Clone a Workspace

Sometimes, you may need to clone a workspace. For example, you may need to clone a development workspace to use in production or clone a production workspace for testing purposes.

To clone a workspace, you can use the following methods:

  • Gray pages
  • API
  • Ruby SDK

Objects Included in and Excluded from Cloning

When a workspace is cloned, the following objects are excluded from the export and are not cloned:

  • Data loading processes
  • Schedules
  • Notifications
  • LDM mapping

You can later deploy some of these objects via the Data Integration Console. For more information, see the following:

The objects that are cloned include, among others, metrics, reports, email schedules with their recipients, and so on. If you want some objects not to be in the newly cloned workspace, you need to remove them manually after the cloning process is completed. Alternatively, you can perform a partial export and import using API (see Export part of a workspace and Import part of a workspace) or the gray pages where you can choose to include or exclude specific data.

 

 

Workspace Database Limitations

Depending on what database your workspaces runs on, you can clone:

  • A workspace running on PostgreSQL to another PostgreSQL workspace
  • A workspace running on PostgreSQL to a workspace running on Vertica
  • A workspace running on Vertica to another Vertica workspace

Clone a Workspace via Gray Pages

To clone a workspace via the gray pages, complete the following steps:

  1. Export the workspace that you want to clone.
  2. Create a new workspace.
  3. Import the generated export to the newly created workspace.

Export the Workspace to Clone

Depending on the size of the exported workspace, the export process may take a while. When the workspace is being exported, any data load processes scheduled to run during that time will be pending and will be resumed when the export process completes. To avoid this situation, you can export a workspace without data and then load the data to a new (cloned) workspace instead.

Steps:

  1. Go to the gray page for workspace maintenance:

    https://secure.gooddata.com/gdc/md/{workspace_id}/maintenance
    

    where {workspace_id} is the ID of the workspace that you want to clone.

  2. Click export. The workspace export page opens. 

  3. Depending on your requirements, select some or all export options to apply to the workspace clone.

  4. (Optional) In the Authorized users field, add users who would be authorized to manage the generated export and import it into a new workspace. Separate individual users with a line break. Adding authorized users helps when you are cloning a workspace between two domains. As a user exporting the workspace, you are authorized by default.

  5. Click submit. The export process starts. Depending on the size of the exported workspace, this process may take a while. When the export is generated, the response similar to the following is displayed: 

  6. Copy the value of the token keyword and save it for later. You are going to use it when importing the generated export to a new workspace.

After the export has been generated, you have approximately 24 hours to import the generated export into a new workspace.

Create a New Workspace

For information, see Create a Workspace.

When the new workspace is created, obtain its ID and save it for later. For more information, see Find the Workspace ID.

Import the Generated Export to the Newly Created Workspace

After the export has been generated, you have approximately 24 hours to import the export into a new workspace.

Steps:

  1. Go to the gray page for workspace maintenance:

    https://secure.gooddata.com/gdc/md/{workspace_id}/maintenance
    

    where {workspace_id} is the ID of the newly created workspace.

  2. Click import. The workspace import page opens. 

  3. In the Import token field, paste or enter the value of the token that was generated during the export.

  4. Click submit. The import process starts. Depending on the size of the imported workspace, this process may take a while. When the import completes, the following response is displayed: 

  5. Log in to the GoodData Portal, and verify that the content of the source workspace is available in the newly created workspace.

Clone a Workspace via API

This method is typically used for creating multiple clones of a single source workspace. Cloned workspaces include users and workspace data from the source workspace.

To clone a workspace via the API, complete the following steps:

  1. Export the workspace that you want to clone. See API: Export a complete workspace.
  2. Create a new workspace. See API: Create a workspace.
  3. Import the generated export to the newly created workspace. See API: Import a complete workspace.

Clone a Workspace via Ruby SDK

See the following examples of cloning workspaces: