Reference Architecture

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Fast Track gives you step-by-step instructions to build a high performing data warehouse solution on industry hardware.

  • Fast Track for SQL Server 2012

    Optimal for medium to large data warehouses, SQL Server 2012 Fast Track is a reference architecture (RA) solution that gives you a step-by-step guide to build a data warehouse using SQL Server 2012 Enterprise, combined with well-tuned hardware.

    Through extensive co-engineering and testing, Microsoft supports qualified partners in the development and validation of data warehouse reference architectures that achieve high performance at a cost-effective price. Customers are delivered the most balanced configuration of CPU, IO, and storage resources.

    What's New in SQL Server 2012 Fast Track

    • Measured workload throughputs are 2X faster.
    • 10-100X Faster on single queries due to xVelocity in-memory technologies.
    • Optimized on the latest industry standard hardware.
    • All features of SQL Server 2012.

    Key Capabilities

    • Use a Reference Architecture to Build An Optimal Warehouse

      Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Fast Track is a reference architecture data warehouse solution giving you a step-by-step guide to build a balanced hardware configuration and the exact software setup.

      • Step-by-step instructions on what hardware to buy and how to put the server together.
      • Setup instructions on installing the software and all the specific settings to configure.
      • Pre-certified by Microsoft and industry hardware partners for the most optimal hardware and software configuration.

    • Optimized configuration for the latest hardware

      Gain access to the latest generation of servers, storage and cutting edge features of SQL Server 2012, utilizing hardware partners to enable organizations to buy and reuse existing industry standard hardware.

      Integrate Jointly-Designed and Tuned Hardware
      • Optimized software that is preconfigured and pre-tuned with industry hardware.
      • Utilize pre-tested best practices to build hardware (CPU, IO, storage).
      Rely on industry standard, tier-1 SQL databases and industry hardware
      • Avoid vendor lock-in by picking industry hardware standards.
      • Purchase hardware from your existing IT standards list.
      • Leverage large ecosystem of skillset.
      • Validated on industry standard hardware: HP, Dell, EMC2, Cisco, IBM, XIO, Bull, and HDS.

    • Includes All Capabilities of SQL Server 2012

      Fast Track uses full licenses of SQL Server 2012 with a pre-certified hardware configuration. You are not charged for anything more than the normal software and hardware prices.

      • xVelocity memory-optimized ColumnStore index for a quantum reduction in data warehouse queries times.
      • Partition large tables 15K to apply maintenance operations on a partition-by-partition basis.
      • Includes ability to extract, transform, load, cleanse, and manage data out-of-the-box.
      • Major components of an integrated BI solution out-of-the-box.

    • Get Up and Running Quickly

      Pre-validated Reference Architectures eliminate complex hardware and software balancing and take the guesswork out of system configuration. Steps to deploy a RA are as follows:

      • Step 1: Read the Fast Track Reference Guide.
      • Step 2: Understand the different Fast Track offerings by each Hardware partner.
      • Step 3: Purchase SQL Server 2012 and the needed hardware from partners.
      • Step 4: Follow Reference Architecture to build system (or leverage Microsoft partners).

    Related Solutions

    Reference Guides

    "The value of SQL Server Fast Track Data Warehouse is that it’s not a sales document—it’s knowledge transfer that let us do in six months what would have taken years with another solution."

    Fariba Anderson
    Vice President of Lottery IT, Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation

    xVelocity Speeds Up Data Warehousing

    The xVelocity memory-optimized columnstore index enables you to achieve breakthrough speedups for common data warehouse queries.

    Resources