Install SQL Server Analysis Services

Installing SQL Server Analysis Services

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) as part of a SQL Server installation. Analysis Services is a business intelligence platform that provides analytical data mining capabilities.

Prerequisites

A compatible version of Windows Server or Windows Desktop.
Sufficient disk space and memory.
Administrator privileges on the machine where you are installing SQL Server.
SQL Server installation media (ISO or DVD).

Ensure you have the correct edition of SQL Server that includes Analysis Services. Refer to the SQL Server documentation for edition features.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Run the SQL Server Setup

Locate the SQL Server installation media and run the setup.exe file. This will launch the SQL Server Installation Center.

Step 2: Choose Installation Type

In the SQL Server Installation Center, select Installation from the left-hand menu. Then, choose New SQL Server stand-alone installation, or add features to an existing installation.

Step 3: Enter Product Key

Enter your product key when prompted. If you are installing a free edition like Developer or Express, select the appropriate option.

Step 4: Accept License Terms

Review and accept the license terms, then click Next.

Step 5: Select Features

On the Feature Selection page, select the following:

Database Engine Services (required for most SQL Server installations)
Analysis Services
Optionally, select other features like SQL Server Data Tools, Reporting Services, etc.

Ensure that the Analysis Services feature is selected. You can also specify a custom installation directory if needed.

Step 6: Instance Configuration

Configure the instance name for your SQL Server installation. For Analysis Services, you will typically choose a named instance or the default instance.

Step 7: Server Configuration

Configure the service accounts for SQL Server Agent and Analysis Services. It is recommended to use dedicated service accounts for security best practices.

Step 8: Analysis Services Configuration

On the Analysis Services Configuration page, specify the mode for Analysis Services:

Tabular mode: Recommended for new deployments, offering an in-memory engine and integration with Power BI.
Multidimensional mode: The traditional mode, suitable for existing OLAP cube deployments.

Add the current user or specific administrator accounts to the Analysis Services server administrators list.

You cannot change the mode after installation. Choose wisely based on your requirements.

Step 9: Ready to Install

Review the summary of your selections. If everything is correct, click Install to begin the installation process.

Step 10: Installation Progress and Completion

The setup will now install the selected features. Monitor the progress. Once complete, you will see a confirmation page.

Post-installation, it is highly recommended to install the latest SQL Server cumulative updates and service packs to ensure you have the most up-to-date security patches and fixes.

Verifying the Installation

After the installation is complete, you can verify that Analysis Services is running correctly:

Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
Connect to your SQL Server instance.
In Object Explorer, expand the Analysis Services node. You should see your SSAS instance listed.
If you installed SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), you can launch it and connect to your SSAS instance to start developing tabular or multidimensional models.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed SQL Server Analysis Services.