Different Analysis Services database for second PWA instance?

[jremmc]

Total Newbie on PS and AS. 2-tier farm: PS 2007 on one server and SQL 2000
DB/AS on another. PS is installed but at pre-deployment setup stage. I have
created 2 PWA sites (instances), 1 for production (/pwa) and 1 for training
(/pstraining). Everything is set up correctly including AS repository has
been migrated, and I've already created a db named PWAAnalysis for 1st
instance and built cube successfully.

Do I create a different named database for the second instance (e.g.
PSTrainingAnalysis)? Just want to make sure that each PWA site should have
its own AS database for cube building.

Thanks,
jremmc

 

[Paul Conroy]

Using a different database is fine, but ensure that they are built at
separate times and also different times to AD Sync.

 

[jremmc]

Hi Paul,

Thanks. From your reply, it sounds like general practice is to use the same
database? Why does it *not make a difference to use the same db for cube
building from 2 different instances of PWA with different data (though I know
the data is being pulled from each instance's reporting db, which are
separate databases)? I know nothing, really, about cube building (from basic
concept, to adding desired data/build cube). I am trying to understand it; is
there a good source/article/documentation or three that gives a basic
understanding for novices, that you can point me to?

jremmc

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

Not to butt in, but typically since training may/may not have decent data,
I usually just point the Training instance at the production cubes, then
set it not to build. Be careful, cause if you set Training to build, it
could overwrite the production cube - until the next time Production builds,
etc.

This then gives me decent data to use in the training environment.

-A

 

[Paul Conroy]

Using the same OLAP DB across multiple instances "will" result in data
corruption ! This is enough of a reason for most not to do it.

You can use the same instance of OLAP and have different DB's within that
instance, ensure they have different names and build at different times.

 

[jremmc]

Hi Andrew,

How do I point one instance to the cubes of another -- I don't see that
setting, unless you mean choose the same Analysis database?

Also, my understanding of your response is that it does not matter that
Training data is different than Production data when you point the Training
instance to Production cube. Is that correct? Don't you want to show analysis
of data you are training with so there is a correlation between viewing and
analysis?

jremmc

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

Thank you for that tip....very useful.

Using the same OLAP DB across multiple instances "will" result in data
corruption ! This is enough of a reason for most not to do it.

You can use the same instance of OLAP and have different DB's within
that instance, ensure they have different names and build at different
times.

http://theprojectserverguru.spaces.live.com

 

[jremmc]

Thanks, Paul. I'll do that. I understand much more now, appreciate it.