Online Analytical Processing Server (OLAP) is based on the multidimensional data model. It allows managers, and analysts to get an insight of the information through fast, consistent, and interactive access to information. This chapter cover the types of OLAP, operations on OLAP, difference between OLAP, and statistical databases and OLTP.
OLAP Servers
ROLAP
ROLAP stores the data in relational databases and depends on a specialized schema design. The base data and the dimension tables are stored as relational tables and new tables are created to hold the aggregated information.
ROLAP includes the following:
- Implementation of aggregation navigation logic.
- Optimization for each DBMS back end.
- Additional tools and services.
Examples:
- IBM Cognos
- SAP NetWeaver BW
- Microsoft Analysis Services
- Essbase
- Jedox OLAP Server
- SAS OLAP Server
- MicroStrategy Intelligence Server
- Oracle Database OLAP option
MOLAP
MOLAP is the classic form of OLAP and is sometimes referred to as just OLAP. MOLAP stores the data in an optimized multi dimensional array storage and requires the pre-computation and storage of information in the cube.
IBM Cognos, SAP NetWeaver BW, Microsoft Analysis Services, MicroStrategy Intelligence Server, Mondrian OLAP server, Essbase, icCube, Infor BI OLAP Server, Jedox OLAP Server, Oracle Database OLAP Option, SAS OLAP Server, IBM TM1 are some of the top MOLAP Servers.
HOLAP
HOLAP addresses the shortcomings of MOLAP and ROLAP by combining the capabilities of both approaches where a database will divide data between relational and specialized storage.
IBM Cognos, Microsoft Analysis Services, MicroStrategy Intelligence Server, Mondrian OLAP server, Essbase, Jedox OLAP Server, Oracle Database OLAP Option, SAS OLAP Server are some of the top HOLAP Servers.