Install Analysis Services

This document provides comprehensive instructions on installing SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) on your server. Analysis Services is a business intelligence solution used to build analytical data models and supports sophisticated data analysis and mining.

Before you begin: Ensure you have reviewed the Prerequisites for installing SQL Server and Analysis Services.

Installation Steps

The installation process for Analysis Services is integrated with the SQL Server setup wizard. You can install it as a standalone instance or as part of a larger SQL Server installation.

1. Running the SQL Server Installer

Obtain the SQL Server installation media (ISO or setup.exe).
Run the setup.exe from the media.
On the SQL Server Installation Center, select Installation from the left-hand menu.
Click on Install SQL Server standalone edition or Install SQL Server feature with a new instance depending on your needs.

2. Feature Selection

During the setup wizard, you will reach the Feature Selection page.

Ensure that Analysis Services is selected.
You can choose to install it with the default instance name or specify a named instance.
Click Next to proceed.

3. Server Configuration

On the Server Configuration page, configure the service accounts for Analysis Services. It's recommended to use dedicated service accounts for security best practices.

Startup Type: Ensure it is set to Automatic.
Click Next.

4. Analysis Services Configuration

This is a critical step specific to Analysis Services:

Installation Mode: Choose between:
- Multidimensional Mode: For traditional OLAP cubes and data mining.
- Tabular Mode: For in-memory analytics and models compatible with Power BI.
Server Mode is crucial: Select the mode that best suits your analytical requirements. You cannot change this after installation without reinstalling.
Data Directories: Specify the locations for Analysis Services data files if you wish to deviate from the default paths.

Recommendation: For new projects, Tabular mode is generally recommended due to its performance and integration capabilities with modern BI tools like Power BI. Multidimensional mode remains powerful for complex, established OLAP solutions.

5. Ready to Install

Review your selections on the Ready to Install page. Once confirmed, click Install to begin the installation process.

6. Installation Complete

The wizard will show the progress of the installation. Upon completion, you will see a summary of the installed components. Click Close to exit the installer.

Post-Installation Tasks

After successfully installing Analysis Services, consider the following:

Connect with Management Studio: Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to connect to your Analysis Services instance. The server name will be the name of your SQL Server instance (e.g., SERVERNAME\MSSQLSERVER or SERVERNAME\INSTANCENAME).
Configure Firewall: Ensure that the necessary firewall ports are open if you plan to access Analysis Services from remote machines. The default port is TCP 2383 for Analysis Services.
Grant Permissions: Assign appropriate roles and permissions to users who will be developing or querying Analysis Services models.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during installation, consult the setup logs, which are typically located in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\150\Setup Bootstrap\Log (the version number may vary). Common issues include:

Missing prerequisites.
Insufficient permissions.
Conflicts with existing software.

For detailed troubleshooting steps, refer to the SQL Server Installation Troubleshooting Guide.

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