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Quickstart: Get started with Azure Data Box to export data from Azure

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This quickstart describes how to export data out of Azure into your location using the Azure portal. The steps include how to cable, configure, and copy data from Azure. The quickstart is performed in the Azure portal and on the local web UI of the device.

For detailed step-by-step deployment and tracking instructions, go to Tutorial: Create export order for Azure Data Box

Prerequisites

Before you begin:

  • Make sure that the subscription you use for Data Box service is one of the following types:

  • Ensure that you have owner or contributor access to the subscription to create a Data Box order.

  • Review the safety guidelines for your Data Box.

  • You have an Azure Data Box device to move data to your location. Your host computer must

    • Run a Supported operating system.
    • Be connected to high-speed network. We strongly recommend that you have at least one 10-GbE connection. If a 10-GbE connection isn't available, a 1-GbE data link can be used but the copy speeds are impacted.

  • You must have access to a flat surface where you can place the Data Box. If you want to place the device on a standard rack shelf, you need a 7U slot in your datacenter rack. You can place the device flat or upright in the rack.

  • You've procured the following cables to connect your Data Box to the host computer.

    • Two 10-GbE SFP+ Twinax copper cables (use with DATA 1, DATA 2 network interfaces)
    • One RJ-45 CAT 6 network cable (use with management (MGMT) network interface)
    • One RJ-45 CAT 6A OR one RJ-45 CAT 6 network cable (use with DATA 3 network interface configured as 10 Gbps or 1 Gbps respectively)

Sign in to Azure

Sign in to the Azure portal.

Order

This step takes roughly 10 minutes.

  1. Create a new Azure Data Box resource in Azure portal.
  2. Select an existing subscription enabled for this service and choose transfer type as Export to Azure. Provide the Source Azure region where the data resides and Destination country for the data transfer.
  3. Select Data Box. The maximum usable capacity is 80 TB and you can create multiple orders for larger data sizes.
  4. Select Add storage account and export type and then Select Export option.
  5. Enter the order details and shipping information. If the service is available in your region, provide notification email addresses, review the summary, and then create the order.

Once the order is created, the device is prepared for shipment.

Cable

This step takes roughly 10 minutes.

When you receive the Data Box, do the following steps to cable, connect to, and turn on the device. This step takes about 10 minutes.

  1. If there's any evidence that the device is tampered with or damaged, don't proceed. Contact Microsoft Support to ship you a replacement device.

  2. Before you cable your device, ensure that you have the following cables:

    • Grounded power cord (included) rated at 10 A or greater with an IEC60320 C-13 connector at one end to connect to the device.
    • One RJ-45 CAT 6 network cable (use with management (MGMT) network interface)
    • Two 10 GbE SFP+ Twinax copper cables (use with 10 Gbps DATA 1, DATA 2 network interfaces)
    • One RJ-45 CAT 6A OR one RJ-45 CAT 6 network cable (use with DATA 3 network interface configured as 10 Gbps or 1 Gbps respectively)

  3. Remove and place the device on a flat surface.

  4. Cable the device as shown below.

    Data Box device backplane cabled

    1. Connect the power cable to the device.
    2. Use the RJ-45 CAT 6 network cable to connect your host computer to the MGMT port on the device.
    3. Use the SFP+ Twinax copper cable to connect at least one 10 Gbps (preferred over 1 Gbps) network interface, DATA 1, or DATA 2 for data.
    4. Turn on the device. The power button is on the front panel of the device.

Connect

This step takes about 5-7 minutes to complete.

  1. To get the device password, go to General > Device details in the Azure portal.
  2. Assign a static IP address of 192.168.100.5 and subnet 255.255.255.0 to the Ethernet adapter on the computer you're using to connect to Data Box. Access the local web UI of the device at https://192.168.100.10. The connection could take up to 5 minutes after you turned on the device.
  3. Sign in using the password from the Azure portal. You see an error indicating a problem with the website's security certificate. Follow the browser-specific instructions to proceed to the web page.
  4. By default, the network settings for the 10-Gbps data interface (or 1 Gbps) are configured as DHCP. If needed, you can configure this interface as static and provide an IP address.

Copy data

The time to complete this operation depends upon your data size and network speed.

  1. If using a Windows client, use an SMB compatible file copy tool such as Robocopy. For NFS host, use cp command or rsync to copy the data. For more information on how to use Robocopy to copy data, go to Robocopy.
  2. Connect to the device shares and begin copying data to the host computer.

Ship to Azure

This operation takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.

  1. Go to Prepare to ship page in the local web UI and start the ship preparation.
  2. Turn off the device from the local web UI. Remove the cables from the device.
  3. Spool and securely place the power cord that was provided with device in the back of the device.
  4. The return shipping label should be visible on the E-ink display. If the E-ink display isn't displaying the label, go to Overview > Download shipping label in the Azure portal. Download the shipping label and affix on the device.
  5. Schedule a pickup with your regional carrier if returning the device.
  6. Once the Data Box is picked up and scanned by your carrier, the order status in the portal updates to Picked up. A tracking ID is also displayed.

Clean up resources

This step takes 2-3 minutes to complete.

  • You can cancel the Data Box order in the Azure portal before the order is processed. Once the order is processed, the order can't be canceled. The order progresses until it reaches the completed stage. To cancel the order, go to Overview and select Cancel from the command bar.

  • You can delete the order once the status shows as Completed or Canceled in the Azure portal. To delete the order, go to Overview and select Delete from the command bar.

Next steps

In this quickstart, you've deployed an export order from Azure into an Azure Data Box. To learn more about Azure Data Box management, advance to the following tutorial:

Use the Azure portal to administer Data Box