SSIS Tutorial for Beginners: What is, Architecture, Packages
What exactly is an SSIS?
SQL Server Integration Service, also known as SSIS, is a component of the Microsoft SQL Server database software that enables users to perform a broad variety of data migration activities. SSIS may be used to move large amounts of data between databases. SSIS is a data warehousing technology that is both quick and flexible. It is used for extracting data, loading it, and transforming it in various ways, such as cleaning, aggregating, and merging data.
Transferring data from one database to another is made much simpler as a result of this feature. SSIS is capable of extracting data from a broad number of sources, including databases hosted on SQL Server, Excel files, databases hosted on Oracle and DB2, and so on.
In addition, SSIS comes with graphical tools and wizards that may be used to carry out workflow tasks such as sending email messages, performing FTP operations, managing data sources and destinations.
Why we use SSIS?
The following are some of the primary advantages of using the SSIS tool:
The SSIS tool facilitates the merging of data from a variety of data repositories.
Facilitates the automation of administrative functions as well as the loading and populating of data A Comparison between Data Marts vs Data Warehouses
It assists you with data cleaning and standardisation.
Integrating Business Intelligence into an Existing Data Transformation Process
Performing Administrative Tasks and Data Loading Through Automation
The SIS comes with a graphical user interface that makes it simpler for users to change data without requiring them to write lengthy routines.
In a very short amount of time, it may load millions of rows of data from one data source into another.
Detecting, collecting, and managing the processing of data modifications
Taking charge of coordinating the upkeep, processing, or analysis of data
Because of SSIS, traditional programmers are no longer necessary.
Error and event management are handled competently by SSIS.
History of SSIS
Prior, to SSIS, SQL Server, Data Transformation Services (DTS) was used, which was part of SQL Server 7 and 200
| Version | Detail |
|---|---|
| SQL Server 2005 | The Microsoft team decided to revamp DTS. However, instead of update DTS, they decided to name the product Integration Services (SSIS). |
| 2008 SQL server version | Plenty of performance improvements were made to SSIS. New sources were also introduced. |
| SQL Server 2012 | It was the biggest release for SSIS. With this version, the concept of the project deployment model introduced. It allows entire projects, and their packages are deployed to a server, in place of specific packages. |
| SQL Server 2014 | In this version, not many changes are made for SSIS. But new sources or transformations were added which was done by separate downloads through CodePlex or the SQL Server Feature Pack. |
| In SQL Server 2016 | The version allows you to deploy entire projects, instead, of individual packages. There are additional sources especially cloud, and big data sources and few changes were made to the catalog. |
SSIS Salient Features
The following is a list of essential SSIS basics features:
Environments of the Studio
Relevant data integration functions
Effectiveness and rapidity of implementation
Integration as close as possible with the rest of the Microsoft SQL family
Data Mining Transforming Queries in Query
Lookups using Fuzzy Criteria and Grouping Transformations
Transformations Utilizing Term Lookup and Extraction of Terms
Components of data connectivity with higher transfer speeds, such as connectivity to SAP or Oracle
SSIS Architecture
The following is a list of components that make up the SSIS architecture:
The flow of control (Stores containers and Tasks)
The Flow of Data (Source, Destination, Transformations)
Event Handler (sending of messages, Emails)
The Explorer of Packages (Offers a single view for all in package)
Parameters (User Interaction)
Let’s understand each component in detail:
1. The Control Flow System
Control flow can be thought of as the “brain” of an SSIS product. It provides assistance in organising the sequence of execution for all of its components in your system. Containers and jobs, both of which are regulated by precedence constraints, are contained within the components.
2. Restrictions Based on Precedence
A precedence restrict is a component of a package that instructs tasks to carry out their operations in a particular sequence. Additionally, the workflow of the complete SSIS package is defined by this component. It does this by executing the destination tasks based on the result of the earlier job, which is a set of business rules that are defined by utilising specific expressions. This allows it to govern the execution of the two linked activities.
3. Task
A single piece of work is referred to as a “Task.” It is equivalent to a method or function that is utilised in a computer language. On the other hand, coding approaches are not utilised when working with SSIS. Instead, you will design surfaces and configure them through the use of a technique called “drag and drop.”
4. Containers
The container is made up of different units that are used to bundle different jobs together to form different units of labour. In addition to maintaining a consistent visual appearance, it also enables you to specify variables and event handlers that should be applicable to the context of the particular container in question.
SSIS Tasks Types
In SSIS tool, you can add a task to control flow. There are different types of tasks which perform various kinds of works.
