The trouble with data…

I received email confirmation today of my registration on the three-day deep-dive course on Analysis Services 2008 R2 and subsequent possibility of joining the SSAS Maestro Program. This is exciting as it’s going to be a real challenge to pass!

 

The new SSAS Maestro Program a three-day, deep-dive course on Analysis Services 2008 R2 gives architects and consultants the education and hands-on experience needed to deliver highest scalable OLAP solutions. Prepared and presented by top industry experts and the SQL Server Analysis Server team, this intensive course gives top SSAS professionals the education and hands-on experience needed to deliver highly complex and highly scalable OLAP solutions using Analysis Services 2008 R2. Today, there is increasing need for expertise to architect deliver and maintain mission critical OLAP deployments and the primary objective of this course is equip you with the latest SSAS best practices and case studies.

 

Agenda

Module 1: Analysis Services 2008 R2 and Large Cubes

· Overview and purpose of course

· Summary of modules

· Description of how course participation is evaluated

Module 2: Tools for Monitoring and Optimizing Analysis Services

· Introducing Analysis Services Monitoring

· Executing Queries and Operations with Ascmd

· Monitoring Queries with SQL Server Profiler

· Monitoring the Server with Performance Monitor

· Using the Resource Monitor Project

· Using BIDS Helper

· Using Other Monitoring Tools

Module 3: Internal Data Storage Structures

· Understanding Internal Data Storage Components

· Examining Data Structures for Attributes

· Examining Data Structures for Hierarchies

· Examining Data Structures for Partitions

· Optimizing Hardware for Random I/O

Module 4: Memory Management

· Switching from the Analysis Server Heap to the Windows Heap

· Tuning the Economical Model of Memory Management

· Running Analysis Services With Other Software

· Tuning Memory Options for Processing

· Preallocating Memory to the Analysis Server

Module 5: Thread Management

· Understanding the Trade-Offs in Thread Management

· Examining the Thread Pools

· Configuring the Number of Available Threads

· Handling Long-Running Queries

· Monitoring Thread Usage

Module 6: Designing Partitions

· Understanding Partitions

· Sizing Partitions

· Defining the Partition Slice

· Partitioning for Query Performance

· Partitioning for Processing Performance

· Partitioning for Discount Count Measures

· Using Solid State Drives for Discount Count Partitions

Module 7: Designing Aggregations

· Understanding Aggregations

· Considering Aggregations in Large Cubes

· Designing Aggregations

· Deciding for Each Attribute

· Tools and Tips

Module 8: High Performance ROLAP Partitions for Large Cubes

· Choosing ROLAP Instead of MOLAP

· Simplifying the Cube Structure

· Working With Aggregations

· Developing a Partitioning Strategy

· Examining the ROLAP Benchmarks

· Examining Processor Utilization

· Handling Skewed Data Distributions

· Reviewing Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Module 9: Large Cube Processing Strategies

· Understanding the Steps of Dimension Processing

· Choosing a Dimension Processing Option

· Examining Processing of Special Dimension Types

· Examining Processing and Storage Modes

· Understanding the Steps of Cube Processing

· Choosing a Cube Processing Option

· Optimizing Processing

Module 10: Advanced Dimension Design Best Practices

· Working With:

· Parent-Child Hierarchies

· Unary Operators

· Many-to-Many Dimensions

· Referenced Dimensions

· Diamond Shaped Hierarchies

· Natural Hierarchies

· Junk Dimensions

· Degenerate Dimensions

· Reviewing Design Best Practices for the Source Dimension Table

· Handling Slowly Changing Dimensions

Module 11: Query Performance Monitoring and Tuning

· Identifying Query Problems

· Checking on Partitions and Aggregations

· Implementing a Cache Warming Strategy

· Switching to Subspace Computation

· Optimizing the IIF Function

· Removing Empty Tuples

· Examining Other MDX Optimization Strategies

· Using Analysis Services Features Instead of MDX

· Finding Alternatives to Session Cubes

· Moving Calculations to the Relational Engine

Module 12: Scale-Out Querying with Read-Only Databases

· Considering Reasons for Scale-Out Querying

· Examining the Options for Scaling Out

· Configuring the Architecture

· Balancing the Load Across Multiple Query Servers

· Updating the Analysis Services Database

· Copying the Database Files

· Optimizing the Storage System and I/O

 

 

SSAS Maestro Program Course Assessment

Note that this course is unlike many other Analysis Services courses. Attendees that satisfactorily pass the assessment will be endorsed by Microsoft, and subsequently promoted within the SQL Server community and recommended for suitable engagements by SQL CAT team.

 

Assessment will be based on:

• 100% attendance during the three-day course
• the consistent ability to contribute to, and at times lead, discussions
• the satisfactory completion of all labs, and
• successfully passing a comprehensive exam of a ~4000 word case study due 30 days after the course completion that demonstrates an applied deep understanding of the product and technology, and strong written communication skills

 

SSAS Maestro Program Benefits

Upon successful completion of this course, assessment and case study evaluation by industry experts, attendees will:

• Be a part of the elite group of SSAS Maestros
• Help Microsoft accounts teams deploy highly complex/highly large SSAS projects
• Have access to webcasts and Q&A sessions on the learnings some of the most complex SSAS implementations directly from SQLCAT and the Analysis Services team
• Be showcased on a special section within the Microsoft SQL Server Web page for the SSAS Maestros