Getting started with AWS DataSync

Connect to your storage, connect to our storage, and start copying

Getting started with DataSync is easy: Deploy the DataSync agent, specify a file system or storage array using the NFS or SMB protocols, specify the endpoint for your self-managed or cloud object storage, or specify a configuration to connect to HDFS on your Hadoop cluster. Then, select Amazon S3, Amazon EFS, or Amazon FSx as your AWS Storage, and start moving data.

When transferring data between AWS Storage services in the same AWS account, you don’t need to deploy an agent. Set up your source and destination service using the AWS DataSync console or API, and start your data transfer.

In this video, we’ll show you how quick and easy it is to get started. In just minutes, you can start transferring data to and from AWS Storage services using AWS DataSync.

AWS DataSync Demo

Simple steps to get going

Step 1: Sign up for a free AWS account

If you don't have an AWS account, set one up for free.

Step 2: Learn about DataSync

You can dig into the FAQs for key facts, and dive deeper in the docs. You are also encouraged to take the free 1 hour on-demand DataSync training to get a better understanding of how the service works and how it can benefit your business. In addition, you can view on-demand DataSync sessions, videos, demos, and blogs found on the DataSync resources page.

Step 3: Go to the Console

The DataSync console is where you start, configure, and manage DataSync operations.

Step 4: To transfer data between on-premises storage and AWS, deploy an agent

Associate the agent to your AWS account via the AWS Console or API. The agent will access your on-premises storage to read data from it or write to it. Deploying an agent is not required to transfer data between AWS Storage services within the same AWS account.

Step 5: Create a data transfer task

Create a task by specifying the source location and destination location for your data transfer, and configure any options you want to use with the transfer, such as scheduling the task and enabling task reports.

Step 6: Start the transfer

Start the task, monitor data movement in the console or with Amazon CloudWatch, and audit transfer tasks using task reports.  Then, use the data however you want in AWS.