3.1.1 Abstract Data Model

This section describes a conceptual model of possible data organization that an implementation maintains to participate in this protocol. The described organization is provided to facilitate the explanation of how the protocol behaves. This document does not mandate that implementations adhere to this model as long as their external behavior is consistent with that described in this document.

It is recommended that the server organize its data as per the OLAP data model and the DM model.

The OLAP model's high-level features are as follows:

  • The server contains a collection of databases.

  • Each database contains a collection of cubes.

  • Each cube contains a collection of dimensions, measure groups, measures, sets, key performance indicators (KPIs), and actions.

  • Each dimension contains a collection of hierarchies.

  • Each hierarchy contains a collection of levels.

  • Each level contains a collection of members.

  • Each member contains a collection of properties.

  • Each measure group contains a collection of measure group dimensions and measures.

The DM model's high-level features are as follows:

For more information about the OLAP data model, see [MSDN-SSAS].