From IT Business Edge | Sep 30, 2009
A data warehouse is a specialized database that is optimized for analysis, reporting
and decision support at both the tactical and strategic levels. Data warehouses make
sense because the data in production systems -- such as ERP systems —
is stored and managed in ways that make analysis difficult.
Creating new reports is therefore a time-consuming process that requires highly trained
programmers who know how and where to access the required data. In contrast, with a
data warehouse the process of creating new reports is relatively quick and easy, and
can be done by department-level users with no need to involve the IT department.
Sometimes the content of a data warehouse is partitioned by function into
department-specific databases, often referred to as "data marts."
This Data Warehouse Sizing Calculator helps you estimate the memory size required
for a data warehousing project involving data from as many as 5 business units, each
with as many as 5 relevant DBs, and each DB with as many as 10 relevant fields.
The process for using this calculator is as follows:
Step 1: Determine which business units will be contributing
data.
Step 2: Identify which DBs controlled by that business unit have
relevant data.
Step 3: Within each DB, identify the relevant rows.
Step 4: Determine the average length (number of characters) in each
of these rows.
Step 5: Enter the data.
The attached Zip file includes:
- Intro Page.doc
- Cover Sheet and Terms.pdf
- Data Warehouse Sizing Calculator.xls
