Package Management (SSIS Service)

Applies to: SQL Server SSIS Integration Runtime in Azure Data Factory

Package management includes monitoring, managing, importing and exporting packages.

Package Store

Integration Services provides two top-level folders for accessing packages:

  • Running Packages
  • Stored Packages

The Running Packages folder lists the packages that are currently running on the server. The Stored Packages folder lists the packages that are saved in the package store. These are the only packages that the Integration Services service manages. The package store can consist of either or both the msdb database and file system folders listed in the Integration Services service configuration file. The configuration file specifies the msdb and file system folders to manage. You might also have packages stored elsewhere in the file system that are not managed by the Integration Services service.

Packages you save to msdb are stored in a table named sysssispackages. When you save packages to msdb, you can group them in logical folders. Using logical folders can help you organize packages by purpose, or filter packages in the sysssispackages table. Create new logical folders in SQL Server Management Studio. By default, any logical folders that you add to msdb are automatically included in the package store.

The logical folders you create are represented as rows in the sysssispackagefolders table in msdb. The folderid and parentfolderid columns in sysssispackagefolders define the folder hierarchy. The root logical folders in msdb are the rows in sysssispackagefolders with null values in the parentfolderid column. For more information, see sysssispackages (Transact-SQL) and sysssispackagefolders (Transact-SQL&).

When you open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to Integration Services, you will see the msdb folders that Integration Services service manages listed within the Stored Packages folder. If the configuration file specifies root file system folders, the Stored Packages folder also lists packages saved to the file system in those folders and in all subfolders.

You can store packages in any file system folder, but they will not be listed in subfolders of the Stored Packages folder unless you add the folder to the list of folders in the configuration file for the package store. For more information about the configuration file, see Integration Services Service (SSIS Service).

The Running Packages folder contains no subfolders and it is not extensible.

By default, the Stored Packages folder contains two folders: File System and MSDB. The File System folder lists the packages that are saved to the file system. The location of these files is specified in the configuration file for the Integration Services service. The default folder is the Packages folder, located in %Program Files%\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS. The MSDB folder lists the Integration Services packages that have been saved to the SQL Server msdb database on the server. The sysssispackages table contains the packages saved to msdb.

To view the list of packages in the package store, you must open SQL Server Management Studio and connect to Integration Services.

Monitor running packages

The Running Packages folder lists packages currently running. To view information about current packages on the Summary page of SQL Server Management Studio, click the Running Packages folder. Information such as the execution duration of running packages is listed on the Summary page. Optionally, refresh the folder to display the most current information.

To view information about a single running package on the Summary page, click the package. The Summary page displays information such as the version and description of the package.

Stop a running package from the Running Packages folder by right-clicking the package and then clicking Stop.

View packages in SSMS

This procedure describes how to connect to Integration Services in SQL Server Management Studio and view a list of the packages that the Integration Services service manages.

To connect to Integration Services

  1. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server, and then click SQL Server Management Studio.

  2. In the Connect to Server dialog box, select Integration Services in the Server type list, provide a server name in the Server name box, and then click Connect.

    Important

    If you cannot connect to Integration Services, the Integration Services service is likely not running. To learn the status of the service, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager. In the left pane, click SQL Server Services. In the right pane, find the Integration Services service. Start the service if it is not already running.

    SQL Server Management Studio opens. By default the Object Explorer window is open and positioned in the lower-left corner of the studio. If Object Explorer is not open, click Object Explorer on the View menu.

To view the packages that Integration Services service manages

  1. In Object Explorer, expand the Stored Packages folder.

  2. Expand the Stored Packages subfolders to show packages.

Import and export packages

Packages can be saved either in the sysssispackages table in the SQL Server msdb database or in the file system.

The package store, which is the logical storage that Integration Services service monitors and manages, can include both the msdb database and the file system folders specified in the configuration file for the Integration Services service.

You can import and export packages between the following storage types:

  • File system folders anywhere in the file system.

  • Folders in the SSIS Package Store. The two default folders are named File System and MSDB.

  • The SQL Server msdb database.

Integration Services gives you the ability to import and export packages, and by doing this change the storage format and location of packages. Using the import and export features, you can add packages to the file system, package store, or msdb database, and copy packages from one storage format to another. For example, packages saved in msdb can be copied to the file system and vice versa.

You can also copy a package to a different format using the dtutil command prompt utility (dtutil.exe). For more information, see dtutil Utility.

You can import or export an Integration Services package from or to the following locations:

  • You can import a package that is stored in an instance of Microsoft SQL Server, in the file system, or in the SSIS package store. The imported package is saved to SQL Server or to a folder in the SSIS package store.

  • You can export a package that is stored in an instance of SQL Server, the file system, or the SSIS Package Store to a different storage format and location.

However, there are some restrictions on importing and exporting a package between different versions of SQL Server:

  • On an instance of SQL Server 2008 (10.0.x), you can import packages from an instance of SQL Server 2005 (9.x), but you cannot export packages to an instance of SQL Server 2005 (9.x).

  • On an instance of SQL Server 2005 (9.x), you cannot import packages from, or export packages to, an instance of SQL Server 2008 (10.0.x).

The following procedures describe how to use SQL Server Management Studio to import or export a package.

To import a package by Using SQL Server Management Studio

  1. Click Start, point to Microsoft SQL Server, and then click SQL Server Management Studio.

  2. In the Connect to Server dialog box set the following options:

    • In the Server type box, select Integration Services.

