SESSIONS= Data Set Option

Specifies how many Teradata sessions to be logged on when using non-TPT FastLoad, FastExport, or Multiload.

Valid in: DATA and PROC steps (when creating and appending to DBMS tables using SAS/ACCESS software)
Category: Bulk Loading
Default: none
Restriction: Starting in SAS 9.4M9, this option is no longer used.
Data source: Teradata
See: SESSIONS= LIBNAME option, TPT_MAX_SESSIONS= data set option, TPT_MIN_SESSIONS= data set option

Syntax

SESSIONS=number-of-sessions

Syntax Description

number-of-sessions

specifies a numeric value that indicates the number of sessions to be logged on.

Details

Note: Starting in SAS 9.4M9, SAS/ACCESS no longer supports non-TPT FastLoad, FastExport, or MultiLoad utilities. Documentation remains for users who have not upgraded to SAS 9.4M9.

The SESSIONS= data set option pertains only to non-TPT FastExport, FastLoad, and MultiLoad utilities. To use the TPT version of these utilities, specify the TPT_MIN_SESSIONS= and TPT_MAX_SESSIONS= data set options.

When reading data with non-TPT FastExport or loading data with non-TPT FastLoad and MultiLoad, you can request multiple sessions to increase throughput. Using large values might not necessarily increase throughput due to the overhead associated with session management. Check whether your site has any recommended value for the number of sessions to use. See your Teradata documentation for details about using multiple sessions.

Example: Request Sessions to Load a Table

This example uses SESSIONS= in a LIBNAME statement to request that five sessions be used to load data with FastLoad.

libname x teradata user=myusr1 pw=mypwd1;
proc datasets library=x;
  delete test;run;
data x.test(FASTLOAD=YES SESSIONS=5);
i=5;
run;
Last updated: February 3, 2026