Data Warehouse latency can be a common issue faced by end users when accessing data through Reporting Services reports or Excel. Waiting for data updates can be frustrating, especially when real-time information is required. In this blog post, we will discuss a simple solution to improve data warehouse latency using SQL Server.
Creating a Report to Kick off SQL Agent Job
To address the issue of data warehouse latency, we can create a report that triggers the SQL Agent job responsible for processing the data warehouse load and cube update. This report allows users to initiate the job manually, reducing the waiting time for data updates.
Step One: Create a Data Source
The first step is to create a data source that points to the MSDB database on the server where the SQL Agent job is located. This data source will be used to connect to the SQL Server and execute the necessary commands.
Step Two: Create a Dataset
Next, we need to create a dataset that runs the system stored procedure “sp_start_job” with the name of the job as a parameter. This stored procedure is used to start a SQL Agent job programmatically.
Step Three: Add Text
To provide feedback to the user after they click on the report, we can add a textbox with appropriate text. This text can inform the user about the job that will be executed and any potential impact it may have on the system.
Deploy and Test
Once the report is created, it can be deployed to the reporting server for testing. Users can then access the report and trigger the SQL Agent job by clicking on it. It is important to ensure that the job does not have any adverse effects on the system, such as impacting transactional processes or causing performance issues.
Considerations
While this method can help improve data warehouse latency, there are some circumstances where it may not be suitable:
- Running the job during peak hours could negatively impact transactional systems that rely on the data warehouse load.
- If the job takes a significant amount of time to process, it may not be ideal for triggering it manually through a report.
- End users should be properly trained on the purpose and impact of the report to avoid unnecessary execution of the job.
By implementing this approach, you can empower end users to initiate data warehouse updates when needed, reducing latency and improving the overall data accessibility experience.