# What is Data Transfer Terminal?
AWS Data Transfer Terminal is a network-ready, physical location you can bring your data storage devices for fast data transfer to and from your AWS Cloud service. Upload data captured remotely to making it easier to access data captured remotely.
Schedule a reservation at one of our physical Data Transfer Terminal facilities from the AWS Management Console, arrive at your scheduled time, and upload your data to your AWS Cloud services with your own devices. After your scheduled reservation is complete and you leave, the facility is re-secured and made ready for the next scheduled reservation.
**Note**
AWS Data Transfer Terminal is only available to AWS Enterprise customers at this time.
**To access Data Transfer Terminal**:
+ ** AWS Data Transfer Terminal console**: https://console.aws.amazon.com/datatransferterminal
+ **Data Transfer Terminal facilities**: The location of Data Transfer Terminal facilities are provided once a reservation is made in the console. For more information, see [Make a data transfer](accessing-site.md).
# Features
Using AWS Data Transfer Terminal makes getting your data into your AWS Cloud service easier from remote locations. The following are some of the advantages of Data Transfer Terminal for your remote data upload needs:
**Secure, private, and exclusive**
Each Data Transfer Terminal facility is a secure, private location for you to make large data transfers between your data storage device and your AWS services over a fast network connection.
**A dedicated reservation console**
Add approved personnel to your Transfer team and schedule a Data Transfer Terminal reservation using the AWS Data Transfer Terminal [console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/datatransferterminal).
**Fiber optic network connections**
Each Data Transfer Terminal facility includes two 100 Gigabit (Gbps) fiber optic (LR4) connections for fast data uploads and redundancy.
**Control of your data storage devices**
No need to ship your Snowball device and wait for your data to be uploaded to your AWS Cloud services. You control your physical data storage devices throughout the entire data transfer process, getting your data where it needs to go faster.
# Key concepts
Using AWS Data Transfer Terminal requires a Process owner to schedule a reservation for a Data transfer specialist to access a Data Transfer Terminal facility. Refer to the following sections to learn more about Data Transfer Terminal terminology.
**Topics**
+ [Transfer team](#transfer-teams)
+ [Personnel](#personnel)
+ [Facilities](#facilities)
## Transfer team
A Transfer team is a grouping of personnel determined by an AWS account owner that may be selected for conducting data transfers on behalf of your organization. Setting up a Transfer team includes giving the Transfer team a name and specifying personnel for the team. We recommend groups of four or fewer Data transfer specialists for a single reservation.
For more information, see [Schedule a Data Transfer Terminal reservation](setting-up.md).
## Personnel
Personnel refers to the individuals who can either make and manage reservations or can go to and use Data Transfer Terminal facilities. Personnel may be either an Process owner or Data transfer specialist or both.
Process owner
+ A Process owner is an AWS account owner who can add, edit, and remove personnel from their AWS Data Transfer Terminal account.
Data transfer specialist
+ A Data transfer specialist is an individual who can go to Data Transfer Terminal facilities for data upload transactions. These personnel must be authorized by the Process owner and added to your AWS Data Transfer Terminal account. When accessing a Data Transfer Terminal facility, a government-issued ID will be required.
## Facilities
Data Transfer Terminal facilities are data hubs, co-owned and managed by one or more service providers. Each facility requires Data Transfer Terminal Data transfer specialists to provide a government issued, proof of identity that must match their reservation records to access the Data Transfer Terminal suite.
# Scheduling considerations
Reservations can be made in Data Transfer Terminal console for one to six hours in length, for any day of the week, throughout the year. Individual reservations can be scheduled consecutively, with a minimum of one hour separation between reservations. All reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
The amount of time required to make a data transfer varies depending upon upload performance speeds. Consider the following factors that impact upload performance as you plan for and schedule your Data Transfer Terminal reservation.
**Equipment**
+ Some equipment may include settings that may impact upload performance. Refer to your equipment specifications for suggested upload performance speeds.
**Network conditions**
+ Times of heavy network traffic will impact data upload speeds and should be taken into consideration when selecting a time for your data transfer session. Planning your data transfer session for off-peak hours or during times of less network activity may improve your upload speed.
**Data transfer size**
+ The Data Transfer Terminal network connectivity is designed for large data transfers. However, the size of the data being transfered will impact how long the session takes.
# Use cases
While any AWS Enterprise customer can access the Data Transfer Terminal system, certain use case scenarios may find greater benefit from it.
**Autonomous Driving and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (AD/ADAS)**: Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers generate large data sets from their fleets of autonomous vehicles operating and collecting data in numerous metros within North America, Europe, and ASEAN. With Data Transfer Terminal, the data collected by these fleet vehicles can be uploaded to the AWS Cloud service and used to train AD/ADAS models.
**Media and Entertainment**: Studios and other content creators often generate digital video and audio (AV) files in remote locations. It is important these AV files are uploaded to the cloud in a timely manner so that geographically dispersed production and editing teams can begin workflows in parallel and in real-time. By using Data Transfer Terminal to remotely upload data, production timelines can be shortened, translating into reduced production costs.
**Maps, Photogrammetry, and 3D imagery**: Organizations that work with mapping or imagery applications collect data in remote locations and need to upload these visual files to the AWS Cloud for analysis or training. Data Transfer Terminal minimizes the time between collecting and analyzing these large data sets, which helps keep geospacial data up-to-date for drivers, farmers, and other users of that information.
# Related services
The following AWS services provide an optimal experience while using Data Transfer Terminal.
| AWS service | Description |
| --- | --- |
| [AWS Snowball Edge](https://aws.amazon.com/snow/) | AWS Data Transfer Terminal complements Snowball products by providing a location for faster upload to your AWS cloud, minimizing wait times to access your data. |
| [Amazon S3](https://aws.amazon.com/s3/) | Bring your own device to a Data Transfer Terminal to quickly and securely upload your data to your Amazon S3 service. |