MicroStrategy Inc.'s DSS Administrator is a set of tools for developing, deploying, and maintaining enterprise-scale data warehouse applications. It consists of two tools: Warehouse Monitor, a usage- and performance-monitoring application that at any time lets users view system usage by project, report, user, date, and time of day, as well as trending information that helps users track changes over time; and Object Manager, an application for developing and administering enterprise DSS implementations. User and object management functionality lets users maintain projects on platforms, control access to analysis objects, and migrate objects between users and projects.
DSS Administrator provides the ability to manage very large applications with thousands of users and user groups who share a number of reporting requirements. It allows the creation of "virtual data marts" -- multiple, independent applications that access a segment of an enterprise warehouse. (See Figure 1.) The product provides an analysis of warehouse usage statistics, which can be used to calculate charge-back amounts for commercial DSS applications where users pay by-the-query for the information consumed. These analyses can be used to tune the system. DSS Administrator provides support for the entire data warehouse life cycle, from the prototype and testing phase to development, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. It lets DBAs manage both enterprise and Web users via the same interface.
DSS Administrator can be used with MicroStrategy's DSS Architect to create and maintain multiple independent applications on the same physical warehouse. The DBAs can remove reports and other application objects between users in these different applications, allowing users to transparently share parts of the warehouse and access reports unique to their needs, enabling the creation of virtual data marts. It enables DBAs to analyze a database of statistics to determine usage patterns, individual user profiles, and other information. Using this data, a system administrator can determine the amount of data extracted and resources used by individuals and groups of users.
Contact MicroStrategy Inc.; 800-927-1868, 703-848-8600, or fax 703-848-8610; www.microstrategy.com.
