Self Service BI: 21 st November 2009 Bob Duffy Database Architect Prodata SQL Centre of Excellence Project Gemini PowerPivot

Speaker Profile – Bob Duffy SQL Server MVPSQL Server MVP MCA for SQL Server (aka SQL Ranger)MCA for SQL Server (aka SQL Ranger) MCM on SQL 2005 and 2008MCM on SQL 2005 and years in database sector, 250+ projects18 years in database sector, 250+ projects Senior Consultant with Microsoft Senior Consultant with Microsoft Regular speaker for TechNet, MSDN, Users Groups, Irish and UK Technology ConferencesRegular speaker for TechNet, MSDN, Users Groups, Irish and UK Technology Conferences On MCM 2008 exam working groupOn MCM 2008 exam working group Database Architect at Prodata SQL Centre Excellence, DublinDatabase Architect at Prodata SQL Centre Excellence, Dublin

Agenda Why Self Service BI Why Self Service BI What is PowerPivot? What is PowerPivot? PowerPivot for Excel PowerPivot for Excel PowerPivot for SharePoint PowerPivot for SharePoint

The BI road so far 2005/8

“Trad” 2005/8 BI Architecture

Problems with Traditional BI ?

#1 The Business User “It has to stay in Excel. We just won’t use another tool.” “We don’t know what is OLAP and dimensional modeling and we don’t care to know. Even relational modeling is a bit too hard.” “Don’t ask us to design or model anything in advance. We should just be able to load our data in and work. Exactly as do in Excel.” Can we compare the data to competitors data ? Can we analyze this data by tomorrow ?

#2 The IT Perspective on using Excel Arrrggg… #%^$% “Spreadmarts” “Stale Data” “Multiple Versions of the Truth” “Unsanctioned Information” “Rouge Applications” “Ban Excel!” “Data locked in Excel sheets” “Unsecure”

Gemini Goals – Match Conflicting Twins… Simple and Smart Tool Scalable and robust Infrastructure PowerPivotPowerPivot BusinessIT

What is PowerPivot? Excel-hosted client & reporting In-memory BI engine (VertiPaq) PowerPivot for SharePoint Operational Monitoring

PowerPivot for Excel… Loading Filtering Mashups

Introducing DAX Expression Language based on Excel Syntax Expression Language based on Excel Syntax Essential for Calculated Columns and Measures Essential for Calculated Columns and Measures Converted to MDX by PowerPivot AddIn Converted to MDX by PowerPivot AddIn Example Functions: Example Functions: RELATED(), RELATEDTABLE() RELATED(), RELATEDTABLE() Filter(Table, Condition) Filter(Table, Condition) Distinct(Column) Distinct(Column) Concatenation “&” Concatenation “&” Notes: Notes: Works on Columns NOT Rows Works on Columns NOT Rows Consider “home” sheet carefully Consider “home” sheet carefully

Using DAX: Profit Analysis Temperature Mashup

Wheres the data? Excel-hosted client & reporting In-memory BI engine (VertiPaq) PowerPivot for SharePoint Operational Monitoring

A Peek Inside: the client Architecture Source:

PowerPivot for SharePoint Sits under Excel Web Access (EWA) Sits under Excel Web Access (EWA) Installation Gotchas Installation Gotchas Read the guides (on blogs) Read the guides (on blogs) Needs Domain Accounts Needs Domain Accounts Easier with “new” farm Easier with “new” farm Use Windows 2008 x64sp2 (patch for R2 released) Use Windows 2008 x64sp2 (patch for R2 released) Uses lots of RAM Uses lots of RAM Limit of 2GB size (blob) Limit of 2GB size (blob) Needs Enterprise Edition Needs Enterprise Edition

PowerPivot for SharePoint

What is PowerPivot? Excel-hosted client & reporting In-memory BI engine (VertiPaq) PowerPivot for SharePoint Operational Monitoring

Step 1 Monitoring Sandboxes

Step 2 Monitoring Servers

Step 3 Monitoring a Solution

Summary Excel is user tool of choice Balance between User Power IT Management Bridges the Organizational Divide Gemini is a part of the MS BI stack Enables the Self-Service scenario Enhances existing investments CTP3 Available now Ship next year

References/Blogs Official Blog/Site Analysis Services Team Blogs General Site Online PowerPivot Labs 498d-94fa-e41e1b09730d 498d-94fa-e41e1b09730d

Thank You!