Note:463336.1 "Is it possible to use EXPDP directly with GZIP ?" gives a clear answer, No, to using sequential access devices, including pipes. I have some comparison between traditional export/import and data pump at http://yong321.freeshell.org/oranotes/DataPump.txt Joel Patterson wrote about the "net pipe" idea: //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/02-2007/msg00571.html I wrote about some less known details and common mistakes in using pipes: http://yong321.freeshell.org/oranotes/ImpExpThruPipe.txt Yong Huang > datapump is able to generate a bunch of files with a defined max length. > iirc, datapump on 11g is able to use compression, in 10g is not. And > ( again, iirc ) datapump opens is own files, the pipe solution can't be > used, 'cause if the file exists before, datapump spitts an error > > One think that i wanna try some day is to make an exp and imp thought > net pipes. Exporting from one node while importing in the other at same > test, just for test&fun > > Regards > > D. -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l