Best Practices for SAP BI using DB2 9 for z/OS - IBM Redbooks

Figure 12-12 on page 279 shows the primary functional components of SAP BI:
► Business Explorer
This tool is used to define and execute SAP BI queries. It comprises the
following tools:
– BEx Analyzer and BEx Browser are two tools used to execute SAP BI
queries. The BEx Analyzer is based on Microsoft Excel.
– Query Designer is used to define and design the queries.
– Web Application Designer is used to define and design the layout of
Web-based reports.
► OLAP engine
When a user executes an SAP BI query, or query navigation takes place, the
OLAP engine processes the query. It splits the request into several database
queries. The system then looks for the best possible aggregate for each of
the database queries. It generates SQL statements, which are then executed
on the underlying database system.
If an SAP BI query contains restrictions on hierarchies, the OLAP engine
resolves those restrictions and determines the corresponding leaf nodes of
the hierarchy subtree. Finally, it consolidates the results of the executed SQL
statements and sends this information back to the Business Explorer.
► Staging engine
This engine provides all processing that is collectively described as
extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL). This is the process of
accessing source data, cleaning, transforming, and integrating it, and then
loading it into the data warehouse. The ETL processing is discussed in 12.3,
“Dataflow in SAP BI” on page 260.
► Administrator Workbench
This allows the BW administrator to perform all data warehouse modeling and
maintenance tasks within a single, unified environment. The workbench
allows the administrator to back up and manage objects, define new objects
and data flows, and to manage security, archiving, and other tasks.
The Administrator Workbench has the following components:
– Meta data maintenance, to allow the administrator to specify and maintain
the InfoCubes, DSO definitions, and technical data
– Scheduler, to schedule the transfer of data from the source data systems
at regular intervals
– Data load monitor, to supervise the load and staging processes
– Data access monitor, to obtain statistics on BW usage
278 Best Practices for SAP BI using DB2 9 for z/OS