Everything You Need To Know about ssis 816

As a data professional, staying abreast of the latest technologies and tools is crucial for effective job performance. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Microsoft’s enterprise data integration, transformation, and migration tool, has evolved with the release of SQL Server Integration Services 2016 (SSIS 2016), introducing numerous features for enhanced scale, performance, and usability. 

The subsequent update, SSIS 2019, builds upon these capabilities, incorporating additional enhancements. This article delves into key features of SSIS 2019, focusing on improvements in package management, toolbox extension, workload scaling, and Hadoop data handling. Whether you are a novice or an experienced SSIS user, understanding these latest capabilities is essential for maximizing the tool’s potential in your data integration projects.

What Is SSIS 816?

SSIS 2016, denoting SQL Server Integration Services 2016, represents the latest iteration of Microsoft’s enterprise data integration platform, introduced towards the end of 2016. This version builds upon its predecessors, focusing on enhancing performance, scalability, and user-friendliness.

Noteworthy features of SSIS 2016 include:

1. Project deployment to Azure: Direct deployment of SSIS projects to Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, and Azure SQL Managed Instance facilitates the seamless transition of on-premises SSIS workloads to the cloud.

2. Incremental package deployment: Streamlining the deployment process, this feature allows for the redeployment of only modified packages, accelerating the overall deployment workflow.

3. Data tap: The introduction of a data tap task enables easy data extraction from diverse sources, supported by over 70 built-in connectors, spanning social media platforms, marketing tools, and productivity applications.

4. Row sampling transformation: The inclusion of a row sampling transformation simplifies the process of extracting random data samples during the data flow, proving beneficial for testing and profiling purposes.

5. Azure Feature Pack: This addition introduces extra components to seamlessly integrate with Azure services such as Data Lake Store, Blob Storage, and HDInsight.

In summary, SSIS 2016 significantly broadens integration capabilities, harnesses the potential of cloud computing, enhances developer productivity, and elevates scale and performance. It stands as a compelling choice for organizations aiming to establish robust data integration solutions.

Key Features and Capabilities of SSIS 816

Scalability and Performance

SSIS 816 introduces advanced scalability and performance features, empowering users to scale up to 64 cores for individual package executions. This results in significantly enhanced performance for data integration processes. 

The option to execute packages in-memory, without the need to write logs to disk, provides a further performance boost. Additionally, the Scale Out feature facilitates the distribution of package execution across multiple machines, contributing to improved scalability.

Advanced Data Flow Capabilities

Within SSIS 816, substantial enhancements are incorporated into data flow components and transformations. Noteworthy additions encompass the introduction of novel data flow components such as the OData Source and Destination, alongside the ODBC Flow Destination.

Furthermore, the package undergoes performance enhancements specifically targeting lookups, aggregations, and pivots. The inclusion of improved error handling features, including redirection and row-level error isolation, contributes to a more robust error management system. Additionally, SSIS 816 extends support for new data types, encompassing DATE, TIME, DATETIME2, and DATETIMEOFFSET.

Deployment and Management Improvements

SSIS 816 introduces several features that enhance deployment and management capabilities. With project deployment, it is now possible to deploy entire projects to the SSIS catalog, extending beyond individual packages. The inclusion of parameters enables the dynamic passing of values at runtime to facilitate configuration updates.

In the catalog, monitoring execution and validations is made more accessible through dedicated views. Additionally, new T-SQL stored procedures are introduced to streamline catalog management tasks.

These collective enhancements in SSIS 816 contribute to faster, more scalable, and easily manageable ETL and data integration processes. Leveraging these features empowers users to construct robust and high-performing data integration solutions.

Benefits of Upgrading to SSIS 816

Benefits of Upgrading to SSIS 816

Elevating your SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) environment to version 816 presents several compelling advantages.

Firstly, SSIS 816 introduces heightened security features, including the incorporation of Always Encrypted. This feature safeguards sensitive data during transit and at rest by encrypting it within the database, decrypting it exclusively within the application layer. Furthermore, role-based security mechanisms enable precise control over access to packages and their components.

Secondly, SSIS 816 offers a modernized development experience with seamless integration into Visual Studio Code. The SSIS extension pack within Visual Studio Code brings forth IntelliSense, debugging, and deployment functionalities for SSIS, eliminating the dependency on SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). Direct SSIS package development in Visual Studio Code simplifies the workflow.

Additionally, SSIS 816 introduces new connectors, broadening data integration capabilities. Connectors for SAP BW, Hadoop, and Spark facilitate seamless data transfer to and from these platforms. The OData connector supports data consumption from any OData v3/v4 service, while the Web connector extracts data from web pages using XPath queries.

Moreover, performance optimization is achieved through scale-out capabilities, enabling the distribution of package execution across multiple nodes. In-memory execution is facilitated by loading packages into the Scale Out Master, bypassing the performance overhead associated with loading/unloading from the file system or SQL Server database.

