How to use SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to load data into an on-premises data warehouse with a specialized SQL pool?

A dedicated SQL pool, a data warehouse, is a powerful tool that helps organizations store and analyze large amounts of data. However, loading data into a dedicated SQL pool can be daunting, especially when dealing with vast amounts of data. One of the most popular ways to load data into a dedicated SQL pool is using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).

What are SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)?

SSIS is a data integration tool that enables organizations to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from various sources to a destination data store, such as a dedicated SQL pool. SSIS is a part of the Microsoft SQL Server database software suite, which includes SQL Server Reporting Services, Analysis Services, and Management Studio.

Prerequisites

Before we delve into the steps for importing data into a dedicated SQL pool, here are the prerequisites:

1. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
2. A source data store (such as a file or a database)
3. A destination data store (a dedicated SQL pool)
4. Access to the source and destination data stores
5. Basic understanding of SSIS and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Step 1: Create a project in SSIS

The first step is to create a new SSIS project in Visual Studio. To do this, open Visual Studio, click on File > New Project and select Integration Services Project under the Business Intelligence category. Next, give your project a name and connect OK.

Step 2: Add a Data Flow Task

Once you have created your project, you will see an empty package on the Control Flow tab. Right-click on the box and select Edit. This will open the Data Flow tab. Drag and drop a Data Flow Task from the SSIS Toolbox onto the Data Flow tab.

Step 3: Add a source data store

Next, you must add a source data store to the Data Flow Task. This could be a flat file, an Excel file, or a database. Drag and drop the appropriate source component from the SSIS Toolbox onto the Data Flow tab to add a source data store. Double-click on the source component to configure the connection manager for the source data store.

Step 4: Add a destination data store

Now that you have added a source data store, you must add a destination one. In this case, the destination data store is a dedicated SQL pool. Drag and drop the appropriate destination component from the SSIS Toolbox onto the Data Flow tab to add a destination data store. Double-click on the destination component to configure the connection manager for the destination data store.

Step 5: Map the source and destination data stores

Once you have added the source and destination data stores, you must map the columns from the start to the destination. First, drag and drop a Data Flow Task component from the SSIS Toolbox onto the Data Flow tab to do this. Next, Double-click on the element to open the editor, then click on the Input Columns tab. Here, you can map the source to the destination columns by dragging and dropping the appropriate columns from the Available Input Columns list to the Available Destination Columns list.

Step 6: Run the SSIS package

Now that you have mapped the source and destination data stores, you can run the SSIS package. To do this, right-click on the package and select Execute Package. This will run the box and load the data from the source data store into the dedicated SQL pool.

Conclusion

Loading data into a dedicated SQL pool with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a straightforward process that involves adding a source data store and a destination data store and mapping the columns from the source to the destination. With these steps, you can quickly load data into a dedicated SQL pool and begin analyzing your data with robust reporting and analysis tools.