As someone who works with data, it’s super important to keep up with the newest tech and tools to do your job well. SQL Server Integration Services, or SSIS for short, is a tool by Microsoft that helps with combining, changing, and moving data around.
The version that came out in 2016, SSIS 2016, added a bunch of cool features that made it more powerful, faster, and easier to use.
Now, there’s an even newer version, SSIS 2019, that adds even more improvements to those features.
In this piece, I’m diving deep into the cool new features of SSIS 2019 and why they’re a big deal for anyone tackling data integration projects.
Whether you’re new to the SSIS scene or you’ve been around the block a few times, getting to grips with what the latest version brings to the table is key to unlocking its full power.
From smarter package management and an expanded toolbox to scaling out like a boss and even wrangling Hadoop data, I’ve got all the insights you need on SSIS 2019’s upgrades.
Stick around to get the lowdown on everything fresh and functional in this essential update.
What Is SSIS 816?
SSIS 816 is just another way to say SQL Server Integration Services 2016, which is the newest version of Microsoft’s tool for bringing different sets of data together, transforming it, and moving it from one place to another.
It came out in late 2016 and made some big improvements over the older versions in terms of speed, capacity, and how easy it is to use.
Here are some of the cool features of SSIS 2016:
- You can now send your SSIS projects straight to Azure, which is Microsoft’s cloud. This means you can move your data tasks from your computers to the cloud pretty easily.
- When you update your projects, only the parts that have changed need to be sent over again, making the whole process faster.
- There’s a new feature called data tap that lets you grab data from lots of different places, including over 70 built-in connectors to things like social media, marketing tools, and more.
- There’s a handy tool for randomly picking out bits of data to test or examine more closely.
- And there’s an Azure Feature Pack with extra bits and pieces for working with Azure’s other services like Data Lake Store, Blob Storage, and HDInsight.
In short, SSIS 2016 makes it easier and more powerful to work with big sets of data, especially if you’re looking to use the cloud, make your development work go faster, and handle more data better.
If you’re in the business of putting together complex data solutions, SSIS 2016 is definitely worth a look.
Features and Abilities
SSIS 816, or SQL Server Integration Services 2016, boosts your data handling game with some neat upgrades. Here’s what it brings:
Bigger and Faster Operations
SSIS 816 can handle big jobs, allowing you to use up to 64 cores for a single task. This means your data work gets done faster and more efficiently.
Plus, you can choose to run tasks straight from memory, skipping the step of logging data to a disk, which speeds things up even more.
There’s also a cool feature that lets you spread tasks over several computers, making everything run smoother and quicker.
Smarter Data Handling
This version is packed with improvements for moving and transforming data. It’s got new components for handling different types of data sources and destinations, including OData and ODBC.
Lookups, aggregations, and data reshaping work better than ever. It’s also easier to fix errors, with better ways to find and isolate them.
Plus, it supports more date and time data types, giving you more flexibility.
Easier Deployment and Management
Deploying and managing your data tasks is simpler with SSIS 816. You can deploy whole projects at once, not just bits and pieces.
Parameters let you tweak settings on the fly when you run tasks. The system comes with built-in ways to keep an eye on how things are running and to check everything is set up right.
And there are new tools for managing everything with T-SQL stored procedures.
In a nutshell, SSIS 816 makes your data integration and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tasks a whole lot easier, faster, and more powerful.
With these features, you can create top-notch data solutions without the headache.
Advantages of Upgrading to SSIS 816
When you upgrade your SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to version 816, you get several benefits that can make your data management easier and more secure.
First, SSIS 816 makes your data safer with features like Always Encrypted. This means your sensitive data is protected both when it’s moving around and when it’s stored in the database.
It’s like having a secret code that only the right people can decode. You can also decide who can access different parts of your data with role-based security.
Second, SSIS 816 makes it easier to work on your data with a tool called Visual Studio Code. This tool has a special extension pack for SSIS, which helps you write and manage your data tasks without needing another tool called SQL Server Data Tools.
It’s like having a simpler way to build and run your data jobs.
Additionally, SSIS 816 gives you more options for connecting to different data sources. You can easily link up with systems like SAP BW, Hadoop, and Spark.
There’s also a way to grab information from websites using a special connector. It’s like having more roads to access data from different places.
Moreover, SSIS 816 speeds up your work by letting you split tasks between different computers. It’s like having a team of people working together to get things done faster.
You can also keep your data in memory, which means you don’t have to keep moving it around, making things even faster.
Finally, when you upgrade to SSIS 816, you get updates and support for a long time 10 years, to be exact.
It’s like having a guarantee that your data tools will stay in good shape and be ready to help you.
Upgrading to SSIS 816 makes your data more secure, simplifies your work, connects you to more data sources, speeds up your tasks, and keeps your tools up to date.
For any organization that uses data a lot, this upgrade is a smart move.
Improvements in SSIS 816
The changes in SSIS 2016 aim to make working with data faster, more efficient, and more powerful.
