SQL Server Bulk Load as a target

The SQL Server Bulk Load endpoint provides better performance for data pipelines that synchronize large datasets. This endpoint requires the data pipeline to run on a Groundplex configured to use the Microsoft SQL Server Bulk Copy Utility, bcp. Before using this endpoint in an AutoSync data pipeline, you must install the utility on each Groundplex node.

For testing and troubleshooting, you can have AutoSync create error tables to store error records.

Install and configure bcp

To install SQL Server bcp:

  1. On each Groundplex node host, follow the instructions for the appropriate operating system:
  2. To verify the installation, at a command prompt enter:
    bcp -v
    A successful installation returns the version number.
  3. Note the location of the bcp installation folder.
  4. Add the PATH to the bcp installation to the host environment variables, using the appropriate steps for the operating system.
    • On Windows systems, open the Environment variables dialog from the Control Panel or use from a command window, use the set command.
    • On Linux or MacOS systems, add the path to the startup configuration file, such as .bashrc or .zshrc.
  5. Restart the Groundplex nodes.

Supported account types

Designer and Classic Manager provide multiple account types for most endpoints and not all types are compatible with AutoSync. When you create or edit a data pipeline, the existing credentials list only includes compatible Accounts.

For SQL Server, AutoSync supports:

  • SQL Server Account

Connection configuration

SQL Server properties include the following:

  • Account Properties:
    • Credential label: A unique, meaningful name such as SQL-Server-Sales. If a configuration with the same name exists, AutoSync displays an Asset conflict error message.
    • Hostname: The name of the machine hosting the database.
    • Port Number: The port number to connect to the database. Default value: 1433
    • Database name: The name of the database. For example, MyDB.
    • Username: A username for an account with the correct permissions for AutoSync to synchronize data.
    • Password: The password for the account. Multiple retries with an invalid password can cause your account to be locked.
    • Share: (Optional) Select a user group to share this configuration with. Org admins create user groups to share credentials. If you are a member of a user group, you can select it from the dropdown. You can also select the global shared folder, which shares the credentials with everyone in your Org.
  • Validate and save: After saving and validating, AutoSync adds the configuration to the list of saved credentials.
  • Select schema: AutoSync populates this list from the account. Choose the schema to use as the destination.
  • Select Log errors in a separate table to have AutoSync save errors. This can impact performance. Refer to Error tables for more information.