Cognos Express Database safety

[bren1519]

I've just downloaded Cognos Express and my I.S. dept is hooking me up to the test database which is on the iSeries. They are concerned that I am going to write a "runaway query" that will take down the iSeries. I currently use Showcase Query & Report Writer and there are safety nets in place to prevent runaway queries from occurring. Is that something that is built into Cognos Express? If not how do you prevent queries from bogging down the iSeries with Cognos? I am evaluating Cognos for our company and we need to be aware of any consequences of allowing end users to design queries and reports.
Thx a lot
Brenda

 

[blom0344]

Cognos allows for a default time-out for reports (and this default can be adjusted). However, this will not automatically 'kill' connections/queries on the database. The best precaution is allowing users to ONLY design reports on well-designed packages (based on carefully build models). you can add predefined filters to the model to ensure users will build reports that generate queries that use indexes. In NO case allows endusers to write their own SQL within reports. You can easily prohibit this through the capabilities settings in Cognos administration..

Ties Blom

 

[bren1519]

Thanks for the info. That does give me an idea of what would be needed although I have to say it is a bit surprising.

Now that IBM owns the Showcase products perhaps they'll use some of the features from that product in the next version of Cognos. Not only is there a time-out feature that actually kills the query on the iSeries, if the user realizes the job is going to run too long, hitting the escape key will stop the query and kill the job.

Thanks again! Much appreciated.
Brenda

 

[blom0344]

I've worked quite some years with Iseries and think it is underestimated.. BI vendors though never have put any effort in query control. Cognos is not better/worse than others in that respect..

Ties Blom