SSIS Objects

The objects and the interaction between them constitute the Integration Services Object Model. The SSIS objects are- Packages, Control Flows, Data Flows, Connections, Variables, Event Handlers and Log Providers. Packages form the main consideration for SSIS administration.

Packages

For Integration Services, the core structure is the Packages. The logic defining data integration is contained in the Packages. The Packages also contain the control and data tasks. Control and data tasks are executed with execution of packages. In SQL Server 2005, storing of packages is either in the Integration Services package store or in a file system.

Projects & Solutions

Projects are groups of packages for achieving a business goal and Solutions are containers for developing packages. As such projects are containers for packages and solutions are containers for projects. A single solution may contain a multiple of projects and likewise a single project may contain a multiple of packages. SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence Development Studio is the source for creation, testing and deployment of the solutions, projects and packages. It is the packages that the SSIS actually requires for performing the work although organizing the packages requires use of projects and solutions. The basic use for execution of projects and solutions is manipulation of data. There is basically no interaction by the Integration Services with the projects and solutions.

Integration Services

SSIS packages are managed by a Windows service called Integration Services (IS). Starting and stopping packages, importing and exporting packages, SSIS package storage management and integration with SQL Server Management Studio are handled by the IS. Though not needed for package design and running, monitoring packages in the SSIS package store in SQL Server Management Studio is facilitated by IS. Packages can be executed even in absence of IS with the aid of tools like SSIS Designer, SQL Server Import and Export Wizard or other such package or command-line utilities.