon S3 buckets in the US, and participation is limited. Export and EU support will be added in the coming months. For more information and to be considered for participation, please see the AWS Import/Export Detail Page.