# Importing data from a client machine to Amazon RDS for Db2 with the IMPORT command
<a name="db2-native-db2-tools-import"></a>

You can use the `IMPORT` command from a client machine to import your data into the Amazon RDS for Db2 server. 

**Important**  
The `IMPORT` command method is useful for migrating small tables and tables that include large objects (LOBs). The `IMPORT` command is slower than the `LOAD` utility because of the `INSERT` and `DELETE` logging operations. If your network bandwidth between the client machine and RDS for Db2 is limited, we recommend that you use a different migration approach. For more information, see [Using native Db2 tools to migrate data from Db2 to Amazon RDS for Db2](db2-native-db2-tools.md).

**To import data into the RDS for Db2 server**

1. Log in to your client machine with IBM Db2 Data Management Console. For more information, see [Connecting to your Amazon RDS for Db2 DB instance with IBM Db2 Data Management Console](db2-connecting-with-ibm-data-management-console.md).

1. Catalog the RDS for Db2 database on the client machine.

   1. Catalog the node. In the following example, replace *dns\$1ip\$1address* and *port* with the DNS name or the IP address and the port number of the self-managed Db2 database.

      ```
      db2 catalog tcpip node srcnode REMOTE dns_ip_address server port
      ```

   1. Catalog the database. In the following example, replace *source\$1database\$1name* and *source\$1database\$1alias* with the name of the self-managed Db2 database and the alias that you want to use for this database.

      ```
      db2 catalog database source_database_name as source_database_alias at node srcnode \
          authentication server_encrypt
      ```

1. Attach to the source database. In the following example, replace *source\$1database\$1alias*, *user\$1id*, and *user\$1password* with the alias you created in the previous step and the user ID and password for the self-managed Db2 database.

   ```
   db2look -d source_database_alias -i user_id -w user_password -e -l -a -f -wlm \
       -cor -createdb -printdbcfg -o db2look.sql
   ```

1. Generate the data file by using the` EXPORT` command on your self-managed Db2 system. In the following example, replace *directory* with the directory on your client machine where your data file exists. Replace *file\$1name* and *table\$1name* with the name of the data file and the name of the table. 

   ```
   db2 "export to /directory/file_name.txt of del lobs to /directory/lobs/ \
       modified by coldel\| select * from table_name"
   ```

1. Connect to your RDS for Db2 database using the master username and master password for your RDS for Db2 DB instance. In the following example, replace **rds\$1database\$1alias**, *master\$1username,* and *master\$1password* with your own information.

   ```
   db2 connect to rds_database_alias user master_username using master_password
   ```

1. Use the `IMPORT` command to import data from a file on the client machine into the remote RDS for Db2 database. For more information, see [IMPORT command](https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/db2/11.5?topic=commands-import) in the IBM Db2 documentation. In the following example, replace *directory* and *file\$1name* with the directory on your client machine where your data file exists and the name of the data file. Replace *SCHEMA\$1NAME* and *TABLE\$1NAME* with the name of your schema and table. 

   ```
   db2 "IMPORT from /directory/file_name.tbl OF DEL LOBS FROM /directory/lobs/ \
       modified by coldel\| replace into SCHEMA_NAME.TABLE_NAME"
   ```

1. Terminate your connection.

   ```
   db2 terminate
   ```