Re: the difference between data warehouse, datamart, and just a database

Data Warehouses do NOT always have to be stored in an OLAP model. OLAP is another term that precalculates everything in a DB first which is not necessarily the case with a data warehouse. Both terms are used interchangably these days, though. And there's a million different definitions for it. MOST Data Warehouses are OLAP-style. Yet not all OLAP cubes are Data Warehouse architectured. Data Warehousing is more complex than OLAP technology. The two are similiar in that they both involve multidimentional architecture.

Kristian Rickert
IntegrationWare, Inc.

Jerry Gitomer wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> This is the simplistic answer suitable for managers.
>
> Data warehouse - a specialized database containing historical
> data for an entire organization. The data warehouse is
> characterized by OLAP (On Line Analytical Processing) as opposed
> to OLTP (On Line Transaction Processing) of a conventional
> database.
>
> Datamart - a "mini" data warehouse containing historical data
> for one department of an organization. May be further limited to
> data related to a single function or group of functions performed
> by a department.
>
> regards
> Jerry Gitomer
>
> kal_at_valistech.com wrote in message
> <379023CD.BE08DFBB_at_valistech.com>...
> >Could someone explain briefly what the differences are
> architectually,
> >physically .. etc?
> >this question came up in a meeting and I didn't know how to
> answer it.
> >I appreciate the help.
> >Kal.
> >
> >PS please copy me when responding to the newsgroup
> >
Received on Mon Jul 19 1999 - 12:56:29 CDT