Help Sheet - Disk Import Procedures


Use this help sheet to perform disk import procedures.

Before Starting

Before starting, ensure the following:

You have the following information available:

The disk transfer job OCID

The package label

The shipping vendor and tracking ID

The return shipping vendor and tracking ID

You have root access to the Linux machine where the data will be copied

The configuration files and Data Transfer Utility are already installed on the Linux machine where the data will be copied.

Attach and Create the Transfer Disk

To attach and create the transfer disk:

Physically attach the import disk to the Linux host where data will be copied.

As part of this process, do the following:

Run lsblk and verify you can see the device, take note of the device path as it will be needed in future steps

Run hdparm -I device and verify the disk provides a valid response, particularly a readable serial number.

The disk should have not have any partitions or filesystems. If it does, run:

wipefs -a /dev/path

Use the Data Transfer Utility to create the transfer disk, it will also generate and display an encryption passphrase, create a unique mount point, and mount the disk:

dts disk create --job-id job_id --block-device block_device

The encryption passphrase will be displayed to output. Store it in a secure place as it will not be displayed or accessible again.

Record the disk label from the output. You will need it later in the procedure.

Verify there is a new mount point called /mnt/orcdts_disk_label

Copy files to the data transfer disk using the mount point from the previous step. We recommend the tar is recommended but you can use other types of copy methods such as cp or rsync.

Here are two examples:

tar -cvzf /mnt/disk_label/filesystem.tgz filesystem/
tar -cvzf /mnt/disk_label/filesystem.tgz filesystem/ |xargs -I '{}' sh -c "test -f '{}' && md5sum '{}'"|tee tarzip_md5

You can only copy regular files to disks. Special files (links, sockets, pipes, and so forth) cannot be copied directly. To transfer special files, create a tar archive of the files and copy the tar archive to the disk.

Do not disconnect the disk until you copy all files from the Data Host and generate the manifest file. If you accidentally disconnect the disk before copying all files, you must unlock the disk using the encryption passphrase.

Generate a manifest file after all data has been copied to the disk:

Command
Copy
Try It
dts disk manifest --job-id job_id --disk-label disk_label

The manifest file will be on the transfer disk.

Lock the transfer disk:

Command
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dts disk lock --job-id job_id --disk-label disk_label --block-device block_device 

Attach the transfer disk to the transfer package:

Command
Copy
Try It
dts disk attach --job-id job_id --package-label package_label --disk-label disk_label

Update the transfer package with the tracking information :

dts package ship --job-id job_id --package-label package_label --package-vendor package_vendor_name --tracking-number tracking_number --return-tracking-number return_tracking_number

Physically disconnect the disk from the Linux host.

Have the disk packaged, insert the printed return label, attach the shipping label to the outside of the package.

Pass the disk to the vendor to ship to Oracle

Monitor the status of the transfer package:

dts package show --job-id job_id --package-label package_label

Review the upload status after Oracle receives the disk and uploads your files.

Close the transfer job after the job is complete and the import disk is returned to you:

dts job close --job-id job_id