SQL Server^® Integration Services:
Hands-On

What is this course about?

This course provides comprehensive coverage of Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS). You learn how to migrate and transform data among heterogeneous data sources such as text files, Oracle, Access, XML, ODBC and OLE DB.

The numerous hands-on exercises in this course are designed to illustrate real-world problems and provide practical solutions that you can apply immediately in the workplace.

Who will benefit from this course?

It is essential for organizations to securely manage data migration among a myriad of platforms to enhance their business intelligence capabilities.

In this course, attendees learn to leverage SQL Server Integration Services to extract, transform, load and integrate data from a variety of sources.

Typical participants include database developers and analysts who need to migrate data among diverse platforms.

Database administrators who need to manage Integration Services packages stored on SQL Server and database professionals working in mixed environments of DBMSs such as Oracle, Access and SQL Server will benefit from this course.

What background knowledge do I need?

You should have a basic knowledge of relational database management systems and the SQL language. Specific experience with Microsoft SQL Server is helpful, but not required for this course.

You should also have some knowledge of basic programming concepts but specific knowledge of a particular language is not required.

Familiarity with the Windows interface and basic Windows security is recommended.

Do I need to know SQL?

A basic knowledge of SQL is required. You should be able to write a SELECT statement to query a table.

How much of this class is focused on scripting and/or programming?

Most tasks in this course can be accomplished with no programming.

You will learn to use programming to extend the capabilities of SSIS even if you have never programmed before.

All of the necessary information to complete the exercises will be given in the course.

What is the role of SSIS in Business Intelligence?

SSIS is one of the components in Microsoft's Business Intelligence platform. The other two consist of Reporting Services and Analysis Services. SSIS allows you to migrate data for decision support purposes. Once migrated, data can be analyzed with Analysis Services and reports can be built using Reporting Services.

Does this course cover the other components in Microsoft's Business Intelligence platform?

The focus of this course is on SSIS. For more information on other BI components, please refer to Course 146, Introduction to Microsoft^® Tools for Business Intelligence: Hands-On. For more information on Analysis Services, see Course 139, SQL Server^® Analysis Services: Hands-On, and for additional information on Reporting Services, see Course 140, SQL Server^® 2008 Reporting Services: Hands-On.

I am using Oracle as my main database platform. Will this course be helpful to me?

Yes! Integration Services can be used to migrate data from virtually any source. For example, it can be used to migrate from Sybase to Oracle or even from Oracle 9i to 10g. Specific examples will be demonstrated in class.

What platform is used for the hands-on exercises?

This course uses Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 running on Windows Server 2008.

How much time is spent on each topic?

How much time is devoted to hands-on exercises?

Approximately 45% of class time is spent engaging in hands-on exercises. These include:

• Upgrading packages with the DTS Migration Wizard
• Converting data among heterogeneous sources: Oracle, Access, and others
• Automating complex multi-step tasks including multi-file imports
• Manipulating package variables with scripting
• Handling errors and managing exception rows
• Administering the storage, security and execution of packages
• Writing data to multiple destinations with multicasting
• Reporting on package data for Business Intelligence

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

The SQL Server courses you take vary depending on the role you play in your organization. Please refer to the SQL Server Curriculum Q&A for details on which courses are most appropriate to your role and the order in which you should take them. You may be interested in these related courses:

• 140, SQL Server® 2008 Reporting Services: Hands-On 
• 139, SQL Server® Analysis Services: Hands-On 
• 502, Programming with .NET: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 
• 503, Visual Basic® Programming for .NET: Hands-On 
• 419, C# Programming: Hands-On 

For detailed information about these courses, please refer to the individual Q&As.