Introduction to SSAS Interview Questions and Answers
SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is a data mining tool developed by Microsoft which is used for Online Analytical and Transaction Processing and also for data mining in Microsoft SQL Server. SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is a technology from Microsoft Corporation from its Business Intelligence unit. This is a powerful tool used in the area of a data warehouse.
So If you are looking for a job that is related to SSAS, you need to prepare for the 2020 SSAS interview questions. Though every SSAS interview is different and the scope of a job is also different, we can help you out with the top SSAS Interview Questions and answers, which will help you take the leap and get you success in your SSAS interview. Keeping this in mind we have designed the most common SSAS Interview Questions and answers to help you get success in your interview.
Below is the list of 2020 SSAS Interview Questions that are mostly asked :
1. What is SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)?
Answer:
SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) component in the SQL Server. Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) has a concept called cubes that was released in Microsoft System Center 2012 Service Manager Version. An OLAP cube is a data structure that is used to analyze the data rapidly which overcomes the drawbacks of the relational database model. These cubes can provide an efficient searching mechanism for large volumes of data and can also sum up large amounts of data and retrieves any data points.
The OLAP cubes are usually stored in SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) and also Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) allows the business uses to store all the transactions and records in OLTP databases which is also the feature of SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). The records into these databases are stored normally one at a time that maintains a wealth of records in them. An Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cube is also called as a hypercube or multi-dimensional cube.
2. What are the features of SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)?
Answer:
SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) provides different ways and several approaches for creating a business intelligence model. The different models are multi-dimensional, tabular or pivotal. The different model allows the users to have the different requirements fulfilled for a variety of business requirements in the competitive environment. Multi-dimensional is the latest and mature model that was built on open standards and supports various vendors in Business Intelligence Software.
All the models developed or built on SQL Server Analysis Services server instance which gives access to different data providers and third-party vendors which access through different data drivers and visualizes the data in their interfaces or analyses the data for their requirements or purposes as needed according to the required applications. The different models that support are tabular, multi-dimensional and pivotal model in Excel. Tabular model is for relational model construct having models, tables, and columns whereas multi-dimensional is for OLAP / OLTP modeling constructs having cubes dimensions and measures whereas a pivotal model is for visual modeling which was integrated into Excel.
3. What is a Data Source View?
Answer:
A Data Source View has a logical model of the schema used in the multi-dimensional model of SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). The multi-dimensional model consists of cubes, dimensions, and mining data structures. A Data Source View is a metadata definition that will be stored in XML format. A Data Source View contains metadata information which represents the required objects from multiple existing data sources. In the process of schema generation, a relational data store will be created using the metadata information.
A Data Source View can be built on multiple data sources which form the multi-dimensional model and data mining structure that integrate data from multiple sources. A Data Source View can contain different relationships like primary keys, columns, object identifiers etc. A Data Source View is a required and key component in a multi-dimensional model of SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). The Data Source View is mostly created during the initial phases of data model design.
4. What is a Dimension Table?
Answer:
A dimension table is a fundamental component of a Cube in a multi-dimensional model of SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). A dimension table stores data with a particular relation such as customers, stores, employees, vendors, business users etc., establishing a relational model among the different fields or entity objects. Dimensions in SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) contain field attributes that establish a relation similar to that of columns in a relational model. A dimension table is a collection of related objects called as field attributes which will be used to provide information using multiple cubes. An instance of dimension in a cube is called cube dimension.
A data dimension can be used multiple times in a cube and forms relationships with one or more groups. A dimension can be formed based on different schema designs or relational models. A dimension should be processed before using or accessing its fields or attributes. A dimension should be processed after making every change or update to its model or construct. The storage models for Dimension table can be either Relational or Multi-dimensional Online Analytical Processing (OLAP). The dimension table also describes the different attributes and its hierarchies.
5. What are different types of Data Sources supported by SSAS?
Answer:
The supported data sources for SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) in the multidimensional model are Access databases, SQL Server relational databases, Oracle relational databases, Teradata relational databases, Informix relational databases, IBM DB2 relational databases, Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise (ASE) relational databases and few other relational databases whereas the data sources supported by tabular model are Access databases, SQL Server relational databases, SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW), Oracle relational databases, Teradata relational databases, Informix relational databases, IBM DB2 relational databases, Sybase relational databases, Text files, Microsoft Excel files, PowerPivot workbook, Analysis Services cube, different Data feeds and Office Database Connection files.
After installing SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), the setup requires additional drivers to support the different data source providers. Some providers need additional drivers to support the data source and some do not require based on the type. ODBC type data sources are not supported in multi-dimensional models of SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS). The data sources supported by tabular and multi-dimensional models are different based on their architectural models and most of them are almost similar. There are also few unsupported data sources such as Access databases which were already published to Share Point and they cannot be imported.
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