Data Warehousing Interview Questions

Data Warehousing A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Data Warehousing Interview Questions What is VLDB? What is degenerate dimension table? What is ER Diagram? What is a CUBE in data warehousing concept? What is the difference between star and snowflake schemas? How do you create Surrogate Key using Ab Initio? Can a dimension table contain numeric values? What is hybrid slowly changing dimension? What is loop in Data warehousing? What is an error log table in Informatica occurs and how to maintain it in mapping? How Many different schemas or DW Models can be used in Siebel Analytics. I know Only STAR and SNOW FLAKE and any other model that can be used? How can you import tables from a database? Where the cache files stored? What is dimension modeling? What is data cleaning? How can we do that? Can any one explain the Hierarchies level Data warehousing. Can any one explain about Core Dimension, Balanced Dimension, and Dirty Dimension? How much data hold in one universe. What is Core Dimension? Suppose you are filtering the rows using a filter transformation only the rows meet the condition pass to the target. Tell me where the rows will go that does not meet the condition. What is galaxy schema? Briefly state different between data ware house & data mart? What is Meta data? What is the difference between data warehousing and business intelligence? What is active data warehousing? What is snapshot with reference to data warehouse? SQL SERVER ? Data Warehousing Interview Questions and Answers ? Part 3 July 28, 2007 by pinaldave What are slowly changing dimensions (SCD)? SCD is abbreviation of Slowly changing dimensions. SCD applies to cases where the attribute for a record varies over time. There are three different types of SCD. 1) SCD1 : The new record replaces the original record. Only one record exist in database ? current data. 2) SCD2 : A new record is added into the customer dimension table. Two records exist in database ? current data and previous history data. 3) SCD3 : The original data is modified to include new data. One record exist in database ? new information are attached with old information in same row. What is hybrid slowly changing dimension? Hybrid SCDs are combination of both SCD 1 and SCD 2. It may happen that in a table, some columns are important and we need to track changes for them i.e capture the historical data for them whereas in some columns even if the data changes, we don?t care. What is BUS Schema? BUS Schema is composed of a master suite of confirmed dimension and standardized definition if facts. What is a Star Schema? Star schema is a type of organizing the tables such that we can retrieve the result from the database quickly in the warehouse environment. What Snow Flake Schema? Snowflake Schema, each dimension has a primary dimension table, to which one or more additional dimensions can join. The primary dimension table is the only table that can join to the fact table. Differences between star and snowflake schema? Star schema ? A single fact table with N number of Dimension, all dimensions will be linked directly with a fact table. This schema is de-normalized and results in simple join and less complex query as well as faster results. Snow schema ? Any dimensions with extended dimensions are know as snowflake schema, dimensions maybe interlinked or may have one to many relationship with other tables. This schema is normalized and results in complex join and very complex query as well as slower results. What is Difference between ER Modeling and Dimensional Modeling? ER modeling is used for normalizing the OLTP database design. Dimensional modeling is used for de-normalizing the ROLAP/MOLAP design. What is degenerate dimension table? If a table contains the values, which are neither dimension nor measures is called degenerate dimensions. Why is Data Modeling Important? Data modeling is probably the most labor intensive and time consuming part of the development process. The goal of the data model is to make sure that the all data objects required by the database are completely and accurately represented. Because the data model uses easily understood notations and natural language , it can be reviewed and verified as correct by the end-users. In computer science, data modeling is the process of creating a data model by applying a data model theory to create a data model instance. A data model theory is a formal data model description. When data modelling, we are structuring and organizing data. These data structures are then typically implemented in a database management system. In addition to defining and organizing the data, data modeling will impose (implicitly or explicitly) constraints or limitations on the data placed within the structure. Managing large quantities of structured and unstructured data is a primary function of information systems. Data models describe structured data for storage in data management systems such as relational databases. They typically do not describe unstructured data, such as word processing documents, email messages, pictures, digital audio, and video. (Reference : Wikipedia) What is surrogate key? Surrogate key is a substitution for the natural primary key. It is just a unique identifier or number for each row that can be used for the primary key to the table. The only requirement for a surrogate primary key is that it is unique for each row in the table. It is useful because the natural primary key can change and this makes updates more difficult.Surrogated keys are always integer or numeric. What is Data Mart? A data mart (DM) is a specialized version of a data warehouse (DW). Like data warehouses, data marts contain a snapshot of operational data that helps business people to strategize based on analyses of past trends and experiences. The key difference is that the creation of a data mart is predicated on a specific, predefined need for a certain grouping and configuration of select data. A data mart configuration emphasizes easy access to relevant information (Reference : Wiki). Data Marts are designed to help manager make strategic decisions about their business. What is the difference between OLAP and data warehouse? Datawarehouse is the place where the data is stored for analyzing where as OLAP is the process of analyzing the data,managing aggregations, partitioning information into cubes for in depth visualization. What is a Cube and Linked Cube with reference to data warehouse? Cubes are logical representation of multidimensional data.The edge of the cube contains dimension members and the body of the cube contains data values. The linking in cube ensures that the data in the cubes remain consistent. What is junk dimension? What is a Cube and Linked Cube with reference to data warehouse? What is the difference between OLAP and data warehouse? What is Data Mart? What is surrogate key? What is Data Mart? What is surrogate key? Why is Data Modeling Important? What is degenerate dimension table? What is Difference between ER Modeling and Dimensional Modeling? Differences between star and snowflake schema? What Snow Flake Schema? What is a Star Schema? What is BUS Schema? What is hybrid slowly changing dimension? What are slowly changing dimensions (SCD)? what is project architecture in datastage What is denial of service attack in distributed system ? What is meta data? Explain about the integrated dataware house stage? State two major differences between a dataware house and operational dataware house? What are the general stages of use of dataware house? What do you think about the future of data warehousing? State some of the disadvantages of data ware houses?