December 11, 2009, 10:33 pm
Well, I finally got around to taking a look at R2 and specifically Master Data Services (due mostly to some strange decisions on my current data migration project).
First impressions – I actually quite like it. I can see that it is going to require some deep late-night learning to completely get my head around it all but it’s certainly not what I would call a Version 1 product (actually given that it’s born out of Stratature +EDM it’s more like version 4/5) . The new web based UI is pretty clunky though and for sure left me a little frustrated at times. However mosts of my other issues primarily centred around “de-nannying” Windows Server 2008 R2… all I can say (from a guy who likes to be fairly agile) is AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHH!
So here was the set up.
Virtual Server
- 2 x Processors (2.33ghz)
- 4GB RAM
- 64-bit Windows Server 2008 R2 (Enterprise)
SQL Server
- 2008 R2 Enterprise CTP2 (Eval)
Some things I needed to do for later on but may as well have done here
- Upped the server from default to run IIS, Web Services etc
- Ensured .Net 3.5 sp1 was on board
After the SQL Install, you need to run the MDS install from the SQL Install Media.
Rather than reinvent the wheel, I will point you to the msdn installation area and two excellent posts to get installed, web app configured (this took me a couple of attempts until I found Sutha’s article) and run in some test data to see how it works.
Installation
Web App Config
Baby Steps (Nick Barclay’s 7 step tutorials)
And the result was this
first hierarchy
One last useful link – when you are importing data, there are a set of error codes applied to the datasets (nice touch). The problem is that they are not documented anywhere (crap touch…attention to detail!!). The result, I spent a couple of hours looking for ERR210000 and what I might have done wrong only to find from Kirk’s helpful list that ERR210000 means “all is well” (great “ERR” can now mean “OK”)
Have a play…
November 28, 2009, 10:41 am
A new Business Intelligence developer community/network is just about to be launched by Brian Knight and the people at Pragmatic Works
Writing for BIDN
Looking to give back to the community or learn through teaching others? Anyone can post blogs by clicking Add Blog Post while you’re logged in. Blogs are generally considered to be as small as a few paragraphs long and are written in a very casual manner. If you have something more substantial to write more than a few pages, please consider writing a formal article. You can add an article by going to the article section and clicking Add An Article. If you write an article that’s accepted, we pay you $25 through PayPal within 30 days of it being published. You won’t get rich writing but it makes a great way to treat others to lunch while treating the community to your knowledge!
Looks as if this could be an excellent BI resource in the making
November 9, 2009, 7:15 pm
It’s available today for Technet & MSDN subscribers…
SQL Server 2008 R2 is the next generation of the Microsoft SQL Server database platform, planned for release in the first half of calendar year 2010. MSDN and TechNet Subscribers can download the SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP today. Non-subscribers will be able to download the November CTP later this month. The R2 release brings significant new capabilities and enhancements that can help your business keep pace with today’s growing and changing data management needs. Increase productivity and reduce data management costs by taking advantage of an even more scalable platform with comprehensive database and application management tools. SQL Server 2008 R2 helps users to build rich analysis and reports and helps organizations improve the quality of their data. Find out more, download the Community Technology Preview pre-release and let us know what you think. Also, join the SQL Server communities around the world and the SQL Server development team in the conversation.
October 27, 2009, 7:11 pm
Here’s a link to a useful article by Kristen Hodges about using the new 2008 MERGE SQL construct to carry out Type 1 & Type 2 Dimension updates
Article
Based on our experience, this is certainly worth a look over the old SCD component – we have seen some major performance improvements using MERGE over the SCD components (and other workarounds that we had previously used).
October 27, 2009, 6:43 pm
There’s a great resource for those people whose company can’t (or won’t) pay for training in these cash-strapped times
How Do I BI?
Check them out!
October 20, 2009, 10:15 am
Microsoft announced yesterday that the “Gemini” capabilities of Office 2010 / SQL Server 2008 R2 will be released under the brand, PowerPivot for Excel 2010… There’s a new site up and running dedicated to the product with little data as yet, however the Public Beta will be available in November.
PowerPivot
September 22, 2009, 2:11 pm
More of a placeholder for me because I keep forgetting. You know (probably) the scenario where you have enabled more than the default 1,000 drill-through rows in your SSAS Cube but Excel is still stubbornly limiting the drill-through to 1,000 rows.
You need to edit the data connection in Excel as per the picture below to increase the default.