    • In the Server name box, provide a server name or click <Browse for more...> and locate the server to use.

  3. If Object Explorer is not open, on the View menu, click Object Explorer.

  4. In Object Explorer, expand the Stored Packages folder.

  5. Expand the subfolders to locate the folder into which you want to import a package.

  6. Right-click the folder, click Import Package, and then do one of the following:

    • To import from an instance of SQL Server, select the SQL Server option, and then specify the server and select the authentication mode. If you select SQL Server Authentication, provide a user name and a password.

      Click the browse button (...), select the package to import, and then click OK.

    • To import from the file system, select the File system option.

      Click the browse button (...), select the package to import, and then click Open.

    • To import from the SSIS Package Store, select the SSIS Package Store option and specify the server.

      Click the browse button (...), select the package to import, and then click OK.

  7. Optionally, update the package name.

  8. To update the protection level of the package, click the browse button (...) and choose a different protection level by using the Package Protection Level dialog box. If the Encrypt sensitive data with password or the Encrypt all data with password option is selected, type and confirm a password.

  9. Click OK to complete the import.

To export a package by Using SQL Server Management Studio

  1. Click Start, point to Microsoft SQL Server, and then click SQL Server Management Studio.

  2. In the Connect to Server dialog box, set the following options:

    • In the Server type box, select Integration Services.

    • In the Server name box, provide a server name or click <Browse for more...> and locate the server to use.

  3. If Object Explorer is not open, on the View menu, click Object Explorer.

  4. In Object Explorer, expand the Stored Packages folder.

  5. Expand the subfolders to locate the package you want to export.

  6. Right-click the package, click Export, and then do one of the following:

    • To export to an instance of SQL Server, select the SQL Server option, and then specify the server and select the authentication mode. If you select SQL Server Authentication, provide a user name and a password.

      Click the browse button (...), and expand the SSIS Packages folder to locate the folder to which you want to save the package. Optionally, update the default name of the package, and then click OK.

    • To export to the file system, select the File System option.

      Click the browse button (...) to locate the folder to which you want to export the package, type the name of the package file, and then click Save.

    • To export to the SSIS package store, select the SSIS Package Store option, and specify the server.

      Click the browse button (...), expand the SSIS Packages folder, and select the folder to which you want to save the package. Optionally, enter a new name for the package in the Package Name text box. Select OK.

  7. To update the protection level of the package, click the browse button (...) and choose a different protection level by using the Package Protection Level dialog box. If the Encrypt sensitive data with password or the Encrypt all data with password option is selected, type and confirm a password.

  8. Click OK to complete the export.

Import Package Dialog Box UI Reference

Use the Import Package dialog box, available in SQL Server Management Studio, to import a Integration Services package and to set or modify the protection level of the package.

Options

Package location
Select the type of storage location to import the package to. The following options are available:

SQL Server

File System

SSIS Package Store

Server
Type a server name or select a server from the list.

Authentication
Select Windows Authentication or SQL Server Authentication. This option is available only if the storage location is SQL Server.

Important

Whenever possible, use Windows Authentication.

Authentication type
Select an authentication type.

User name
If using SQL Server Authentication, provide a user name.

Password
If using SQL Server Authentication, provide a password.

Package path
Type the package path, or click the browse button (...) and locate the package.

Package name
Optionally, rename the package. The default name is the name of the package to import.

Protection level
Click the browse button (...) and, in the Package Protection Level dialog box, update the protection level. For more information, see Package and Project Protection Level Dialog Box.

Export Package Dialog Box UI Reference

Use the Export Package dialog box, available in SQL Server Management Studio, to export a Integration Services package to a different location and optionally, modify the protection level of the package.

Options

Package location
Select the type of storage to export the package to. The following options are available:

SQL Server

File System

SSIS Package Storage

Server
Type a server name or select a server from the list.

Authentication
Select Windows Authentication or SQL Server Authentication. This option is available only if the storage location is SQL Server.

Important

Whenever possible, use Windows Authentication.

Authentication type
Select an authentication type.

User name
If using SQL Server Authentication, provide a user name.

Password
If using SQL Server Authentication, provide a password.

Package path
Type the package path, or click the browse button (...) and locate the folder in which to store the package.

Protection level
Click the browse button (...) and update the protection level in the Package Protection Level dialog box. For more information, see Package and Project Protection Level Dialog Box.

Back up and restore packages

SQL Server Integration Services packages can be saved to the file system or msdb, a SQL Server system database. Packages saved to msdb can be backed up and restored using SQL Server backup and restore features.

For more information about backing up and restoring the msdb database, click one of the following topics:

Integration Services includes the dtutil command-prompt utility (dtutil.exec), which you can use to manage packages. For more information, see dtutil Utility.

Configuration Files

Any configuration files that the packages include are stored in the file system. These files are not backed up when you back up the msdb database; therefore, you should make sure that the configuration files are backed up regularly as part of your plan for securing packages saved to msdb. To include configurations in the backup of the msdb database, you should consider using the SQL Server configuration type instead of file-based configurations.

Packages Stored in the File System

The backup of packages that are saved to the file system should be included in the plan for backing up the file system of the server. The Integration Services service configuration file, which has the default name MsDtsSrvr.ini.xml, lists the folders on the server that the service monitors. You should make sure these folders are backed up. Additionally, packages may be stored in other folders on the server and you should make sure to include these folders in the backup.

See Also

Integration Services Service (SSIS Service)