Next-Generation Data Management and Analysis Software from Microsoft


Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is a complete business intelligence (BI) platform that provides the features, tools, and functionality to build both classic and innovative kinds of analytical applications.

SQL Server 2005 is Microsoft’s next-generation data management and analysis solution that will deliver increased security, scalability, and availability to enterprise data and analytical applications while making them easier to create, deploy, and manage.

SQL Server 2005

The following table presents an overview of the components of a business intelligence system, and the corresponding Microsoft SQL Server 2005 components.

Component

SQL Server 2005

Extract, transformation, and load

Data Transformation Services (DTS)

Relational data warehouse

SQL Server 2005 relational database

Multidimensional database

SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services - click for more information

Data mining

SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services - click for more information

Managed reporting

SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services - click for more information

Ad hoc query and analysis

Microsoft Office products (Excel, Office Web Components, Data Analyzer, Sharepoint Portal)

Database development tools

SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence Development Studio (New!)

Database management tools

SQL Server 2005 SQL Server Management Studio (New!)


The SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence toolset delivers end-to-end BI application integration:

Design: Business Intelligence Development Studio is the first integrated development environment designed for the business intelligence system developer. Built on Visual Studio 2005, the Business Intelligence Development Studio delivers a rich, integrated, professional development platform for BI system developers. Debugging, source control, and script and code development are available for all components of the BI application.

Synthesise: Data Transformation Services has been rewritten to perform complex data integration, transformation, and synthesis at high speed for very large data volumes. The Business Intelligence Development Studio makes building and debugging packages positively fun. DTS, Analysis Services, and Reporting Services work together to present a seamless view of data from heterogeneous sources.

Store: SQL Server 2005 blurs the lines between relational and multidimensional databases. You can store data in the relational database, in the multidimensional database, or use the new Proactive Cache feature to get the best of both worlds.

Analyse: Microsoft's Data Mining has always been easy to use. Now it's even better with the addition of important new algorithms, including Association Rules, Time Series, Regression Trees, Sequence Clustering, Neural Nets, and Naïve Bayes. Important new analytical capabilities have been added to Analysis Services cubes as well: Key Performance Indicator framework, MDX scripts, and other built-in advanced business analytics. The Reporting Services report delivery and management framework enables easy distribution of complex analytics to the widest possible audience.

Deliver: Reporting Services extends the Microsoft Business Intelligence platform to reach the business user who needs to consume the analysis. Reporting Services is an enterprise managed reporting environment, embedded and managed via web services. Reports can be personalized and delivered in a variety of formats, with a range of interactivity and printing options. Complex analyses can reach a broad audience through the distribution of reports as a data source for downstream business intelligence. Microsoft's and partners' ad hoc query and analysis tools will continue to be a popular choice for accessing data in Analysis Services and relational databases.

Manage: The SQL Server Management Studio integrates the management of all SQL Server 2005 components. Business Intelligence practitioners will benefit from Microsoft's extension of the server "abilities" you expect from the relational engine – scalability, reliability, availability, programmability, and so on – to the full set of BI platform components.

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