Course Outline:

Module 1: Capturing Business and Technical Requirements

In this module, students will first learn about key design principles that they should consider when defining the scope of a BI project. They will then learn how to identify the business and technical requirements to ensure that their solution meets the needs of its users.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Plan an analysis solution.
• Identify requirements and constraints when designing an analysis solution.

Module 2: Designing and Implementing a Logical OLAP Solution Architecture

This module describes considerations and guidelines for designing an OLAP solution, including a relational data warehouse and an Analysis Services cube.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe design considerations for an OLAP solution.
• Describe design considerations for the relational schema of an OLAP solution.
• Describe considerations for designing and implementing OLAP cubes.

Module 3: Designing Physical Storage for a Multidimensional Solution

In this module, students will learn how to design an effective physical storage solution for a multidimensional application.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Design an effective physical storage solution for dimensions and measures.
• Partition relational data.
• Partition multidimensional data.

Module 4: Creating Calculations

In this module, students will learn how to create Multidimensional Expression (MDX) calculations. The module describes how to create calculated members, named sets, and scoped assignments.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create calculated members.
• Create named sets.
• Create scoped assignments.

Module 5: Extending Cube Functionality

In this module, students will learn about the benefits of KPIs, actions, and stored procedures. They will also learn how to implement KPIs, actions, and stored procedures in an Analysis Services cube.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create KPIs.
• Create actions.
• Create stored procedures.

Module 6: Designing an Analysis Services Infrastructure

In this module, students will learn how to design an appropriate infrastructure for an OLAP application.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Specify appropriate hardware and software resources for an Analysis Services solution.
• Design an Analysis Services infrastructure that supports high scalability.
• Design an Analysis Services infrastructure that supports high availability.

Module 7: Deploying a Multidimensional Solution into Production

In this module, students will learn about and compare the different deployment methods available in SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services. They will also learn about how security in Analysis Services functions and how to protect their company’s critical business information.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Deploy an Analysis Services solution.
• Secure an Analysis Services solution.

Module 8: Optimizing an OLAP Solution

In this module, students will learn how to monitor Analysis Services and how to optimize performance of their Analysis Services solutions.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Monitor Analysis Services.
• Optimise the performance of Analysis Services.

Module 9: Implementing Data Mining

In this module, students will learn what a data mining solution is and how to design and implement data mining functionality with SQL Server Analysis Services.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Plan a data mining solution.
• Implement a data mining solution.
• Use data mining in a BI solution.