This topic describes the frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Data Lake Formation (DLF) and provides answers to these questions.
How do I apply for the public preview qualification of DLF?
Use your Alibaba Cloud account to apply for the public preview qualification of DLF. Enter the information about your enterprise. After your application is approved, you can log on to the DLF console. You cannot apply for the public preview qualification of DLF as a RAM user.
How can I estimate the number of CUs in a data import template?
The number of compute units (CUs) in a data import template refers to the number of resources that are consumed by each data import task. A single CU consists of two vCPUs and 8 GiB memory. During public preview, you can apply for a maximum of 40 CUs. To increase the number of computing resources, submit a ticket.
How am I charged for using DLF?
You can use DLF for free during public preview. After DLF is commercialized, you are charged for the resource usage based on the number of computing resources that are consumed for importing data to DLF. DLF allows you to use a specific number of metadata tables and objects for free in each month. If the number of metadata tables and objects exceeds the free quota, you are charged for the part that exceeds the free quota.
What is the difference between DLF and OSS?
Object Storage Service (OSS) is used as the backend storage of DLF. DLF is used to centrally manage permissions and metadata views in big data analysis and machine learning scenarios. This facilitates access to the big data in the cloud and service analysis.
When do I use DLF?
You can use DLF if you need to perform data analysis or machine learning in the cloud, build a data lake in the cloud, or reduce O&M costs.