Implementing a data warehouse can be a complex task, requiring careful consideration of hardware and software configurations to ensure optimal performance. However, Microsoft has partnered with hardware vendors to simplify this process with the Data Warehouse Fast Track program for SQL Server 2016.

The Data Warehouse Fast Track program offers pre-configured solutions that have been validated by Microsoft, reducing the complexity of implementing a data warehouse on SQL Server Enterprise Edition. These solutions provide flexibility and choice across hardware vendors’ technologies, while leveraging the core capabilities of the Windows Server operating system and SQL Server to deliver a balanced SMP data warehouse with optimized performance.

One of the key benefits of the Data Warehouse Fast Track program is the availability of certified reference architectures, ranging from 6TB to 145TB, with even larger options scaling up to 1.2PB. These reference architectures have been tested internally by Microsoft and consist of high-performance hardware and software configurations at various price, performance, and footprint tiers.

By utilizing the Data Warehouse Fast Track program, organizations can benefit from a simplified implementation process. The pre-configured solutions eliminate the need for arduous sizing or throughput calculations, as these have already been done for you. This allows for simple purchasing and installation, fast performance, scalability, and total peace of mind.

It’s important to note that the Data Warehouse Fast Track program is not a replacement for the Analytics Platform System (APS). APS is a Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) data warehouse appliance designed for storing and querying petabytes of data. The Data Warehouse Fast Track program, on the other hand, is focused on providing an optimal configuration of hardware and software for a balanced SMP solution.

For organizations with database sizes below 150TB, the Data Warehouse Fast Track program is an ideal choice. It brings together the best hardware and software configurations into a single packaged offering that is guaranteed to perform. This eliminates the need for extensive sizing and configuration efforts, allowing organizations to achieve success “out of the box.”

To explore the various offerings from hardware partners participating in the Data Warehouse Fast Track program, visit the Data Warehouse Fast Track page.

For organizations requiring even higher performance for their SMP solution, the HP Superdome X is worth considering. With up to 384 cores, 24TB of memory, and 92TB of disk space, the HP Superdome X offers exceptional performance for high-end OLTP/DW scenarios.

In conclusion, the Data Warehouse Fast Track program for SQL Server 2016 provides organizations with a simplified and optimized approach to implementing a data warehouse. By leveraging pre-configured solutions and certified reference architectures, organizations can achieve fast performance, scalability, and peace of mind without the need for extensive sizing and configuration efforts.