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Transfer server images between cloud regions with Pitchfork

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This article describes how to transfer Rackspace Cloud Servers instance images between regions of the Rackspace Cloud by using Pitchfork. Pitchfork is an interactive Rackspace Cloud API application that simplifies working with the Rackspace Cloud APIs. Using a browser, you can execute any Rackspace API command for any Cloud product without the need to get on a command line or use another CLI tool.

Note: The size of the exported virtual hard disk (VHD) must not be allowed to expand past 160 GB, which is the largest allowable disk size for imports. Thus, you cannot import any server image sourced from a server larger than a 8 GB General Purpose or 4 GB Standard server.

Getting started

Before you can transfer the images, perform the following steps:

  1. Open a new text file. You will copy the information into this file during the following steps.

  2. Copy your Rackspace Cloud username and API key, which you need to log in to Pitchfork, and paste them into the text file.

    If you don't know your username or API key, use the instructions in View and reset your API key to find them.

  3. In Cloud Files, create containers for the image export and the image import by using the following instructions:

    • In the same region where the image that you want to transfer currently lives, create a container to export it to and give the container a descriptive name, such as DFW_IMG_ExportContainer. Then copy and paste the name of the container to the text file.

    • In the region to which you want to transfer the image, create a container to import the image to, and give the container a descriptive name, such as ORD_IMG_ImportContainer. Then copy and paste the name of the container to the text file.

    For instructions about how to create a container, see Getting started with Cloud Files and CDN.

  4. Find the image that you want to transfer, and copy and paste that image's UUID to the text file.

    To find the image's UUID, go to the Saved Images section of the Cloud Control Panel, click the name of the image, and copy the ID value (for example, a6da1504-e1c04f40-8461-1ed9a9990e90).

You should have the following items copied to your text file:

  • Your Rackspace Cloud username
  • The API key for that username
  • The export container name
  • The import container name
  • The UUID of the image that you want to transfer

Additionally, we recommend using a third-party FTP application such as Cyberduck to download and upload the image. You can also use the API directly.

Transfer the image

To transfer the image, use the following steps:

  1. Open a browser and go to https://pitchfork.rax.io/images/#export_task-images.

  2. To log in to Pitchfork, click the link at the upper-right side of the page and enter your Rackspace Cloud username and API key.

  3. From the Region list, select the region in which the image currently lives (from which you are exporting it).

  4. Export the image to the export container that you created.

    a. In the API Calls list under Tasks, click POST for Export Task.

    b. For image_id, enter the image UUID.

    c. For receiving_container, enter the name of the export container that you created.

    d. Click Send API Call.

  5. Scroll down to the request-id parameter in the response body of the call.

    You can use the value of request-id to check the status of the export and import from the Get Task Details API call.

  6. After the image has been exported to the container, download the image to your localhost.

    Tip: Because of its ease of use, we recommend using Cyberduck to download and upload the image.

  7. After the image is downloaded, upload it to the import container in the destination region.

  8. After the image is uploaded to the import container, import the image to the destination region:

    a. Go to https://pitchfork.rax.io/images/#import_task-images.

    b. In the Region list, select the region to which you are transferring the image.

    c. For the Import Task call, click POST.

    d. Enter the name of the image.

    e. Enter the import container name and the name of the uploaded image file in the import_from field. Do not enter any spaces.

    f. Click Send API Call.

While the API transfers the image from the container to the available images list, you can use the request_id value to confirm the progress. If the process is successful, the image displays and is available for use in the destination region.

Related information

Updated 12 months ago