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URL: https://www.cdata.com/kb/tech/nasa-ssis-setup.rst

⇱ Getting Started with the CData SSIS Components for NASA

Getting Started with the CData SSIS Components for NASA

Complete guide to installing, licensing, and connecting with the CData SSIS Components for NASA.

This guide explains everything you need to get started with the CData SSIS Components for NASA. You'll learn how to install the components, activate your license, configure your first SSIS connection manager, and build a data flow task to move and transform NASA data in your SQL Server Integration Services workflows.

Installation & Licensing

System Requirements

  • Windows: Windows 10/11 or Windows Server 2016+
  • Visual Studio: Visual Studio 2015 or later
  • SQL Server: SQL Server 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, or 2022

Installing the SSIS Components

  1. Download the SSIS Components installer for NASA from your CData account or the evaluation download page
  2. Run the installer and follow the installation wizard
  3. The installer automatically registers the Connection Manager, Source, and Destination components with Visual Studio
  4. When prompted, activate your license using the product key sent to you by the CData Orders Team:
    XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
    • Note: To run a trial, choose the Trial Key option.

Enabling SSIS in Visual Studio 2022

If you are using Visual Studio 2022, the SQL Server Integration Services Projects extension must be installed.

  1. In Visual Studio, select Extensions > Manage Extensions
  2. Search for SQL Server Integration Services Projects 2022
  3. Click Install
  4. Close Visual Studio and run the downloaded Microsoft.DataTools.IntegrationServices.exe installer
  5. Reopen Visual Studio. The Integration Services Project template will now appear when creating a new project

Activating Your License

During installation, you are prompted to activate the SSIS Component license. If you need to update or change activation:

License Activation

The installer automatically prompts you to add your license. During installation, you can choose to:

  • Use your existing subscription license key, or
  • Enter your trial license

To activate a full subscription license, contact the CData Orders Team and request your product key at [email protected].

Enter the license key in the installer when prompted. Once activated, the components will be licensed and ready to use inside Visual Studio without any additional steps.

Runtime Licensing

When deploying SSIS packages, a Runtime Key (RTK) can also be used:

  • Set the RTK property in the Connection Manager before deployment

Common Licensing Questions

Can I use my license on multiple machines?
Yes, depending on your subscription tier. Contact [email protected] for details.

I lost my license key. How do I retrieve it?
Email [email protected] with your order number, and we'll resend your license key.

How do I transfer my license to another machine?

Yes. When transferring the license to a different machine, you will need to submit a License Transfer Request on our site linked below:

https://www.cdata.com/lic/transfer/

After the License Transfer Request is submitted and successfully processed, an activation will be added to your Product Key and you will be able to activate the full license on the other machine. Once this process is finished, the license on the previous machine will be invalid.

You may also view and upgrade licenses in the self-service portal at portal.cdata.com.

Connection Configuration

Once the components are installed and licensed, you can configure a connection to NASA using an SSIS Connection Manager. This Connection Manager stores all authentication and connection properties used by the Source and Destination components.

Creating a Connection Manager

  1. In the bottom Connection Managers panel of your SSIS package, right-click and select New Connection 👁 Selecting new connection
  2. Select CData API Driver for SSIS from the list 👁 Adding Connection Manager
  3. Click Add to open the Connection Manager UI
  4. Enter the required authentication properties (OAuth, API token, client credentials, etc.) depending on your NASA

    5. Configuring Connection Properties

    Using API Key Authentication

    Most NASA API endpoints (APOD, NeoWS, DONKI, TechTransfer) require a NASA API key. Register for a free key at https://api.nasa.gov. The default DEMO_KEY provides limited access (30 requests/hour, 50 requests/day); a registered key allows 1,000 requests/hour.

    The following endpoints do not require an API key and work without authentication: EONET (Earth Observatory Natural Event Tracker), EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera), NASA Image and Video Library, and TechPort.

    After obtaining your API key, set the following connection properties:

    • AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
    • APIKey: Set this to your NASA API key. Use DEMO_KEY for limited testing.

    Example Connection String

    Profile=C:\profiles\NASA.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;APIKey=YOUR_NASA_API_KEY

    Connecting to NASA

    Once the authentication is configured, you can connect to NASA and query data from any of the available tables such as AstronomyPictureOfDay, NearEarthObjectFeed, EonetEvents, and NasaImageLibrary.

  5. Click Test Connection to confirm connectivity 👁 Testing connection

Building an SSIS Data Flow

With a Connection Manager created, you can now pull data from NASA or push data into it using SSIS data flow tasks.

Creating a Data Flow Task

  1. In the Control Flow tab, drag a Data Flow Task onto the design surface 👁 Dropping data flow task
  2. Double-click the task to open the Data Flow workspace

Using the Source Component

  1. In the SSIS Toolbox, drag the CData NASA Source component into the Data Flow 👁 Dropping source component
  2. Double-click it to open the Source Editor
  3. Select the CData NASA Connection Manager you created 👁 Selecting CM and table
  4. Choose a table or view to extract records from
  5. Click OK to save your configuration

Using the Destination Component

  1. Drag a SQL Server Destination onto the canvas 👁 Dragging destination component
  2. Double-click it to open the Destination Editor 👁 Adding new CM
  3. Select an existing table or click New to auto-generate a table based on the Source schema 👁 Creating new table
  4. Connect the Source output to the Destination input and map the columns as needed
  5. At this point you have created a data flow task for replicating your NASA data to a SQL Server database 👁 Completing data flow task

Testing Your Data Flow

  1. Return to the Control Flow tab
  2. Click Start Debugging
  3. Monitor the progress indicators
  4. Review row counts and ensure data is loading as expected

Common Connection Issues

Authentication Failed

Solution: Verify OAuth settings, client IDs, secrets, or token permissions for your NASA. Contact [email protected] for OAuth troubleshooting.

Cannot Reach Server

Solution: Check firewall, proxy, and VPN configurations. Contact [email protected] for specific port requirements.

Table Not Found

Solution: Confirm you selected the correct schema or database when querying NASA.

What's Next

Now that you have installed, licensed, and configured the SSIS Components, here are scenarios you can use to explore our SSIS tools:

Get Support

If you need assistance at any point:

FAQs

Installation & Licensing

  • Do I need administrator rights to install the SSIS Components?
    Yes, administrator rights are required to install components for use across Visual Studio.
  • Do I need an RTK to deploy to Azure Data Factory?
    Yes. Set the RTK property in the Connection Manager before publishing.

Connecting

  • Can I use multiple NASA accounts?
    Create separate Connection Managers for each account.
  • Can I connect through a proxy?
    Yes. Configure proxy settings in the Connection Manager properties.
  • How do I test my connection?
    Click Test Connection in the Connection Manager UI.

Performance & Troubleshooting

  • Why is my data flow slow?
    Add filters, limit rows, and ensure batching settings are configured in the Source component.
  • How do I enable logging?
    Add the following to your connection manager:
    • Logfile: /path/to/logfile.log
    • Verbosity: 3

    Be prepared to securely upload the log file upon request when reaching out to [email protected] for troubleshooting analysis.

    For questions not covered in this FAQ, contact [email protected].

Ready to get started?

Connect to live data from NASA with the API Driver

Connect to NASA