AWS DataSync
AWS DataSync
AWS DataSync API efficiently migrates and syncs data between sources (NFS, SMB, HDFS, object storage) and AWS storage (S3, EFS, FSx).
10x+ faster than manual aws s3 cp (parallelization + incremental)
Charged per GB transferred (~$0.0125/GB)
CreateAgent (for on-prem sources), CreateLocation for source and target, CreateTask, StartTaskExecution.
Uptime · 30-day window
GitHub activity
About this API
DataSync is AWS's data migration service. For moving TB or PB of data to AWS (typical scenarios: on-prem datacenter decommissioning, periodic backup, hybrid-cloud sync), aws s3 cp alone is too slow — poor bandwidth utilization, no incremental sync, no verification. DataSync is purpose-built: parallel multi-thread transfer saturates bandwidth, auto-incremental (only changed files), auto-integrity verification, schedule support for periodic sync. On-prem deployment needs a DataSync agent (VMware/Hyper-V/EC2 form-factor VM) that bridges local protocols (NFS/SMB) to AWS. Differs from Storage Gateway: Storage Gateway is "real-time hybrid access"; DataSync is "one-time or scheduled migration".
What you can build
- 1Migrate on-prem NFS to S3
- 2Periodic backup of on-prem file servers to AWS
- 3Cross-region S3 sync
- 4Cloud-to-cloud migration (Azure Blob to S3)
Strengths & limitations
Strengths
- 10x+ faster than manual aws s3 cp (parallelization + incremental)
- Built-in integrity verification (MD5/SHA-256)
- Schedule and incremental sync supported
- On-prem deployment via DataSync agent (VM)
Limitations
- Charged per GB transferred (~$0.0125/GB)
- Agent must be deployed on-prem — one-time ops cost
Getting started
CreateAgent (for on-prem sources), CreateLocation for source and target, CreateTask, StartTaskExecution.
FAQ
DataSync vs. Storage Gateway?+
One-time migration or periodic sync: DataSync. On-prem app continuously accesses AWS storage (like local): Storage Gateway.
For >100TB, should I use Snowball?+
PB-scale or bandwidth-constrained: Snowball (ship physical disks). 100TB with 1Gbps network: DataSync also works.
Technical details
- Auth type
- unknown
- Pricing
- unknown
- Protocols
- REST
- SDKs
- python, javascript, go, java, csharp
- Response time
- 47 ms
- Last health check
- 6/26/2026, 6:22:15 AM
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