3 Questions

Question

3 Questions

Usman Tanveer-239283

Ten Centuries

Points: 1104
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February 28, 2006 at 10:15 pm

#111277

1-)
Is there any way to schedule/Configure the cube so that it refreshes its data after a fixed interval or whenever the source data updates.
2-)
What are the storage requirements/Structure of cubes.
3-)
What interfaces can we use for cubes, can we integrate it with ASP.net Applications.

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Chris Teter SSC-Addicted Points: 493 More actions · Answer 1

In regards to your first question, I do know that 2005 Integration Services can be used to process/refresh AS cubes. I also know that these packages can be kicked off from .Net apps via the command shell using dtExec...

At least this is what MS has told me. I will be finding out for sure in a couple of weeks as we are experimenting with it as potential added functionality for a project.

As for SQL Server 2000, I am not exactly sure how this can be done, but I do remember seeing an article that had something in it. If I find that, I will let you know.

stevefromOZ SSC-Forever Points: 43646 More actions · Answer 2

1 - Rebuilding on a timer or event

If you can use AS2K5 then a built-in alternative to using SSIS to load the partitions is to use the proactive cache. Depending on the source DB this can be extremely powerful. Basically you can use stored procs or even (if SQL2K5) internal DB messaging to notify AS that data has changed and that it should refresh the cache. There are a variety of settings for this also that allow for how much latency you're willing to have in your data, what constitutes a quiet period on the DB server etc etc.

2- What are the storage requirements/Structure of cubes.

In AS2K5 (and AS) the data (if using MOLAP storage) will reside on the AS server, typically in the 'data' folder under your AS install directory. Pure ROLAP leaves your data in the underlying DB, HOLAP (hybrid olap) stores your aggregations in the MOLAP side and leaves the source in the relational DB.

3-What interfaces can we use for cubes, can we integrate it with ASP.net Applications

Definitely can integrate, again, AS2K5 is potentially easier to do this with but many people have done this with AS2K (google 'ThinSlicer' as an example). Options for (programmatic) access are ADOMD, OLEDB for OlAP (ADOMD wraps this for you), or even XMLA (XML for Analysis, basically SOAP/web service access).

HTH,,

Steve.

Usman Tanveer-239283 Ten Centuries Points: 1104 More actions · Answer 3

Steve thanks for the information it is indeed useful, but actually i am just a beginner to the AS, so all this stuff was a bit high level for me, so i need a detailed insight, can you please suggest me a material that precisely covers all my questions for AS2k5.

stevefromOZ SSC-Forever Points: 43646 More actions · Answer 4

I would suggest going to http://www.microsoft.com/sql and from there going to the Business Intelligence section - there are several whitepapers and also presenations that will give you more insight.

There is definitely a paper on the proactive cache (the auto-updating functionality).

Until you get to building the cube/s I wouldn't worry overly about the storage - basically your cubes will require storage space, how much depends on how much data you're looking to put into them and what storage mode you opt for.

If you're using ASP.net apps, do a quick search on the microsoft site for the Grapecity control, this is/was a free control that allows for cube access. I know with Reporting Services 2K5 they introduced some new (developer) components that can be used but asm unsure if they did the same for AS2K5. Reporting Services itself is possibly an option for you. You can build 'static' (parameterised, static layout) reports using RS over the cube/s, and using Report Builder (comes with RS2K5) your users can build adhoc reports over the cube/s.

Steve.

Chris Teter SSC-Addicted Points: 493 More actions · Answer 5

Usman,

I recently went through the AS crash course as well, and I found the following site very helpful:

http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/1459531

There are a variety of lessions/tutorials on MDX and AS that Mr. Pearson has written, and he makes sure to try and provide difficult/unusual "real-world" examples, which is sometimes better than the ideal situations provided in the tutorials and other MS documentation.

Good Luck!

Elanchezhian Sathiaseelan Ten Centuries Points: 1215 More actions · Answer 6

All of them are achiveable in MS Analysis Services 2000 itself.

1. You can create DTS Packages for processing the cubes and schedule them through SQL Server Agent (Jobs). This can be fired at a regular interval or you may start the job (sp_start_job) based on any event within the SQL Server.

2. As Steve mentioned

3. As Steve mentioned

Regards,

Elan.