Partitions - Remote Partitions

Applies to: SQL Server Analysis Services Azure Analysis Services Fabric/Power BI Premium

The data of a remote partition is stored on a different instance of Microsoft SQL Server SQL Server Analysis Services than the instance that contains the definitions (metadata) of the partition and its parent cube. A remote partition is administered on the same instance of SQL Server Analysis Services where the partition and its parent cube are defined.

Note

To store a remote partition, the computer must have an instance of SQL ServerSQL Server Analysis Services installed and be running the same service pack level as the instance where the partition was defined. Remote partitions on instances of an earlier version of SQL Server Analysis Services are not supported.

When remote partitions are included in a measure group, the memory and CPU utilization of the cube is distributed across all the partitions in the measure group. For example, when a remote partition is processed, either alone or as part of parent cube processing, most of the memory and CPU utilization for that partition occurs on the remote instance of SQL Server Analysis Services.

Note

A cube that contains remote partitions can contain write-enabled dimensions; however, this may affect performance for the cube. For more information about write-enabled dimensions, see Write-Enabled Dimensions.

Storage Modes for Remote Partitions

Remote partitions may use any of the storage types used by local partitions: multidimensional OLAP (MOLAP), hybrid OLAP (HOLAP), or relational OLAP (ROLAP). Remote partitions may also use proactive caching. Depending on the storage mode of a remote partition, the following data is stored on the remote instance of SQL Server Analysis Services.

Storage Type	Data
MOLAP	The partition's aggregations and a copy of the partition's source data
HOLAP	The partitions aggregations
ROLAP	No partition data

If a measure group contains multiple MOLAP or HOLAP partitions stored on multiple instances of SQL Server Analysis Services, the cube distributes the data in the measure group data among those instances of SQL Server Analysis Services.

Merging Remote Partitions

Remote partitions can be merged only with other remote partitions that are stored on the same remote instance of SQL Server Analysis Services. For more information about merging partitions, see Merge Partitions in Analysis Services (SSAS - Multidimensional).

Archiving and Restoring Remote Partitions

Data in remote partitions can be archived or restored when the database that stores the remote partition is archived or restored. If you restore a database without restoring a remote partition, you must process the remote partition before you can use the data in the partition. For more information about archiving and restoring databases, see Backup and Restore of Analysis Services Databases.

See Also

Create and Manage a Remote Partition (Analysis Services)
Processing Analysis Services Objects