## Block Diagram: Importing and Exporting Data

The following block diagram illustrates the software components that are involved when you import and export data, and shows how they work together with a backup tool.

### Description of the Import Procedure

The Loader client is used to send the command that imports the data; this calls the Loader Server program. The Loader Server then creates the pipes. At the same time, it calls the backup tool and tells it from which data carrier to load the data. The client of the backup tool requests the specified data carrier from the backup server. The backup server gets the data carrier, reads the data to be imported from the volume, and transfers the data to the client of the backup tool. The client writes the data sequentially to the pipes. There the Loader Server reads them and imports them into the database instance.

### Description of the Export Procedure

The Loader client is used to send the command that exports the data; this calls the Loader Server program. The Loader Server then creates the pipes. The Loader Server starts to export the data and write it sequentially to the pipes. At the same time, it calls the backup tool. The backup tool reads the data from the pipes sequentially and saves it on a data carrier.