Some important SSIS tasks are mentioned below:
| Task Name | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Execute SQL Task | As its name suggests, it will execute a SQL statement against a relational database. |
| Data Flow Task | This task can read data from one or more sources. Transform the data when it is in the memory and write it out against one or more destinations. |
| Analysis Services Processing Task | Use this task to process objects of a Tabular model or as an SSAS cube. |
| Execute Package Task | Use can use this SSIS task to execute other packages from within the same project. |
| Execute Process Task | With the help of this task, you can specify command line parameters. |
| File System Task | It performs manipulations in the file system. Like moving, renaming, deleting files, and creating directories. |
| FTP Tasks | It allows you to perform basic FTP functionalities. |
| Script Task | This is a blank task. You can write NET code which performs any task; you want to perform. |
| Send Mail Task | You can send an email to notifying users that your package has is finished, or some error occurs. |
| Bulk Insert Task | Use can loads data into a table by using the bulk insert command. |
| Script Task | Runs a set of VB.NET or C# coding inside a Visual Studio environment. |
| Web Service Task | It executes a method on a web service. |
| WMI Event Watcher Task | This task allows the SSIS package to wait for and respond to certain WMI events. |
| XML Task | This task helps you to merge, split, or reformat any XML file. |
Other Important ETL tools
The following are the four different types of containers in SSIS:
A Sequence Container
An example of a For Loop Container and a Foreach Loop Container
Sequence Container: enables you to manage subsidiary tasks by grouping them, and also enables you to apply transactions or assign logs to the container. In addition, the Sequence Container enables you to apply transactions to the container.
For loop container: Offers the same capabilities as the sequence Container, with the addition that it enables you to carry out the actions in a loop, meaning more than once. Nevertheless, it is predicated on some evaluation condition, such as iterating from one to one hundred.
For each Loop Container: The ability to loop is supported by it as well. However, the key difference is that a loop is performed over a set of objects, like as the files in a folder, rather than making use of a condition expression.
5. The Flow of Data
The primary function of the SSIS tool is to load data into the memory of the server, then transform that data, and then write the transformed data to another location. Data Flow is the beating heart of SSIS, if Control Flow is its cerebral cortex.
6. SSIS Packages
The idea of a package is yet another essential part of the SSIS framework. It is a group of activities that are carried out in a logical and sequential manner. In this situation, presidency limitations assist in managing the sequence in which the task will be carried out.
You can save files onto a SQL Server with the assistance of a package, which can save them in the msdb or package catalogue database. It is possible to save as a file with the extension.dtsx, which is a structured file very comparable to the.rdl files that are used by Reporting Services.
7. Parameters
The behaviour of parameters is quite similar to that of variables, with a few key differences. It is not difficult to place it outside of the package. It is possible to mark certain values as mandatory parameters that must be handed in for the package to start.
Various Other Essential ETL Tools
Data Services Provided by SAP
SAS Data Management
Oracle’s Warehouse Builder (Oracle’s) (OWB)
Informatica PowerCenter PowerCenter
Sargent Data Flow Elixir Repertoire for Data ETL IBM Infosphere Information Server Sargent Data Flow Advantages and Disadvantages of Using SSIS The SSIS technology offers the following advantages:
Advantages and Disadvantages of using SSIS
Comprehensive documentation and assistance
Facilitation of and quickness in carrying out the plan
Integration that is both thorough and tight with SQL Server and Visual Studio.
Standardized data integration
Provides features that are real-time and message-based
Encouragement of the distribution model
Assists in eliminating the network as a potential bottleneck for the entry of data into SQL using SSIS.
You can load the data much more quickly using SISS since it enables you to use the SQL Server Destination rather than OLE DB.
Disadvantages of SSIS
The following is a list of some of the pitfalls of utilising SSIS tools:
In settings other than Windows, they can occasionally cause problems.
Uncertainty in both the vision and the approach
SSIS does not provide support for several kinds of data integration approaches.
Integration with other goods that is difficult to manage
SSIS Recommended Procedures Example
SSIS Best Practices Example
SSIS is a pipeline that runs entirely within memory. Because of this, it is essential to make certain that all modifications take place in the memory.
Make an effort to reduce the number of logged operations.
Prepare for future needs by gaining a grasp of current resource demands.
Enhance the performance of the SQL lookup transformation, as well as the data source and the destination.
Plan and carry out the distribution accurately.
Summary
The acronym SSIS stands for SQL Server Integration Services in its entire form.
The SSIS tool facilitates the merging of data from a variety of data repositories.
2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, and 216 are considered to be important versions of the SQL Server Integration Service.
Some of the most significant characteristics of SSIS are the studio environments, relevant data integration functionalities, and effective implementation speed.
Essential components are the Control Flow, Data Flow, Event Handler, Package Explorer, and Parameters. component parts of the SSIS architecture
Some of the most significant tasks include Execute SQL Task, Data Flow Task, Analysis Services Processing Task, Execute Package Task, Execute Process Task, File System Task, FTP Tasks, Send Mail Task, and Web Service Task.
Comprehensive documentation and assistance
The absence of support for alternate data integration approaches is SSIS’s primary deficiency, and it is also its major negative.
SAP Data Services, SAS Data Management, Oracle Warehouse Builder (OWB), PowerCenter Informatica, and IBM Infosphere Information Server are some of the companies that provide these services.
SSIS is a pipeline that runs entirely within memory. As a result, it is absolutely necessary to make certain that all modifications take place in memory.