Lastly, SSIS 816 extends maintenance support for an impressive 10-year duration, ensuring long-term stability for your data integration solutions. Regular updates and patches contribute to maximum uptime and the prompt resolution of any issues.

In summary, upgrading to SSIS 816 delivers enhanced security, a streamlined development experience, expanded connectivity, improved performance, and a decade-long support commitment. These substantial benefits make the transition to SSIS 816 a highly worthwhile investment for any organization reliant on robust data integration.

Changes and Enhancements in SSIS 816

The most recent iteration of SQL Server Integration Services, SSIS 2016, brought about numerous changes and enhancements geared towards enhancing performance, scalability, and user-friendliness. Key improvements in SSIS 2016 encompass:

Performance and Scalability

SSIS 2016 integrates alterations to enhance both performance and scalability. A notable addition is the new scale-out feature, enabling the distribution of packages across multiple servers for increased throughput. Additionally, performance enhancements are implemented in areas such as data flow, logging, and checkpoints.

R Integration and Advanced Analytics

SSIS 2016 incorporates various new data mining algorithms and integrates seamlessly with R scripts. This integration facilitates the infusion of advanced analytics and predictive modeling directly into your ETL processes. The capability to execute R scripts from within SSIS packages and transmit data to R for analysis is now seamlessly supported.

Deployment Enhancements

SSIS 2016 simplifies the deployment of projects through the introduction of new features such as incremental package deployment, environment cloning, and project versioning. These enhancements streamline the process of deploying updates to existing projects by enabling the deployment of only those packages that have undergone changes. The ability to clone environments and revert to previous package versions provides added flexibility when necessary.

Other Improvements

SSIS 2016 introduces a range of additional enhancements, including expanded connectivity to various data sources such as SAP HANA, Hadoop, Azure SQL Data Warehouse, and OData. It also offers support for newer versions of existing data sources like Oracle 12c and updates the OLE DB provider for SQL Server. The logging capabilities are enhanced with the inclusion of custom log providers, and there is closer integration with Power BI, allowing the initiation of a Power BI report directly from an SSIS package.

With these improvements, SSIS 2016 delivers enhanced performance, scalability, and usability for ETL solutions. The extended support for data sources, the incorporation of data mining features, and the diverse deployment options provide greater flexibility and empowerment to construct sophisticated data integration projects. Overall, SSIS 2016 represents a significant advancement, enabling the creation of higher-performing and more resilient ETL systems.

How to Get Started With SSIS 816

To get started with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 2016, follow these steps:

Download and Install SSIS

To access SSIS, it is necessary to download SQL Server 2016, which includes this integration service. The free SQL Server Developer Edition conveniently incorporates SSIS. During the installation process of SQL Server 2016, ensure the selection of Integration Services as one of the features to be installed.

Launch and Explore SSIS

After installing SQL Server 2016, you can launch SSIS from the Microsoft SQL Server program group. The first time you launch SSIS, you will see the SSIS catalog, a repository for your SSIS projects. The SSIS catalog organizes your SSIS projects, environments, parameters, and logging.

Create a New SSIS Project

To begin creating your initial SSIS package, initiate by right-clicking on the SSIS catalog. Then, opt for “New Folder” followed by “Project”. From the project type options, choose “Integration Services Project”. Provide a name for your newly created project and proceed by clicking “OK” to instantiate it. Your fresh SSIS project will promptly materialize within the SSIS catalog.

Design an SSIS Package

To start working on your new SSIS project, double-click on it to open SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), which is the development environment for SSIS. Then, right-click on the “Packages” folder and choose “New SSIS Package” to create a fresh package. Utilize the design surface to drag and drop various data flow components such as sources, transformations, and destinations in order to construct your ETL data flow.

Configure and Execute the Package

Configure the components within your SSIS package by adjusting properties and incorporating scripts or expressions as needed. To execute your package, simply click the “Start” button or press F5. This action will trigger the package to run, enabling data to flow through the various data flow components as designed.

Deploy and Schedule the Package

To make your SSIS project and its packages available for scheduling and execution, begin by right-clicking on your project within the SSIS catalog. From the context menu, select “Deploy Project.” This action will initiate the deployment process for your project and its associated packages. Once deployed, you can proceed to schedule the packages for execution using SQL Server Agent or any other preferred scheduling tool.

Following these steps will help you commence building, executing, and deploying SSIS packages. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!

Conclusion

By now, you should have developed a strong grasp of SSIS 816. With consistent practice, you’ll progressively enhance your ability to implement data integration solutions and manage intricate ETL processes. It’s essential to begin with simple tasks, master the basics, and gradually expand your expertise through practical projects. SSIS offers a comprehensive toolkit to empower you as a data professional. 

Stay updated with the latest releases and features to leverage the full potential of this platform. With dedication and perseverance, you’ll soon excel in automating data workflows and refining data processing techniques. The opportunities for data integration are limitless. Now, go ahead and apply your newly acquired SSIS 816 skills with confidence!