How to Install SSIS

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a component of Microsoft SQL Server, designed specifically for ETL (Extract, Transform, and Load) tasks. SSIS supports various data sources, making it a robust and versatile platform for developing data integration and transformation solutions. It addresses numerous business challenges including data replication and downloading, data cleansing, and data management in SQL Server databases.

Key features of SSIS include:

  • A broad selection of predefined tasks and transformations
  • Graphical tools that allow users to visually create and manage packages
  • A dedicated SSIS Catalog database to store, execute, and manage packages

Prerequisites

To install SSIS, ensure you meet the following software and hardware requirements:

Software requirements

  • SQL Server: Version 2016, 2017, 2019, or 2022, Developer Edition or higher
  • SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT): For Visual Studio
  • Operating System: Windows Server 2016 or higher, Windows 10 or higher
  • .NET Framework: Version 4.6 or higher (ensure compatibility with your SQL Server version)

Hardware requirements

  • Processor: x64 processor with a speed of 2.0 GHz or faster
  • Memory: At least 2 GB of RAM (4 GB or more recommended)
  • Disk Space: Sufficient disk space for the SQL Server installation, typically several gigabytes

Additional requirements

You will need administrative privileges to install and configure SQL Server and its components, including SSIS.

Download SSIS

SSIS is not available as a standalone download; it must be installed through the SQL Server installation process. Thus, you need to start with the SQL Server download.

Get the necessary SQL Server edition on the Microsoft official portal

Note: SSIS is not included in the Express Edition. You need at least a Developer edition to be able to utilize SSIS.

SSIS Installation

There are two options to install SSIS as a part of the SQL Server installation process:

Fresh installation: If you're installing SQL Server on a computer with no previous instances, you can include SSIS during the installation. When you reach the stage of selecting features, choose Integration Services to install SSIS.

Side-by-side installation: If you already have an instance of SQL Server, start the new installation process. Choose to install only Integration Services during this installation.

Also, you need the SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) installation as it is the necessary component for working with SSIS and creating its packages. You can install SSDT as part of the SQL Server installation process or later via Visual Studio.

Install SQL Server Integration Services using the SQL Server Setup Wizard:

1. Depending on your needs, either choose to Perform a new installation or to Add features to an existing instance.

New installation or adding features

2. On the Feature Selection page, choose:

  • Integration Services under Shared Features
  • Database Engine Services under Instance Features
(The latter option is necessary to host the SSIS Catalog database, and SSISDB, to store, manage, run, and monitor SSIS packages.)

Select features to include

3. Proceed with installing SQL Server accordingly, review the summary of the features to be installed, verify it, and install the software.

Review and install SSIS

Install SSIS for Visual Studio 2022

The latest version of Visual Studio allows you to get SSIS as the VS extension. It is available in the official Visual Studio Marketplace. To install SSIS for Visual Studio 2022, perform the following actions:

  • In the Visual Studio application, go to Extensions > Manage Extensions > Online
  • Download and install SQL Server Integration Services Projects 2022. Restart Visual Studio to complete the installation

Install the SSIS extension for Visual Studio

Start a new project in a Visual Studio (Integration Services Project or Azure-Enabled Integration Service Project).

Start a new project in VS with SSIS

Configure SSIS from the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Before you start, make sure you have the latest version of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Connect to the server, providing the necessary details, such as the server type, the server name, the authentication type (it should be SQL Server Authentication), and your login and password for your server admin account.

Then, in Object Explorer, expand the Management node, and right-click Integration Services Catalogs. Select Create Catalog.

Configure SSIS from SSMS

Proceed to the Catalog Creation Wizard and set up the catalog to store and run the SSIS packages.

Create a catalog in SSMS for SSIS packages

SSIS Version Compatibility

The supported target server versions range from SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2022. To verify the Target Server Version in Visual Studio, do the following:

In Solution Explorer, right-click on the SSIS project node and select Properties.

Check the SSIS project properties

Go to Configuration Properties and find the Deployment Target Version option. Select the appropriate SQL Server version:

Specify the deployment target server version

How to update SSIS

When upgrading, you can upgrade both SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and SQL Server, or just SSIS. Upgrading only the database engine does not upgrade SSIS. Although SSIS will remain functional, it won't have the new version's features.

Note: If you upgrade SSIS to the latest version on a computer that already has SSIS installed, the new version will be installed alongside the older version.

To upgrade your SSIS, use one of the following methods:

Option 1. Run the SQL Server Installation Server for your current instance and select the option to Upgrade from a previous version of SQL Server version.

Upgrade from a previous SQL Server version

Option 2. Run setup.exe from the command prompt and specify the /ACTION=upgrade option.

Note: Upgrading is not suitable for reconfiguring an existing SSIS installation or moving from one localized version of SQL Server to another.

Additionally, upgrading the database engine does not automatically upgrade SSIS packages created with the previous version. You will need to upgrade the packages separately.

How to uninstall SSIS

To remove SSIS from Visual Studio, proceed to the Manage Extensions section and find SQL Server Integration Services Projects. Select it and click Uninstall.

Uninstall SSIS from Visual Studio

Another way is via the SQL Server Installation Center utility:

1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to Programs and Features or Uninstall a program.

2. Locate the SQL Server instance you wish to modify, typically listed as Microsoft SQL Server [version]. Click it and select Modify or Uninstall/Modify.

3. In SQL Server Installation Center, select Remove SQL Server instance features.

4. On the Select Features page, select the checkbox for Integration Services and follow the on-screen prompts to remove the selected features.

This procedure will uninstall SSIS from the chosen SQL Server instance.

SSIS Data Flow Components

Devart offers SSIS Data Flow Components, a flexible solution for integrating data from over 40 sources, including databases and cloud applications, within SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS). These specialized tools enhance and optimize ETL processes across diverse source and destination platforms.

Devart SSIS Data Flow Components integrate seamlessly with SSIS, significantly boosting the effectiveness of data integration processes. With user-friendly interfaces and high performance, these tools are a top choice for developers and data professionals.

Conclusion

Converting raw data into a standardized format is fundamental for business intelligence and analytics. Therefore, selecting the appropriate tools and technologies for these processes is crucial. Among them, Microsoft's SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) are one of the most popular options, a powerful toolkit that excels in both simple data import tasks and complex multi-step processes.

Understanding and utilizing SSIS is not just about managing data; it's about unlocking potential and driving innovation. Here, Devart SSIS Data Flow Components stand out as a convenient and versatile solution, allowing you to integrate database and cloud data from over 40 sources with SSIS to achieve your business goals.

SSIS Data Flow Components

High-performance SSIS components for popular databases and cloud applications