Resource guide for SQL Server Analysis services.

SSAS Performance and Tuning

There are two key white papers any SSAS developer should familiarise themselves with:

• Analysis Services Operations Guide 2008R2:  Have you been asked to look after a server running SSAS?  This is a great resource for anyone who has been asked to setup an optimal Analysis Services environment.
• Analysis Services 2008 R2 Performance Guide: This guide is aimed at developers looking to tweak their cubes for maximum performance.

Other guides:

• Best Practices: SQL Bits presentation from Marco Russo.

SSAS Community Sites

• SSAS-Info: Comprehensive site dedicated to analysis services, plenty of tools and articles to sift through.
• Analysis Services MSDN Forum:  Come chat with other SSAS developers, ask and answer queries.

MDX

Love it or hate it, BI developers will have to get the MDX basics straight in their head sooner or later.  Here are a few resources to help:

• Introduction to MDX: Taking your first steps?  Here’s a good start.
• Stairway to MDX: Another good beginners guide from SQL Server Central
• MDX Studio:  A tool to help you build MDX queries against your cube, written by Mosha.