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A Quick Primer on Analysis Services

OLAP stands for online analytical processing. In a typical OLAP data warehouse, there is an OLAP server that stores data and a client tool that users can utilize to perform analysis of the stored data. The multidimensional storage format is very different from the relational data storage that you are used to. It ensures that the proper relations are built between database entities, and it formats the data in a way that is easy and efficient to analyze.

SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services is Microsoft’s powerful OLAP data warehouse solution architecture that you can use to provide real-time corporate performance analysis.

Before we go over the development of the OLAP solution, let’s take a quick walk through its installation and identify its key features. This chapter does not turn you into an Analysis Services expert. To obtain a much deeper insight into the technology, you may want to read Professional SQL Server 2000 Data Warehousing with Analysis Services.

Analysis Services Installation

This section focuses on the installation of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services.

System Requirements

System Hardware Requirements

Table 9-1 is a list of all the hardware requirements for the installation of SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services.

Table 9-1: Hardware requirements for SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services

Hardware Component

Minimum Requirement

Processor

Type:
Intel Pentium I or higher

 

Speed:
135 MHz

Memory

64MB

Disk Storage

Server:
A minimum server installation requires 50MB. The full server installation requires up to 130MB.

 

Client: The full installation of client components requires 12MB.

System Software Requirements

Table 9-2 is a list of all the software requirements for the installation of SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services.

Table 9-2: Software requirements for SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services

Software Component

Minimum Requirement

System Software

Server:
For any of the following Windows operating systems, the OS must not be a domain controller:
Windows NT Server 4.0, SP5 +Windows 2000 Server

 

Client:
Any of the following Windows operating systems:
Windows 95 with DCOM 5
Windows 98
Windows NT Workstation 4
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows XP Professional

Other Software

Internet Explorer 5+ is a required component for the administration of the server. Install this software on the client or server from which you would want to manage the OLAP server.

Installation Components

Analysis Services comes with several modularized components. This provides you with the flexibility of installing only the components that you want to work with. Table 9-3 is a list of the components that can be installed.

Table 9-3: The installation components

Component to Install

Component Type

Component Storage Requirement

Description of Component

SQL Server 2000 Analysis Server

Server component

34140KB

A group of executables and other files that make up the Analysis Services Server. It is only installed on the server machine and is required for an OLAP solution.

SQL Server 2000 Analysis Manager

Client-server component

35304KB

A group of files that provides the developer with an intuitive GUI for manipulating and administering objects on the Analysis Server. This component can be installed on the server, the client, or both. Microsoft also provides a web-based administration tool for remote administration.

Decision Support Objects (DSO)

Client-server component

7128KB

DSOs are a group of COM+-based components that have very sophisticated object models for the purpose of custom server administration and management of metadata processes.

PivotTable Service

Client component

9776KB

The PivotTable Service installs the OLEDB Provider for analysis services (MSOLAP) and ADO MD (ActiveX Data Objects Multidimensional) that provide all the means of communication between the database server and the client applications. The OLEDB Provider for Analysis Services is the component used in the .NET Framework to access OLAP databases.

Sample Applications

Client component

2772KB

Sample applications that demonstrate the use of Analysis Services. For our case study, we will use the sample FoodMart 2000 database.

Books Online

Client-server component

29844KB

Books Online is a very comprehensive help file featuring a full reference to SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services.

As you may have noticed, Analysis Services comes with a lot of components. Simply knowing what the components are and where to install them, however, does not help in performing the right installation. Next, we will walk through the installation process of Analysis Services.

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