SQL Server Express + SSIS basics
May 01, 2021
SQL Server Express + SSIS basics
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with SQL Server Integration Services
We are using the SSIS as a major data export/import & converter between different data sources, including relatively old legacy stuff out from 90th. The beauty of SSIS is really advanced capabilities of data converts and mix up the data from different sources with all respect to keys and data relations. We use this mostly as an addition to the SQL Server Express edition (as a part of the import/export wizard) but on the sandbox I doing the tests of SQL Server 2016 Standard edition to mix up several RDBMS for data extraction into one data warehouse.
- Extraction and convert data from various sources
- Pipelining in the data extraction process
- Unions between different data sources akin one meta datasource
- Some labels in Visual Studio snap-in for MS SQL Server are collapsed on non-English (German & Russian tested) locales.
- Data integrity across various products allows unify certain processes inside the organization and save funds by reducing human labour factor.
- Automated data unification allows us plan our inputs better and reduce over-warehousing by overbuying
- The employee number, responsible for data management was reduced from 4 to 1 person
SAP Business Objects was a primary concurrent software against the MS SSIS but it has a more steep learning curve and requires additional investment into the SAP-related software infrastructure. With SSIS one can start easily with simple data extraction / DTL tools of Express Edition (which is free) and then migrate to the Standard Edition if any advanced DTS will be required. Also, the MS community and MSDN tech resources contain a lot of useful info to allow a quick start. Also, installation/administration processes are easy and well-documented counter to expensive SAP requirements. One can start with totally free solutions and scale them in the future. As an example - you can use a free Hyper-V core server on a very cheap 1000-1500 USD Dell/HPE entry-level server, then virtualize one instance of Win10 Pro, and inside this virtual machine install the SQL Server Express with SSIS (as Data Transformation and Import / Export wizard). With a certain amount of imagination, this could be a very good start point to unite a moderate amount of data, collected in the small organization for decades.
Do you think SQL Server Integration Services delivers good value for the price?
Yes
Are you happy with SQL Server Integration Services's feature set?
Yes
Did SQL Server Integration Services live up to sales and marketing promises?
I wasn't involved with the selection/purchase process
Did implementation of SQL Server Integration Services go as expected?
Yes
Would you buy SQL Server Integration Services again?
Yes