Jeff Moden (9/5/2012)

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Examples of why I'd want to use xp_CmdShell are two fold.

The first is cost. It's not likely that I'd ever allow the SSIS server (for example) to live on the same server as my production databases. They'd have to live on separate servers. If I can do everything from T-SQL using the occasional DOS command to move files, an ETL system would cost a lot less on an existing server instead of having to fire up a special server just for SSIS.

This sounds like a bit of a pre-judgement. Why not?

Regarding cost, it was possible with previous versions, but SQL Server 2012 makes it even easier for us to run SSIS packages on an application server which makes sense because it is just another programming language in my view. The direction is clear, separate server responsibilities.