Setting Up SQL Server Analysis Services

This section guides you through the essential steps to configure and set up your SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) instance after installation. Proper setup is crucial for performance, security, and efficient data modeling.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the setup, ensure you have:

• A successfully installed SQL Server Analysis Services instance.
• Administrative privileges on the server where SSAS is installed.
• Access to SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Connecting to SSAS

The primary tool for managing and configuring SSAS is SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). To connect:

1. Open SSMS.
2. In the 'Connect to Server' dialog, select 'Analysis Services' as the Server type.
3. Enter the server name (e.g., localhost, SERVERNAME\INSTANCENAME).
4. Choose an authentication method (Windows Authentication is recommended).
5. Click 'Connect'.

Configuring Server Properties

Once connected, you can configure various server properties to optimize your SSAS environment. Right-click on your SSAS instance in SSMS and select 'Properties'.

Memory Configuration

Memory management is critical for SSAS performance. You can configure:

• Max server memory (in MB): Set this to leave sufficient memory for the operating system and other applications. A common recommendation is to leave 2-4 GB for the OS.
• Reserved memory (in MB): Memory reserved for OLAP operations.

Tip: Regularly monitor memory usage using Performance Monitor and adjust these settings accordingly.

Multithreading

SSAS utilizes multithreading for processing and querying. You can configure the following:

• Max threads per CPU: Typically set to 1.
• Min worker threads: Affects the number of threads available for query processing.
• Max worker threads: Affects the number of threads available for query processing.

Security Settings

Configuring security ensures that only authorized users can access your data. This is primarily managed through roles within your SSAS databases, but server-level security considerations include:

• Windows Authentication: Leverage Active Directory for user and group management.
• Server Roles: Define administrator roles for managing the SSAS instance itself.

Creating Databases

SSAS uses databases to store models (tabular or multidimensional). In SSMS, right-click on 'Databases' and select 'New Database...'. You'll need to provide a name and specify a Collation.

Service Accounts

The SSAS service runs under a specific Windows account. It's recommended to use a dedicated domain account with minimal privileges necessary for its operations. This account will need:

• Permissions to access data sources for processing.
• Permissions to read from the file system if using file-based storage.

Network Configuration

Ensure that firewalls are configured to allow communication with the SSAS instance, especially if clients or other servers need to connect remotely. The default port for SSAS is 2383.

Performance Tuning Considerations

Ongoing performance tuning is essential. Key areas include:

• Indexing: While SSAS doesn't use traditional indexes like relational databases, partition management and query design significantly impact performance.
• Partitioning: Divide large tables into smaller partitions for faster processing and querying.
• Aggregations: Pre-calculate summary data to speed up common queries.