Basic Question about Data Warehouse{Data Mart}

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Basic Question about Data Warehouse{Data Mart}

Data Sheet

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May 10, 2007 at 12:41 pm

#178500

I have read so many times that Data Warehouse is a data repository separate from OLTP which provides analytical, intelligence capabilities.
I need to know where do we create this Data Warehouse? for example I have our OLTP production database on SQL Server 2005 server, Do I need a separate SQL Server 2005 database server and create a new Data Warehouse datbase to import OLTP data there?
I guess I just need the basic working of Data Warehouse that where do we keep this as Data Mart.

Thanks for any feedback.
Data Sheet

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Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 1

Depending on your server utilization, you could crate a Data Warehouse database on the same server as your OLTP database, but I would advise againast it. I would get a second server to host the Data Warehouse, and import your data to the Data Warehouse on that server.

A Data Mart is another story. It is usually populated from a Data Warehouse. (Oh, and we could get into a "religous" discussion between the Kimball (Data Bus Architecture) and Imnom (Corporate Information Factory) models of Data Warehousing, but that is best for an article and discussion thread than here.)

Your data mart could be a database with a subset of the data from the data warehouse extracted for a specific purpose, or it could be a SSAS cube built directly from the data warehouse. It all "depends" on how you decide to build it.

I would recommend getting several books, both Kimball and Imnom, and do a lot of reading and research.

Data Sheet SSC-Addicted Points: 445 More actions · Answer 2

Hi Lynn,

wow man you have explained it very good, I read about BI before but Now I can diffirenciate between Data Mart and Data Warehouse..thanks again for it.

I think now I got the idea about Data Warehouse, so now my question is :

Does this new Data Warehouse database need to be same name as OLTP database name?

Would it hurt if I will install Reporting Services + Analysis Services on this new Database server?

Thanks,

Data Sheet

Ben Sullins-437405 SSCertifiable Points: 5397 More actions · Answer 3

All my warehouses I prefix with 'Warehouse' before the data base name. So for example if my source OLTP database name was 'BenIsAwesome' I would name my warehouse 'WarehouseBenIsAwesome'

Cheers,

Ben

Cheers,

Ben Sullins
bensullins.com
Beer is my primary key...

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 4

Naming the data warehouse with the name of the OLTP system may not be the best. As a conultant would say, "It depends." A data warehouse cuts across all organizational boundries. Our data warehouse will have data from a Student Information System, an HR System, a Finance System, a variety of assessment systems. Naming it with the name of one of the source systems would be impratical. The data marts, on the other hand, will probably get a name closely associated with the data that populates it, for instance StudentAssessment for one possible name.

Again, the best you can do at this point is read a lot and do your research, and don't let "religion" get in your way of developing the data warehouse you need for your organization.

Michael Earl-395764 SSC Guru Points: 53873 More actions · Answer 5

Again, avoiding the many religious sects relating to data warehousing, I will make a simple suggestion. Don't underestimate undertaking a data warehousing project. Since you have not done this before, take a class or six on the subject or bring in a consultant to assist you. Knowledge is great, but experience is going to be important in this task.

You will find the technical piece of building the warehouse is far less complicated than designing it correctly to begin with, and this will be easier than prying the requirements from the cold dead hands of your users who will not understand what you are doing until it's done. I have been brought into two different companies to "fix" failed data warehousing projects because they did not understand it from the beginning.

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 6

I will second Michael's comments. If you bring in a consultant, be sure to work with him/her closely. Don't let them go off and do their thing in a vacuum. When they are done, you are the one who will have to support what is developed. Most consultants will willing work with you passing on knowledge that will assist you in supporting and expanding your data warehouse.

The data warehouse project will never really be finished. As new sources or ways of looking at the data are discovered, you will have to integrate data or build new data marts or BI applications.

The TDWI World Conferences are a great source of information and are held quarterly. If you can go, I would highly recommend it.