Differences Between OLAP, ROLAP, MOLAP, and HOLAP

What are the differences between OLAP, ROLAP, MOLAP, and HOLAP?

OLAP (Online Analytical Processing)

 The term online analytical processing (OLAP) usually refers to specialized tools that make warehouse data easily available. An OLAP cube is a logical structure that defines the metadata. The term cube describes existing measure groups and dimension tables and should not be interpreted as having limited dimensions. A cube is a combination of all existing measure groups. A measure group is a group of measures that match the business logic of the data and is another logical structure that defines metadata so that client tools can access the data. Each measure group contains the detail values that are stored in the fact table (copied or dynamically retrieved values). OLAP cubes contain lots of metadata; metadata in its simplest definition is data about data. Multidimensional expressions, or MDX, is a metadata-based query language that helps you query OLAP cubes. For more information, see Data Warehousing, OLAP, and Analysis Services for SharePoint 2010 and Understanding OLAP Cubes in System Center 2012.

MOLAP (Multidimensional Online Analytical Processing)

The MOLAP storage mode causes the aggregations of the partition and a copy of its source data to be stored in a multidimensional structure in Analysis Services when the partition is processed. This MOLAP structure is highly optimized to maximize query performance. The storage location can be on the computer where the partition is defined or on another computer running Analysis Services. Because a copy of the source data resides in the multidimensional structure, queries can be resolved without accessing the partition's source data. Query response times can be decreased substantially by using aggregations. The data in the partition's MOLAP structure is only as current as the most recent processing of the partition.

ROLAP (Relational Online Analytical Processing)

The ROLAP storage mode causes the aggregations of the partition to be stored in indexed views in the relational database that was specified in the partition's data source. Unlike the MOLAP storage mode, ROLAP does not cause a copy of the source data to be stored in the Analysis Services data folders. Instead, when results cannot be derived from the query cache, the indexed views in the data source is accessed to answer queries. The query response is generally slower with ROLAP storage than with the MOLAP or HOLAP storage modes. Processing time is also typically slower with ROLAP. However, ROLAP enables users to view data in real time and can save storage space when you are working with large datasets that are infrequently queried, such as purely historical data.

HOLAP (Hybrid Online Analytical Processing)

The HOLAP storage mode combines attributes of both MOLAP and ROLAP. Like MOLAP, HOLAP causes the aggregations of the partition to be stored in a multidimensional structure in an SQL Server Analysis Services instance. HOLAP does not cause a copy of the source data to be stored. For queries that access only summary data in the aggregations of a partition, HOLAP is the equivalent of MOLAP. Queries that access source data—for example, if you want to drill down to an atomic cube cell for which there is no aggregation data—must retrieve data from the relational database and will not be as fast as they would be if the source data were stored in the MOLAP structure. With HOLAP storage mode, users will typically experience substantial differences in query times depending upon whether the query can be resolved from cache or aggregations versus from the source data itself.

For more information, see Partition Storage Modes and Processing.