Reporting Services Architecture - Professional SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services - page 50

Report Server
The Report Server is the main engine behind reporting services. Its primary function is to process and
deliver report information. You could think of it as the true core of Reporting Services. This core is made
up of five main components: report processor, data source extensions, security extensions, rendering
extensions, and delivery extensions. Each of the four extensions implements interfaces that allow users
to extend the engine to fit their needs. Through this section, you explore each of the components and
develop a basic understanding of their functionality.

Report Processing
Report processing is the main driver in the Report Server. This process is responsible for handling user
requests for reports and report models and returning the appropriate data. Along with this task it also
performs caching of reports to improve performance.

The main job of the Report Processor is to combine the report definition and report data to return a for-
matted output to the user.

Figure 3-3 is an illustration of a basic report request and how the Report Processor handles it.

Application RS Web Service Report Processor Security Extension Data Processing Rendering

Report Request

Report Request

Retrieve Report Definition

Report Definition

Report Server DB

Check Security

Access Granted

Retrieve Report Data

Report Data

Render Report

Rendered Report

Report

Report

Figure 3-3