All about Business Intelligence (SSQA.net)

SQL Server BI - Managing Large Datawarehouse environment, guidelines

2008-09-17T08:24:00Z

What will be the main challenge for a DBA/User to manage a large Data Warehouse (DW) environment, size does matter and also think about downtime you need to deploy whenever any patches are required. Before that you need to be perfect or well-versed with Data partitioning & Data lifecycle within that DW environment. Also buidling up the backup and restore strategy is most important as you need to maintain the health of this DW management system. So you might ask what do you mean by Data lifecycle...(read more)

SQL Server Business Intelligence - handling data mining and mission critical applications

2008-07-22T09:31:00Z

Data, data and data everywhere: a typical scenario for an Enterprise DBA to handle the mission critical applications and comprehensive information across the organization using SQL Server technologies. Since the inception of SQL Server 2005 version Business INtelligence has taken new heights for Data Warehousing and Data Mining perspective to manage the show as if it's all right here--from data mining, warehousing, and scripting techniques to MDX queries, KPI analysis, and the all-new Unified Dimensional...(read more)

Analysis Service error: Either the user, Domain\User, does not have access to the Database Name database, or the database does not exist.

2008-07-10T08:02:00Z

As it seems the error text on the subject looks familiar when you have installed SQL Server or working with SQL Server databases. How about getting the error on Analysis Services databases (OLAP) within your BI Platform. So in the case of handling the Business Intelligence platform you must be aware of necessary data providers that are required in order to connect the end user application to backed database platform. If not various various exceptions can appear, including: "The specified module could...(read more)

EXECUTE permission denied on object 'xp_sqlagent_notify', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'.

2008-05-27T08:48:00Z

Granting permissions to relevant account is a required criteria within the SQL Server databases management, for this even Reporting Services is not exceptional. As per the configuration by default the users connect to the report server by using their own Windows domain credentials and integrated security. TO change this criteria you can also configure a report server to use forms authentication if you create and deploy a custom authentication extension, or basic authentication if the report server...(read more)

SQL Server Reporting Services: Resources and information - all in one place

2008-05-13T08:30:00Z

During a conference few users asked about resources and information to go through the Reporting Services, as it is a general assumption from the end-user community that referring to Books Online aka BOL doesn't get them anywhere. I always recommend to read through BOL if you need a basic information you can further see this BOL-WhatItIsFor? article I wrote on how best you can get information on BOL. So back to the resources on Reporting Services you can go through the following articles that are...(read more)

SQL Server Business Intelligence - adopt sustainable practices on ETL processes with SSIS

2008-04-24T11:14:00Z

Making best use of SQL Server Integration Services within your ETL processes is a flexible choice, which has a huge share within the Business Intelligence application platform. You may be aware that SSIS introduces several new and enhanced features and tools to help you manage packages for ETL processes more effectively. To be specific about IS Service which is another set of Windows Services that needs to secured properly with account privileges that will be used to manage package storage and displays...(read more)

SQL Server BI and Performance Point Server 2007 - good match

2008-03-13T10:10:00Z

Another tool within BI platform to use when you have the huge farm of Analysis Services data warehousing & mining database setup at your end. So the provision of BI within SQL Server 2005 is a complete enterprise-ready and scalable data warehouse platform you can set, with the features and functionality you need to put critical, timely information in the hands of employees across your organization. Integrate multiple data sources quickly with SQL Server 2005 Integration Services. Enrich data...(read more)

BI Virtual labs on MSDN - specific to data mining and top 10 classed in Tech-ed.

2008-02-26T10:45:00Z

As blogged here before Virtual Labs are very handy for the new users and existing professionals to test out new features without disturbing their own platform. In this scenario Microsoft events are helping the users by providing access to their virtual platform for BI & Relational Databases that are built in latest operating system with new SQL Server version (2005 onwards). During last year Tech-ed coference I have seen much rush towards BI - Data Mining stalls where users were very much interested...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 BI enahncements - what you want is what you get!

2008-02-25T20:49:00Z

So far the SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services new features were included until October CTP, top features that Microsoft would like to include within RTM version: New Aggregation designer - to browse and modify aggregation designs that are now shown grouped by measure group. Simplified and enhanced Aggregation Design and Usage-Based Optimization Wizards, this will help to modify the storage settings for the aggregrations and append new aggregations to an existing aggregation. Backup and Restore functionality...(read more)

SQL Server 2005 BI evaluate and diagnose Analysis Services database performance

2008-02-18T09:57:00Z

Performance - one word does it all! You are aware that during the Performance Tuning exercise there are few quick wins within the SQL Server Relational Database Engine such as table statistics for data and indexes. When it comes to Analysis Services (BI) database then no difference as one o f the greatest enhancements in Analysis Services 2005 is the ability to use SQL Server Profiler to troubleshoot performance issues during querying and processing. Not only this facility you can easily import the...(read more)

SQL Server OLAP - back to basics for Cube access from front-end application?

2008-02-11T09:38:00Z

One of the [SSP] forum user asked about what is OLAP, how the process flow occurrs when update happens to a fact table! It sounds like the basic question for Analysis Services user, OLAP - On-Line Analytical Processing for BI - Business Intelligence is useful for a fast and interactive access to aggregated data and the ability to drill down to detail, such an useful for Marketing/Sales personnel. SQL Server OLAP engine works on the performance by letting the users view and interrogate large volumes...(read more)

What is Business Intelligence? How to obtain complete tools suite to test?

2008-02-08T18:11:00Z

Business Intelligence (BI) - is the new term from Microsoft for all Data Warehousing & Data Mining requirement since the SQL Server 2005 version is released. Say many organization face challenges with the Data Explode, this BI offers management and development tools for IT department and Business segment within your organization with a perfect analysis and consumption tools for non-technical business users. If you are new to the SQL Server field and to make use of BI within your needs then try...(read more)

SQL Server Analysis Services MDX Query performance monitoring - highlights

2008-01-29T09:27:00Z

When it comes to monitor the query performance whether it is TSQL or MDX, the process is similar. You need to have a better understanding on how queries are executed (architecture), what tools are available for monitoring and best practices to improve performance. So similar to Relational database engine, Analysis Services engine architecture too have components that will help to fine tune the queries. Those three major components of the architecture are Session Management, MDX Query Execution, and...(read more)

SQL Server Analysis Services slicing and dicing

2008-01-27T12:08:00Z

I was going through Books Online in learning the concepts of slicing of data within Analysis Services for the new project that is upcoming, all these years I have basic knowledge of SSAS and with latest available features in SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services there is more to learn from there. Slicing is the one that is most useful when you have a huge analysis services database as you can use this view to examine the structure of a cube and to check data, calculation, formatting, and security of...(read more)

New whitepaper available on Analysis Services Many-to-Many Dimensions: Query Performance Optimization Techniques

2008-01-03T17:36:00Z

Got this update from SQLCAT blog on MSDN about new whitepaper on Analysis Services many-to-many dimensions that helps in MDX query performance optimization steps you need to take care. Many-to-many dimension relationships in SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (SSAS) enable you to easily model complex source schemas and provide great analytical capabilities. This capability frequently comes with a substantial cost in query performance due to the runtime join required by Analysis Services to resolve...(read more)