How to check db is OLAP or OLTP?

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How to check db is OLAP or OLTP?

mohan.mariyappa

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Points: 856
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September 3, 2008 at 8:34 pm

#190099

Hi,
Is there a way to find out database is OLAP or OLTP. By the way I am using SQL 2005 server. Thanks

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Wilfred van Dijk SSCrazy Eights Points: 9003 More actions · Answer 1

Technically, you can't see if a database is OLTP or OLAP. Both contain tables, indexes etc.

But because a OLTP is used different compared to an OLAP database, there should be some design differences. These could be: denormalized tables in OLAP, more/other indexes.

My advice is not to guess how a database is used but contact application engineers or developers about a database use.

Wilfred
The best things in life are the simple things

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 2

OLAP/OLTP isn't a database type distinction. It referes to how the DB is used.

OLTP - Online transaction processing. So if the DB is constantly getting small requests from a time-critical transaction processing system, then it's more and OLTP database

OLAP - Online analytical processing. Refers more to the 'datawarehouse' type systems where the bulk of the activity is large reports, aggregations or similar type queries.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

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Galaktika SSC Rookie Points: 42 More actions · Answer 3

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Arun Benjamin SSCommitted Points: 1614 More actions · Answer 4

The level of normalization can provide some clue about whether it could be an OLAP or OLTP. If you see much denormalized tables and also most queries being read-only, it could be most likely an OLAP.