As a SQL Server enthusiast, I recently had the opportunity to attend a training session organized by Microsoft on Fast Track Data Warehouse Reference Architectures. While I primarily focus on relational databases, I was initially skeptical about this training. However, as I delved deeper into the concepts, I realized that this was an area where my expertise could be valuable.
Fast Track Data Warehouse is an innovative initiative by Microsoft that proposes reference architectures designed to offer scalability and reliability to large databases. The Fast Track Datasheet provides some excellent insights into this reference architecture, and I would like to share a few key points:
- Scale from 4 up to 48 Terabytes using compression capabilities in SQL Server 2008 Enterprise
- Choose from industry-standard hardware from Dell, HP, Bull, IBM, EMC, and other leading vendors
- Pre-configured servers, storage, and networking, specifically balanced and optimized for warehousing
- Implement an enterprise-class solution for less than one-third the price of a comparable Oracle system
- Fast Track Data Warehouse focuses on eliminating potential performance bottlenecks, optimizing for sequential IO rather than random IO
- Each Fast Track Data Warehouse is designed to provide up to 200 MB/s per CPU core
- The Fast Track approach leverages advanced data warehouse enhancements included in SQL Server 2008 Enterprise, such as compression, parallel partitioning, and star join query optimization
I believe that Microsoft’s Fast Track Data Warehouse Reference Architectures are a significant step forward in the world of data warehousing. The scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness offered by this solution make it an attractive option for organizations looking to optimize their data warehousing capabilities.
As a SQL Server professional, I am grateful to Microsoft for providing me with the opportunity to learn about this unique initiative. I am confident that in the near future, many data warehousing solutions will transition to the Fast Track approach.
If you’re interested in learning more about this reference architecture, you can find additional information on the official Microsoft website.
Thank you for reading!