DataDirect Redshift Drivers: Million Row Challenge

DataDirect tests a 1M row bulk load of Redshift data.

Can DataDirect Improve Data Performance?

The challenge? Load one million rows of data into Amazon Redshift, a process that usually takes six hours, in less than one. All using my usual tools and no help from an Amazon S3 bucket. That was the challenge I accepted last October. I can’t say that it wasn’t a little bit daunting.

The reason for this challenge is simple: Until now, the only way to load data into Redshift was to use Amazon S3 buckets. Loading data into Redshift is an isolated, time-consuming and frustrating process, outside of usual workflows. This inefficiency just won’t cut it in today’s performance-driven world. I wanted to prove that this process could be much faster than people realize and easily integrated into your daily workflow.

Bulk-Loading Data at Lightning Speed

So, how did we do? Pretty well, I’d say. Using Progress® DataDirect® drivers, we were able to cut the time to load one million rows of data from six hours down to only eight minutes.

Your Step-by-Step Instructions

It really is as simple as downloading our Progress® DataDirect® Amazon Redshift ODBC driver or JDBC driver. In my demo, I used Oracle Data Integrator, but the drivers I used are compatible with many more tools including:

• Microsoft SSIS
• IBM DataStage
• Informatica PowerCenter
• Ab Initio
• SAP Data Service
• Pentaho Data Integrator
• Talend
• Syncsort DMExpress
• Qlikview Expressor
• SAS ETL
• Actian DataConnect

DDL for target supplier table

1. Obtain Amazon Redshift credentials or sign up for a free trial:  http://aws.amazon.com/redshift/free-trial/
2. Download a free trial of DataDirect Amazon Redshift ODBC driver or DataDirect Amazon Redshift JDBC driver.
3. Connect to Amazon Redshift and create the DDL for the target supplier table as shown at right.
4. Download a CSV source file with sample data.
5. Build a basic workflow to load data from your CSV file into Amazon Redshift using the DataDirect driver.
6. Run workflow.

The Results Are In

The following images are sample results using Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services 2012 (SSIS) and finishing in less than 10 minutes compared to six hours with the open source Postgres ODBC driver.

Fir. 1: Million Row Challenge Results

Fig. 2: Data task wofkflow and validation.

Webinar: Get Tips on Better Database Performance

This tutorial shows one way you can get massive improvement in your data connectivity performance, but it’s just a sample insider tip from Progress DataDirect. If you want to discover more ways to improve performance, be sure to register for this February 11 webinar: Industry Insight: Optimize Your Data for Better Performance. We look forward to seeing you there! If you want to get started now, Get Your Free ODBC Driver Trial Now.

I also talk about the challenge in this video:

Try Amazon Redshift Drivers