Understanding data sources
In order to get started with the development of a cube, a connection has to be done to the underlying data source. SQL Server Data Tools contains a small wizard that will help users to create the correct type of connection.
To connect to the source, you need to specify the provider that should be used as well as the connection string needed to connect to the source. Analysis Services can be used against several different databases apart from SQL Server; in fact, it is one of the most common OLAP engines used with databases such as Oracle and DB2. To connect to a non-Microsoft database, you often need to install special drivers to be able to connect to the database.
Tip
Description of the supported databases and the necessary drivers is available at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175608.aspx.
When connecting to a Microsoft SQL Server database, there are several options available out of the box. By default, the providers are installed on a Windows system....
