Method and system for altering the configuration of a data warehouse

• US 20060212477A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Murphy, Shawn M., Auerbach, Alan B., Gil, German A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP

Abstract

Disclosed are methods usable by non-experts for altering a configuration of a data warehouse. The initial configuration of the data warehouse is represented in terms of metadata, and that metadata configuration is presented to a user. The user can choose to alter the metadata configuration. If alterations are made to the metadata, then the underlying configuration of the data warehouse is altered accordingly. Because there may be multiple users wishing to alter aspects of the data warehouse, some embodiments of the present invention enforce approval guidelines so that proposed changes to the data warehouse configuration are only implemented after the appropriate approvals have been secured. By presenting a metadata representation of the data warehouse configuration, the present invention both allows non-experts to have a hand in converting a data warehouse and prevents user errors from corrupting the data warehouse conversion process.

Claims

1. A method for altering a configuration of a data warehouse, the method comprising:

representing an initial configuration of the data warehouse in terms of initial configuration metadata;

altering at least some of the initial configuration metadata for the data warehouse;

creating a configuration script, the configuration script based, at least in part, on the altered configuration metadata for the data warehouse; and

applying the configuration script to alter the configuration of the data warehouse.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration script is based, at least in part, on the initial configuration metadata.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration script comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of:

an SQL script, an XML script, and a script in a markup language other than XML.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the configuration script to alter the configuration of the data warehouse comprises performing an action selected from the group consisting of:

preserving all datapoints stored in the data warehouse, transforming at least some of the datapoints stored in the data warehouse, and removing at least some of the datapoints stored in the data warehouse.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the initial configuration metadata for the data warehouse in a metadata database.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein applying the configuration script to alter the configuration of the data warehouse comprises:

storing the altered configuration metadata for the data warehouse in the metadata database.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

deploying the altered data warehouse to a test server;

testing an operation of the altered data warehouse on the test server; and

if the testing on the test server is successful, then deploying the altered data warehouse to a production server.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

testing an operation of the altered data warehouse on the production server; and

if the testing on the production server is not successful, then rolling back the altered data warehouse.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

storing the initial configuration of the data warehouse; and

wherein rolling back the altered data warehouse comprises;

deploying the stored initial configuration of the data warehouse to the production server.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for altering a configuration of a data warehouse, the method comprising:

representing an initial configuration of the data warehouse in terms of initial configuration metadata;

altering at least some of the initial configuration metadata for the data warehouse;

creating a configuration script, the configuration script based, at least in part, on the altered configuration metadata for the data warehouse; and

applying the configuration script to alter the configuration of the data warehouse.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

storing the initial configuration metadata for the data warehouse in a metadata database.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

deploying the altered data warehouse to a test server;

testing an operation of the altered data warehouse on the test server; and

if the testing on the test server is successful, then deploying the altered data warehouse to a production server.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

testing an operation of the altered data warehouse on the production server; and

if the testing on the production server is not successful, then rolling back the altered data warehouse.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising computer-executable instructions for:

storing the initial configuration of the data warehouse; and

wherein rolling back the altered data warehouse comprises;

deploying the stored initial configuration of the data warehouse to the production server.

15. A system for altering a configuration of a data warehouse, the system comprising:

the data warehouse;

initial configuration metadata representing an initial configuration of the data warehouse;

a configuration script, the configuration script based, at least in part, on altered configuration metadata for the data warehouse; and

a configuration server configured for applying the configuration script to alter the configuration of the data warehouse.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the configuration server is further configured for performing an action selected from the group consisting of:

preserving all datapoints stored in the data warehouse, transforming at least some of the datapoints stored in the data warehouse, and removing at least some of the datapoints stored in the data warehouse.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a metadata database configured for storing configuration metadata for the data warehouse.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a test server configured for receiving a deployment of the altered data warehouse;

a verification server configured for testing an operation of the altered data warehouse on the test server; and

a production server configured for receiving, if the testing on the test server is successful, a deployment of the altered data warehouse.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the verification server is further configured for testing an operation of the altered data warehouse on the production server; and

wherein the configuration server is further configured for rolling back the altered data warehouse if the testing on the production server is not successful.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a database configured for storing the initial configuration of the data warehouse; and

wherein the configuration server is further configured for, when rolling back the altered data warehouse, deploying the stored initial configuration of the data warehouse to the production server.