As I mentioned in a pervious post Master Data Services for SQL 2012 is a huge improvement over the SQL Server 2008 R2 version. The biggest difference is the ability for users to manage entities directly in Excel!

This is important because now Data Stewards can perform most of their Master Data Management activities in excel.

Master Data Services (MDS) is the SQL Server solution for master data management. Master data management (MDM) describes the efforts made by an organization to discover and define non-transactional lists of data, with the goal of compiling maintainable master lists. An MDM project generally includes an evaluation and restructuring of internal business processes along with the implementation of MDM technology. The result of a successful MDM solution is reliable, centralized data that can be analyzed, resulting in better business decisions.

With the right training, most business users should be able to implement a Master Data Services solution. In addition, you can use MDS to manage any domain; it’s not specific to managing lists of customers, products, or accounts. When MDS is first installed, it does not include the structure for any domains—you define the domains you need by creating models for them.

Other Master Data Services features include hierarchies, granular security, transactions, data versioning, and business rules.

Master Data Services includes the following components and tools:

• Master Data Services Configuration Manager, a tool you use to create and configure Master Data Services databases and web applications.
• Master Data Manager, a web application you use to perform administrative tasks (like creating a model or business rule), and that users access to update data.
• MDSModelDeploy.exe, a tool you use to create packages of your model objects and data so you can deploy them to other environments.
• Master Data Services web service, which developers can use to extend or develop custom solutions for Master Data Services.
• Master Data Services Add-in for Excel, which you use to manage data and create new entities and attributes.

For a summary of MDS resources, see the SQL Server Master Data Services Portal.

**Note: You can upgrade to MDS 2012 without upgrading the SQL Server 2008 R2 instance.

To install MDS follow the MSDN product information

MDS Samples Installation

**To Deploy the Sample packages you will need to use MDSModelDeploy.exe

3. List the MDS web services to connect to if you are unsure of the service name. The default being MDS1 as shown by this command.

MDSModelDeploy.exe listservices

4. Deploy the package by pointing to the package file, and connecting to that service listed from step #3. Provide a model name for the model that you want to deploy.

MDSModelDeploy.exe deploynew -package “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Master Data Services\Samples\Packages\customer_en.pkg” -model CustomerSample -service MDS1

MDSModelDeploy.exe deploynew -package “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Master Data Services\Samples\Packages\chartofaccounts_en.pkg” -model ChartOfAccountsSample -service MDS1

MDSModelDeploy.exe deploynew -package “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\110\Master Data Services\Samples\Packages\product_en.pkg” -model ProductsSample -service MDS1

Once the samples are installed then install the Excel plug-in and enjoy

Tech-Ed: Managing Master Data with MDS and Microsoft Excel