Let’s look at some of the key improvements in SSIS 2016:
Enhanced Performance and Scalability: SSIS 2016 has become better at handling large amounts of data. It has a new feature that allows you to use multiple servers to process your data, which means you can get things done more quickly.
It also does a better job of managing data flow, keeping track of what’s happening, and handling errors.
Incorporating R for Advanced Analytics: Now, SSIS 2016 can work with R, a tool for doing advanced analytics.
This means you can use more complex methods to analyze your data and make predictions. You can even run R scripts right from your SSIS packages.
Deployment Features: Deploying your projects is now simpler. You can update your existing projects more efficiently.
For example, you can deploy only the parts that have changed, like updating a single chapter in a book instead of the whole book.
You can also copy project settings easily and go back to previous versions if you need to.
Additional Improvements: SSIS 2016 can connect to more types of data sources, like SAP HANA and Hadoop. It also works better with newer versions of databases like Oracle 12c.
Plus, there are improvements in how it logs what it’s doing, making it easier to keep track of your data work.
Integration with Power BI: If you use Power BI, SSIS 2016 can now work more closely with it. You can start a Power BI report right from your SSIS package, which makes it easier to visualize your data.
SSIS 2016 is a big step forward for handling data. It’s faster, can handle more types of data, and has better tools for analyzing and managing your information.
If you work with data a lot, these improvements can make your job easier and more powerful.
The Future of SSIS 816 and Beyond
While I’m currently using SSIS 816, it’s important to look ahead and imagine how this powerful tool for combining data will grow and change.
In this section, I’ll explore what we might expect from SSIS 816 and its future versions.
Continuous Improvements
Microsoft is always working to make SSIS 816 better. That means we can look forward to updates and new features that will help SSIS stay up-to-date with the ever-changing world of data integration.
More AI Integration
Artificial intelligence is becoming a big part of data analysis, and SSIS 816 is likely to work even more closely with AI in the future.
This could mean features that use machine learning to make data work smarter. For example, it might help us recognize patterns in data and make predictions.
AI-Powered Data Mapping
In the future, SSIS might use AI to help with something called data mapping. Data mapping is like figuring out how different pieces of data from different places fit together.
With AI, this process could become more automatic, making it easier to bring data from different sources together without a lot of manual work.
In short, the future of SSIS 816 and beyond looks promising, with more updates, smarter data handling with AI, and simpler ways to work with different kinds of data.
A Simple Guide to Getting Started with SSIS 816
If you want to start using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 2016, just follow these straightforward steps:
Download and Install SSIS
Begin by downloading SQL Server 2016, which already includes SSIS.
You can get the free SQL Server Developer Edition, which includes SSIS.
During the installation, make sure to choose “Integration Services” as one of the features to install.
Launch and Explore SSIS
Once you’ve installed SQL Server 2016, you can open SSIS from the Microsoft SQL Server program group.
When you first open SSIS, you’ll see the SSIS catalog, which is like a folder where you can keep all your SSIS projects organized.
Inside the SSIS catalog, you can keep track of your SSIS projects, settings, and other useful stuff.
Create a New SSIS Project
To start working on your SSIS packages, right-click on the SSIS catalog.
Choose “New Folder” and then “Project.“
Select “Integration Services Project” as the type of project you want to create.
Give your new project a name and click “OK.“
Your new SSIS project will now show up inside the SSIS catalog.
Design an SSIS Package
To create your first SSIS package, double-click on your new SSIS project.
This will open up SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), which is where you design your SSIS packages.
In SSDT, right-click on the “Packages” folder and choose “New SSIS Package” to create a new package.
Now, you can drag and drop different components onto the design area to build your data flow. Think of it like putting together puzzle pieces to make your data work the way you want it to.
These steps will help you get started with SSIS 816 and begin your journey into managing and transforming data.
Set Up and Run Your Package
To get your SSIS package ready, you’ll need to adjust its settings, add any scripts or special instructions, and then click the ‘Start’ button or press F5 to make it go.
Once you do this, your package will start working, and data will move through it.
Get Your Package Ready for Action
After you’ve fine-tuned your SSIS project, it’s time to get it ready for action. To do this, right-click on your project in the SSIS catalog and choose ‘Deploy Project’.
This will make your project and packages available for scheduling and running. You can set up schedules for your packages to run at specific times using tools like SQL Server Agent or other scheduling software.
Conclusion
By now, you should have a good grasp of SSIS 816. With practice, you’ll get better at using it for data integration and handling complex ETL tasks.
The key is to start with simple projects as I started and learn the basics, and then I gradually build my skills by working on real projects.
SSIS has lots of powerful tools to help you as a data professional. Make sure to keep up with the latest updates and features to make the most out of this platform.
With dedication and effort, you’ll soon be automating data tasks and making data processing more efficient.
There are endless possibilities for what you can do with data integration. Now, take what you’ve learned about SSIS 816 and start applying it in your work!
