SQLBits 2012

A Deep Dive in SQL Server 2012 Data Warehousing

In this session, we are going to explain and test different DW features in SQL Server 2012, including star join optimization through bitmap filters, table partitioning, window functions, columnstore indices and more.
In SQL Server 2012, we get strong support for data warehousing (DW). From previous versions we know there has been a lot of effort put in DW enhancements: star join optimization through bitmap filters, known from SQL Server 2008, table partitioning and basic window functions known from SQL Server 2005, indexed views, known from SQL Server 2000, and more. In SQL Server 2012, we get advanced window functions. Besides that, we get columnstore indexes. Columnstore indexes use the VertiPaq engine, storage engine developed by the SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) team. In this session, we are going to introduce these features and show how they can be useful in a data warehousing scenario. We are also going to explain the theoretical background for these features.