SQL Server Analysis Services (How Do I)
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (SSAS) provides both online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining functionality for use in business intelligence applications. Analysis Services supports OLAP by allowing you to design, create, and manage multidimensional structures that contain data aggregated from other data sources, such as relational databases. For data mining applications, Analysis Services allows you to use a variety of industry-standard data mining algorithms to design, create, and visualize data mining models based on other data sources. Alternatively, you can create your own data mining algorithms; these algorithms can be plugged into SQL Server and made available to your developers and customers.
The following list of key topics will help you learn more about how to install, understand, and use Analysis Services.
Overview and Setup
- Analysis Services Concepts and Objects
This section describes objects and concepts of data mining and OLAP, as well as the unified dimensional model.
- Introduction to Cubes
Users interested in OLAP will want to learn about cubes, an easy-to-use mechanism for querying data with quick and uniform response times.
- Data Mining Concepts
Designing a data mining model solution is a challenging task. This material will help new and intermediate users understand what is involved, as well as what has been improved in SQL Server 2005.
Designing and Creating
- Developing Analysis Services Solutions and Projects
An Analysis Services project organizes and manages the items that are required to build, debug, and deploy an Analysis Services database. Items represent definitions for objects to be deployed in a single such database.
- Planning an Analysis Services Deployment
Learn what questions to ask when preparing to deploy your Analysis Services project here.
Administering
- Administering Analysis Services
This section covers all aspects of Analysis Services administration, including monitoring servers, backing up and restoring, and optimizing performance.
- Working with Data Source Views (Analysis Services)
New in SQL Server 2005, data source views are documents that describe the schema of underlying data sources. Learn proper use of this crucial feature here.
- Backing Up and Restoring an Analysis Services Database
Encryption key backup is a critical aspect of securing access to your Analysis Services databases. Learn what it is and how to do it here.
Programming
- MDX Language Reference (MDX)
Find reference documentation here on Multidimensional Expressions (MDX), the primary language for retrieving OLAP information.
- Data Mining Extensions (DMX) Statement Reference
Find reference information here on Data Mining Extensions (DMX), the primary language for retrieving data mining information. This section covers Data Definition Language (DDL) statements, Data Manipulation Language (DML) statements, and functions.