Essbase - Aggregate Storage

About

Essbase provides an aggregate storage kernel as a persistence mechanism for multidimensional databases.

Aggregate storage database are optimized for sparse data set that primarily require simple aggregation. Any non-aggregation calculations are performed dynamically when requested in reports.

Incremental loading and fast aggregation can provide near real-time analysis of transactional data.

Aggregate storage databases enable dramatic improvements in both :

• database aggregation time
• and dimensional scalability.

The aggregate storage kernel is an alternative to the block storage kernel. Aggregate storage databases typically address read-only, “rack and stack” applications that have large dimensionality, such as the following Bi Application :

• Customer analysis. Data is analyzed from any dimension, and there are potentially millions of customers.
• Procurement analysis. Many products are tracked across many vendors.
• Logistics analysis. Near real-time updates of product shipments are provided.

Aggregate storage and block storage differ in concept and design. Some block storage outline features do not apply to aggregate storage. For example, the concept of dense and sparse dimensions does not apply.

Articles Related

Differences

The differences are visible in this domain :

• Inherent
• Outline
• Calculation
• Partitioning
• Data Load
• Query
• Feature

See Comparison of Aggregate and Block Storage

Documentation / Reference

• A sample application (ASOsamp), a data file, and a rules file are provided to demonstrate aggregate storage functionality.
• Process for Creating Aggregate Storage Applications
• Comparison of Aggregate and Block Storage