10G New Features: Data Pump Basics

Data Pump Components:

There are 3 major components of Data Pump Technology:

1. DBMS_DATAPUMP package
   In this package are the procedures used to carryout the Data Pump export and import activities.
   
2. DBMS_METADATA package
   This package is used to extract the metadata of the data dictionary objects.
   
3. expdp, impdp client utilities
   Using "expdp", you can extract data objects from the source database. And, using "impdp", you can load data objects into the target database.

Directory Objects:

The Data Pump job creates the dump files on the server. Using Directory Objects, Data Pump can write to/read from the O/S directory on the server.

You can use the DIRECTORY parameter of expdp/impdp utilities to relate to the directory.
You can also set the Environment Vairable "DATA_PUMP_DIR" and furnish on the dumpfile or logfile name.
Or, in the DUMPFILE and LOGFILE parameters, prefix the dumpfile name or the logfile name with the Directory Name followed by a ':', i.e. DIRECTORY:FILE notation.
Let's see how it works:

SQL> conn / as sysdba
Connected.

SQL> create directory dp_dir01 as 'c:\oracle\backup\dp';

Directory created.

SQL> grant read, write on directory dp_dir01 to system;

Grant succeeded.

SQL> host expdp system/db10gee full=y dumpfile=dp_dir01:exp01.dmp logfile=dp_dir01:exp01.log

;;;
Export: Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on Saturday, 11 April, 2009 14:46:36

Copyright (c) 2003, 2005, Oracle.  All rights reserved.
;;;
Connected to: Oracle Database 10g Enterprise Edition Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production
With the Partitioning, OLAP and Data Mining options
Starting "SYSTEM"."SYS_EXPORT_FULL_01":  system/******** full=y dumpfile=dp_dir01:exp01.dmp logfile=dp_dir01:exp01.log
Estimate in progress using BLOCKS method...
Total estimation using BLOCKS method: 120.8 MB
Processing object type DATABASE_EXPORT/TABLESPACE
................
................
................
Master table "SYSTEM"."SYS_EXPORT_FULL_01" successfully loaded/unloaded
******************************************************************************
Dump file set for SYSTEM.SYS_EXPORT_FULL_01 is:
  C:\ORACLE\BACKUP\DP\EXP01.DMP
Job "SYSTEM"."SYS_EXPORT_FULL_01" successfully completed at 14:51:10

Order of Precedence for file locations will be as follows:

1. DIRECTORY:FILE Notation
2. DIRECTORY Parameter
3. DATA_PUMP_DIR