Upgrading SSIS from 2005 to 2008 R2: Pitfalls and Fixes

By Tom Nonmacher

Upgrading from SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) 2005 to 2008 R2 is a necessary step for many organizations and developers. This transition allows you to take advantage of new features and improvements in performance and security. However, the process is not without its challenges. This blog post will describe some common pitfalls and their fixes during this upgrade.

One common issue arises with deprecated features. SSIS 2005 features such as ActiveX Script Tasks and Data Transformation Services (DTS) 2000 package execution are not supported in SSIS 2008 R2. When upgrading, you must replace or rewrite these features. For example, you can replace ActiveX Script Tasks with Script Tasks, which use a more modern, .NET-based scripting language.

-- Replace ActiveX Script Tasks with Script Tasks
-- This is an example of a rewritten Script Task in VB.NET
Dts.Variables("User::MyVariable").Value = "New Value"
Dts.TaskResult = ScriptResults.Success

Another common pitfall is the issue with configurations. SSIS 2005 allows configurations to be applied at the package level. However, in SSIS 2008 R2, configurations are applied at the project level. Thus, when upgrading, you must ensure that configurations are properly transitioned to avoid unexpected behavior.

Connectivity can also pose problems during the upgrade. Connection strings and providers that worked in SSIS 2005 may not work in SSIS 2008 R2. In particular, if you're connecting to newer databases such as SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2014, MySQL 5.6, or DB2 10.5, or to cloud databases like Azure SQL, you may need to update your connection strings and install new providers.

The last common pitfall we will discuss is the change in the deployment model. SSIS 2005 uses the package deployment model, where each package is deployed individually. However, SSIS 2008 R2 introduces the project deployment model, where all the packages in a project are deployed at once. This change can cause issues if some packages in a project are not ready for deployment. To avoid this, you may need to reorganize your projects and packages.

Upgrading SSIS from 2005 to 2008 R2 can be a complex process, but understanding these common pitfalls can help you navigate it. By carefully planning your upgrade and testing thoroughly, you can minimize disruption and take full advantage of the new features and improvements in SSIS 2008 R2.

Check out the latest articles from all our sites:

Privacy Policy for sqlsupport.org

Last updated: Feb 03, 2026

sqlsupport.org respects your privacy and is committed to protecting any personal information you may provide while using this website.

This Privacy Policy document outlines the types of information that are collected and recorded by sqlsupport.org and how we use it.

Information We Collect

  • Internet Protocol (IP) addresses
  • Browser type and version
  • Pages visited
  • Time and date of visits
  • Referring URLs
  • Device type

Cookies and Web Beacons

sqlsupport.org uses cookies to store information about visitors preferences and to optimize the users experience.

How We Use Your Information

  • Operate and maintain our website
  • Improve user experience
  • Analyze traffic patterns
  • Prevent fraudulent activity

Contact

Email: admin@sqlsupport.org




F2F4F2
Please enter the code from the image above in the box below.