About James Serra
I am a Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence Architect, specializing in the SQL Server BI stack. I also am a DBA and have been for the last 15 years. I work for B.I. Voyage.-
Recent Posts
- Being careful in SSAS to not make a cube/dimension unprocessed
- Data Warehouse vs Data Mart
- Fast Track Data Warehouse Reference Guide for SQL Server 2012
- SSAS File System Error
- SQLSaturday in Houston Presentation
- SQL Server 2012: Certification Upgrade Info
- SQLSaturday in Houston
- SSDT – Installation confusion
- Consultants: Corp-to-Corp vs 1099
- SSAS development quick tip
Recent Comments
- Saso on SQL Server 2012: Installing on a Virtual Machine
- Kevin on SSDT – Installation confusion
- rike on Consultants: 1099 or W-2?
- Data Warehouse vs Data Mart | James Serra's Blog on SQL Server 2012: Multidimensional vs tabular
- James Serra on SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) Appliance Update 3 (AU3)
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- June 2011 (20)
- May 2011 (13)
- April 2011 (3)
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Monthly Archives: January 2012
Complex reporting off a SSAS cube
While using a cube in SSAS is usually a great source for reporting, it is not always the best choice. Sometimes it is better to report off of the data warehouse that the cube is built from. For example, say … Continue reading
Posted in Data warehouse, SQLServerPedia Syndication, SSAS, SSRS
8 Comments
SSAS fact table dilemma
Here is a situation I ran into recently concerning using a fact table in SSAS. This experience may help you out if you run into something similar: A data warehouse has an advertising table that has these four fields: Product Type, Inches, … Continue reading
Posted in SQLServerPedia Syndication, SSAS
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Improving cube processing time
As your SSAS cube gets bigger, cube processing time will become a problem. This is especially true as more and more companies want cube processing during the day instead of the usual off-hours time when no one is using the … Continue reading
Posted in SQLServerPedia Syndication, SSAS
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Want to recruit me? Please follow these rules
I get 15-30 calls/emails a week from recruiters (not counting the dozens of auto-generated emails I get). Being a contractor I’m always trying to build relationships with recruiters so when my contract nears an end, I have plenty of job … Continue reading
Posted in Career, SQLServerPedia Syndication
5 Comments
PASS Summit session videos online
If you are interested in viewing the recorded sessions for the PASS Summit 2011, you can order the DVD. You can purchase the Regular Summit Sessions as well as the Pre-Conference Sessions. However, if you are interested in the sessions … Continue reading
Posted in PASS, SQL Server, SQLServerPedia Syndication, Videos
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SQLInspire NYC 2011 Videos available
There are some FANTASTIC videos of the sessions from SQLInspire New York 2011. I highly recommend that you check out all the videos, as I found some great career tips in all of them. As the site says “We’ve lined up … Continue reading
Posted in Career, SQL Server, Videos
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SQL Server 2012 (“Denali”): SSIS Logging
In previous SSIS versions as the developer you were responsible for configuring all of your logging options, such as what events you were going to log, which containers you were going to collect logs for, and where you were going … Continue reading
Posted in SQL Server 2012, SQLServerPedia Syndication, SSIS
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HP DL980…now this is a server!
I have been fortunate the past few months to be working on a HP ProLiant DL980 G7 Server. This is one killer server: 8 processors, 80 cores, 160 virtual processors, and 2 TB’s of memory. Oh, and there are two … Continue reading
Posted in SQLServerPedia Syndication
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Video/Voice conferencing and Microsoft Lync
Since I work mostly from home, video/voice conferencing and IM are of major importance to me, and using the right tools is vital to keeping me productive. The tools used for conferencing should have IM, presence indicator, voice and video … Continue reading
Posted in Career, SQLServerPedia Syndication
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Houston Area SQL Server User Group Presentation
Thanks for everyone who attended my presentation “How To Make a LOT More Money as a Consultant” at HASSUG. Here is the PowerPoint presentation: How To Make a LOT More Money as a Consultant How to make a LOT more money … Continue reading
Posted in Career, Presentation, Session, SQLServerPedia Syndication
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