Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Optimizing
the
tabular
model
for
performance
As covered in Chapter 8 , Using Aggregations to Performance Optimize a Cube , per-
formance is of the uttermost importance when it comes to a BI system. Users do not
want to wait for the query results. Fortunately, the tabular model is built for perform-
ance; however, there is still a need for optimizing the tabular model. This includes op-
timizing the model for both queries and processing. This section will cover the most
important tasks of optimizing the tabular model.
The tabular model is, as described earlier, an in-memory model; this means that all
data is stored in RAM on the server and that it does not work with aggregates. The
key to ensuring good performance on tabular mode is to ensure that only data that
you query or data that is used in calculations is loaded into the model.
If you examine the model that you have created, you can see that there are several
columns that are not used in calculations or that will not be used in queries. If you
remove them, you can save considerable memory space and this can increase the
performance of your model.
Asimplewaytoseehowmuchanindividualcolumntakesupinmemoryistoexamine
the data folder used for storing the on-disk structures used by the model. Perform the
follow steps to examine the stored data:
1. Open up File Explorer .
2. If you have installed a default instance of Analysis Services in the tabular
mode, you will find the folder at C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL
Server\MSAS11.MSSQLSERVER\OLAP\Data\ . If you have installed a
named instance, it will be stored under C:\Program Files\Microsoft
SQL Server\MSAS11.<instance_name>\OLAP\Data\ where <in-
stance_name> will be the name that you have given to your instance.
3. Under this folder, you will find a folder called FirstCubeTabular.0.db .
This is the folder that contains the files related to your database.
4. Double-click on the folder, and in the search box within the File Explorer type
*.* , and then press the Enter key.
5. Click on the Size column to sort the data according to size:
Search WWH ::




Custom Search