Using OpenRowSet() and Linked Servers for ETL Processing On SQL Server
Here are premade AI prompt you can use to get more information:
1. Explain how SQL Server OPENROWSET() works for ETL.
Include:
What OPENROWSET does
How to query external Azure SQL data
How to load data into staging tables
How to transform and load into a dimension table
Security considerations for Ad Hoc Distributed Queries
Example code using MSOLEDBSQL
2. Explain how SQL Server Linked Servers work for ETL.
Include:
How Linked Servers connect on-prem SQL Server to Azure SQL
How to query remote tables directly in views and stored procedures
Performance considerations
When to use staging tables vs direct queries
Example code using MSOLEDBSQL
Security implications of Linked Servers
3. Compare OPENROWSET() and Linked Servers for ETL between Azure SQL Database and On-Prem SQL Server.
Include:
Advantages and disadvantages of each
When to use staging tables
When views can read remote data
Why OPENROWSET() cannot be used inside a view
Performance, security, and latency differences
Example ETL patterns
4. Describe an end-to-end ETL workflow that extracts data from Azure SQL Database
and loads it into an on-premises SQL Server dimension table. Include:
OPENROWSET() → staging → transformation view → ETL stored procedure
Linked Server → staging → view → stored procedure
Linked Server → view → stored procedure (no staging)
Pros and cons of each approach
Example T-SQL scripts using MSOLEDBSQL
5. Explain common problems and best practices when using OPENROWSET()
and Linked Servers for ETL between Azure SQL Database and SQL Server.
Include:
Provider not registered problems
Connection or credential errors
Performance tuning
When to use SET NOCOUNT ON
How to secure external connections
When staging tables improve reliability
Why remote queries may time out or run slowly