Import data into a database

You can import, export, or backup files of a specific Redis Enterprise Software database to restore data. You can either import from a single file or from multiple files, such as when you want to import from a backup of a clustered database.

Import data into a database

To import data into a database:

1. Select the database from the Databases list.

2. Select the target database from the list.

3. Click to open a list of additional actions.

4. Select Import.

5. Select the tab that corresponds to your storage location type and enter the location details.

   See Supported storage locations for more information about each storage location type.

6. Select Import.

Supported storage locations

Data can be imported from a local mount point, transferred to a URI using FTP/SFTP, or stored on cloud provider storage.

When importing from a local mount point or a cloud provider, import locations need to be available to the group and user running Redis Enterprise Software, redislabs:redislabs by default.

Redis Enterprise Software needs the ability to view objects in the storage location. Implementation details vary according to the provider and your configuration. To learn more, consult the provider’s documentation.

The following sections provide general guidelines. Because provider features change frequently, use your provider’s documentation for the latest info.

FTP server

Before importing data from an FTP server, make sure that:

• Your Redis Enterprise cluster can connect and authenticate to the FTP server.
• The user that you specify in the FTP server location has permission to read files from the server.

To import data from an FTP server, set RDB file path/s using the following syntax:

[protocol]://[username]:[password]@[host]:[port]/[path]/[filename].rdb

Where:

• protocol: the server’s protocol, can be either ftp or ftps.
• username: your username, if needed.
• password: your password, if needed.
• hostname: the hostname or IP address of the server.
• port: the port number of the server, if needed.
• path: the file’s location path.
• filename: the name of the file.

Example: ftp://username:[email protected]/home/backups/<filename>.rdb

Select Add path to add another import file path.

Local mount point

Before importing data from a local mount point, make sure that:

• The node can connect to the server hosting the mount point.

• The redislabs:redislabs user has permission to read files on the local mount point and on the destination server.

• You must mount the storage in the same path on all cluster nodes. You can also use local storage, but you must copy the imported files manually to all nodes because the import source folders on the nodes are not synchronized.

To import from a local mount point:

1. On each node in the cluster, create the mount point:

   1. Connect to the node’s terminal.

   2. Mount the remote storage to a local mount point.

      For example:

      sudo mount -t nfs 192.168.10.204:/DataVolume/Public /mnt/Public
      

2. In the path for the import location, enter the mount point.

   For example: /mnt/Public/<filename>.rdb

As of version 6.2.12, Redis Enterprise reads files directly from the mount point using a symbolic link (symlink) instead of copying them to a temporary directory on the node.

Select Add path to add another import file path.

SFTP server

Before importing data from an SFTP server, make sure that:

• Your Redis Enterprise cluster can connect and authenticate to the SFTP server.

• The user that you specify in the SFTP server location has permission to read files from the server.

• The SSH private keys are specified correctly. You can use the key generated by the cluster or specify a custom key.

  To use the cluster auto generated key:

  1. Go to Cluster > Security > Certificates.

  2. Expand Cluster SSH Public Key.

  3. Download or copy the cluster SSH public key to the appropriate location on the SFTP server.

     Use the server documentation to determine the appropriate location for the SSH public key.

To import data from an SFTP server, enter the SFTP server location in the format:

[protocol]://[username]:[password]@[host]:[port]/[path]/[filename].rdb

Where:

• protocol: the server’s protocol, can be either ftp or ftps.
• username: your username, if needed.
• password: your password, if needed.
• hostname: the hostname or IP address of the server.
• port: the port number of the server, if needed.
• path: the file’s location path.
• filename: the name of the file.

Example: sftp://username:[email protected]/home/backups/[filename].rdb

Select Add path to add another import file path.

AWS Simple Storage Service

Before you choose to import data from an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Simple Storage Service (S3) bucket, make sure you have:

• The path to the file in your bucket in the format: s3://[bucketname]/[path]/[filename].rdb
• Access key ID and Secret access key for an IAM user with permission to read files from the bucket.

In the Redis Enterprise Software admin console, when you enter the export location details:

• Select AWS S3.

• In the RDB file path/s field, enter the path of your bucket. Select Add path to add another import file path.

• In the Access key ID field, enter the access key ID.

• In the Secret access key field, enter the secret access key.

You can also connect to a storage service that uses the S3 protocol but is not hosted by Amazon AWS. The storage service must have a valid SSL certificate. To connect to an S3-compatible storage location, run: rladmin cluster config s3_url [url]

Google Cloud Storage

Before you import data from a Google Cloud storage bucket, make sure you have:

• Storage location path in the format: /bucket_name/[path]/[filename].rdb
• A JSON service account key for your account
• A principal for your bucket with the client_email from the service account key and a role with permissions to get files from the bucket (such as the Storage Legacy Object Reader role, which grants storage.objects.get permissions)

In the Redis Enterprise Software admin console, when you enter the import location details:

• Select Google Cloud Storage.

• In the RDB file path/s field, enter the path of your file. Select Add path to add another import file path.

• In the Client ID field, enter the client_id from the service account key.

• In the Client email field, enter the client_email from the service account key.

• In the Private key id field, enter the private_key_id from the service account key.

• In the Private key field, enter the private_key from the service account key. Replace \n with new lines.

Azure Blob Storage

Before you choose to import from Azure Blob Storage, make sure that you have:

• Storage location path in the format: /container_name/[path/]/<filename>.rdb

• Account name

• An authentication token, either an account key or an Azure shared access signature (SAS).

  To find the account name and account key, see Manage storage account access keys.

  Azure SAS support requires Redis Software version 6.0.20. To learn more about Azure SAS, see Grant limited access to Azure Storage resources using shared access signatures.

In the Redis Enterprise Software admin console, when you enter the import location details:

• Select Azure Blob Storage.

• In the RDB file path/s field, enter the path of your file. Select Add path to add another import file path.

• In the Azure Account Name field, enter your storage account name.

• In the Azure Account Key field, enter the storage account key.

Importing into an Active-Active database

When importing data into an Active-Active database, there are two options:

• Flush all data from the Active-Active database, then import the data into the database.
• Import data but merge it into the existing database.

Because Active-Active databases have a numeric counter data type, when you merge the imported data into the existing data RS increments counters by the value that is in the imported data. The import through the Redis Enterprise admin console handles these data types for you.

You can import data into an Active-Active database from the admin console. When you import data into an Active-Active database, there is a special prompt warning that the imported data will be merged into the existing database.