Defining the SAS OLAP Environment

SAS Metadata Server

The SAS Metadata Server is a multi-user server that enables users to read metadata from and write metadata to one or more SAS metadata folders. This server is a centralized resource for storing, managing, and delivering metadata for all SAS applications across the enterprise. It enables all users to access consistent and accurate data. Some types of metadata objects that can be stored in the SAS metadata include data libraries, tables, cubes, users and user groups, user authorization permissions, and server definitions. The default metadata server that is installed during your system installation and configuration is the SASMeta server.

You can define and administer SAS Metadata Servers in SAS Management Console. The Server Manager and Metadata Manager plug-ins contain various administrative functions. The Server Manager provides functions to manage SAS server definitions stored in the SAS Metadata. It enables you to define and edit information regarding server locations and connections. The Metadata Manager plug-in enables you to maintain and define the various SAS metadata for your SAS environment.

Note: For more information on the SAS Metadata Server, see the topic "SAS Metadata Server" in the SAS Intelligence Platform: Overview. [cautionend]

The SAS Metadata Server uses the Integrated Object Model (IOM) that is provided by SAS Integration Technologies. IOM provides distributed object interfaces to Base SAS software features. It enables you to use industry-standard languages, programming tools, and communication protocols to develop client programs that access these services on IOM servers. The SAS Open Metadata Interface (OMI) is an object-oriented application programming interface (API) that interacts with the SAS Metadata Server. SAS OLAP Cube Studio is an example of an application that is compliant with the SAS Open Metadata Interface.

With SAS OLAP Server, all relevant structural information is contained within the cube and most of it is also replicated within the SAS Open Metadata Architecture. This is done so you can do the following:

disassociate the cube definition process from cube creation, thus enabling you to create a cube by using its stored definition
define and enforce security at the SAS Open Metadata Architecture level
manage and control the data source in the centralized SAS Metadata Repository

You can find documentation about the SAS Open Metadata Architecture in the SAS Intelligence Platform: System Administration Guide and the SAS Intelligence Platform: Data Administration Guide.

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