Database Reference
In-Depth Information
In the virtualization layer, HANA views can be combined with data from all the other lay-
ers. HANA views are the virtual structures used by queries for reporting.
End of an InfoCube era
Don't worry! If you have InfoCubes, you can still use them after mi-
grating your SAP BW system to SAP HANA. Eventually, you may
choose to phase out your existing InfoCubes as part of an optimiza-
tion project, but in the meantime, you can still use them.
InfoCubes are not the only objects which are rendered obsolete in SAP BW 7.40, as all
modeling objects for staging data, from DSOs to InfoCubes, are replaced with advanced
DSOs, and all virtual modeling objects, such as InfoSets and MultiProviders, are replaced
with CompositeProviders. The simplification of modeling choices provides increased flex-
ibility in design by enabling concepts like field-based modeling and making non-cumulat-
ive calculations available to all data models.
It is important to reiterate here that SAP HANA is an enabling platform, and migration to
it does not require a complete reimplementation of your existing data warehouse. Instead,
small optimization projects targeted at simplifying data flows can be undertaken at your
leisure and according to your budgetary priorities after the technical database migration has
been completed.
The reduction in the number of objects and redundancy of data volumes due to LSA++
in conjunction with the simplified data model landscape can and will have a significant
cost reduction impact on development and maintenance activities, once adopted, by redu-
cing the duration of each development cycle. While this contributes to the smaller database
footprint mentioned in 2.1.1, this also means that reports can be developed on your com-
pany data more quickly than in SAP BW systems adhering to LSA on other databases. The
shorter development life cycle significantly shortens the time between a report request and
delivery of that report to your users.
