Data Warehouse Tool for Microsoft SQL Server

[ullah14]

Hi!

We are looking for a Data Warehouse Tool for the Microsoft SQL Server 2000/2005 Product-Suite.

The software should support the following aspects:

ETL-Process, Creation of Dimensions and Cubes, Meta-Data-Management, Documentation

I would be thankful for recommendations for some good tools.

 

[RiverGuy]

SQL Server 2000 comes with DTS (Data Transformation Services), which can be and has been successfully used as an ETL tool for years. It's not as fully featured as a dedicated ETL tool however.

SQL Server 2005 comes with SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services), which is a popular and fully featured ETL tool.

SQL Server 2000 and 2005 both come with Analysis Services, which is a multidimensional database and allows you to create cubes from SQL Server and other data sources. The 2005 version is improved over the 2000 version in a variety of ways.

So, instead of buying something, first look at the free tools which are included with your SQL Server license.

 

[ullah14]

Thanks for your Answer!
I know, that Integration services or DTS offers ETL-Functions for Data Warehouse and that Cubes are created with Analysis Services. thats not the point.
What I'm looking for is a tool that integrates this functions and additionaly offers meta-data-management and documentation. From my view the most important features of a data warehouse solution, but with the free tools of sql server licence this has to be implemented manually.

 

[anvi55]

Microsoft used to distribute for free a tool called "Microsoft BI Accelerator" with SQL Server 2000 that could be used to build AS cubes, but it was difficult to use, difficult to maintain and the generated DTS jobs were very cryptic.

You might want to try Wherescape, it's a very mature and professional tool and does exactly what you are looking for, but it's quite expensive.

In my opinion however, if you know how to program and how to use the tools that come with SQL Server, the best option is still to write things by yourself.


Andrea Vincenzi
Data Warehouse Consultant
Rome - Italy