The document describes how MicroStrategy 9 technology can consolidate multiple levels of business intelligence (BI) initiatives. It discusses how MicroStrategy 9 extends the performance, scalability, and efficiency of enterprise BI through features like in-memory processing and 64-bit architectures. It also explains how MicroStrategy 9 enables rapid deployment of departmental BI applications and provides a smooth migration path from departmental to enterprise BI.

3. Table of Contents
The MicroStrategy Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Extending the Performance, Scalability, & Efficiency of Enterprise BI . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Enabling Rapid Deployment of Departmental BI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Supporting Smooth Migration from Departmental Islands
of BI to Enterprise BI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
MicroStrategy Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

4. The MicroStrategy Architecture
MicroStrategy Technology is Uniquely Capable of Supporting Enterprise BI
9 ™
ROLAP
and Interactivity
High Analytics
RELATIONAL OLAP (ROLAP)
Enterprise-caliber Qualities
• Highest Data Scalability
• Highest User Scalability
Relational OLAP All reports and dashboards are created
using the single logical model of business
• Highest Performance at Scale
MOLAP (ROLAP)
Products • Sophisticated Analytics
9 ™
• Lowest Cost to Operate and
Maintain (lowest TCO)
ROLAP metadata models the entire relational
Virtual database as a single logical multi-dimensional
• Very Rapid Report Creation
Terabyte Cube model of the business (virtual terabyte cube)
• Superior End User Self-service
ROLAP SQL Engine
and Interactivity
• Ideal for Data Warehousing
Low Analytics
Relational Reporting Products
All popular relational schema are supported:
Star, Snowflake, Sparse Aggregation, Partitioned
Terabyte
Database
Low User High User
and Data Scale and Data Scale
MicroStrategy Technology is Based on a Relational OLAP (ROLAP) ROLAP is the Core of MicroStrategy Technology
Architecture that Uniquely Provides Both High Scalability and High Interactivity ROLAP is based on a virtual cube that represents the entire relational database . The
MicroStrategy’s ROLAP architecture provides both high scalability as well as high ROLAP virtual cubes provide dynamic investigative drilling that is typical of cube models,
interactivity . Other BI architectures can provide one or the other, but not both . Building but because the ROLAP cube is virtual, it does not suffer from the severe size limitations
on the ROLAP architecture for the past 15 years, MicroStrategy technology is now well and administrative burdens of physical multi-dimensional MOLAP cubes .
recognized for other enterprise-caliber characteristics, including high performance,
sophisticated analytics, low cost of ownership, rapid report creation, and superior end
user self-service .
4

5. The MicroStrategy Architecture
• Extends the Performance, Scalability, and Efficiency of Enterprise BI
• Enables Rapid Deployment of Departmental BI Applications
• Provides a Smooth Migration from Islands of Departmental BI into a
Cohesive Enterprise Framework
MicroStrategy 9 is breakthrough technology that allows companies to support all levels of
BI initiatives, and helps companies to consolidate islands of BI gradually into a cohesive
enterprise BI framework.
Enterprises of all types are experiencing a groundswell of excitement and activity around MicroStrategy 9 is breakthrough technology that, for the first time, allows companies
the availability of actionable information to support their business processes . With the to support all three levels of BI with one technology . MicroStrategy 9 builds on
meteoric increase in data that organizations routinely capture, enterprises can now MicroStrategy’s unique strength at the high-end of BI to extend the boundaries of
make that data accessible and useful by tapping into the power of business intelligence performance, scalability, and efficiency of enterprise BI . At the same time, MicroStrategy
(BI) technologies . Today, business intelligence systems are emerging in every corner of 9 brings that same enterprise-caliber BI technology easily within reach of smaller
the enterprise, ranging from large scale enterprise BI environments that are deployed departmental and workgroup BI initiatives . Just as importantly, MicroStrategy 9 provides
to thousands of people, to smaller departmental BI systems and even workgroup BI a uniquely smooth migration path for islands of workgroup and departmental BI
applications that support only a few people . applications to merge into a cohesive and consistent enterprise-wide framework .
5

6. Extending the Performance, Scalability, & Efficiency of Enterprise BI
In-memory ROLAP is a Seamless Extension of the ROLAP Architecture
BEFORE AFTER
Adding In-memory ROLAP Improves User
Response TIme
Performance Profile Performance Profile
The performance profile for a typical ROLAP Typical ROLAP Operation In-memory ROLAP Operation
system shown on the left presents two clusters of
performance: one for the queries that are directed
Number of Reports
Number of Reports
ROLAP
to the database and one for the queries directed DB Queries
In-memory
to cache . The performance profile for In-memory ROLAP
Queries
ROLAP ROLAP
ROLAP operation on the right shows the addition of a ROLAP
Cache DB Queries Cache
performance cluster for queries that are directed to the
in-memory databases from queries that were previously
directed to the disk-based database .
User Response Time User Response Time
9 ™
ROLAP Cube
In-memory ROLAP
Architecture Architecture
In-memory ROLAP is an Architectural Extension
of ROLAP in which Physical ROLAP Cubes Reside
Global In-memory within the Global Virtual Cube
Physical In-memory
Virtual Cube
ROLAP Cubes In-memory ROLAP creates ROLAP Cubes that reside
ROLAP SQL Engine ROLAP SQL Engine
in the memory of the Intelligence Server . The ROLAP
Cubes contain selected components of warehouse
data and fit seamlessly into the global virtual cube .
Terabyte Terabyte
Terabyte
Database Database
Database
6

7. Extending the Performance, Scalability, & Efficiency of Enterprise BI
In-memory ROLAP Shifts Processing from the Database Engines
BEFORE AFTER
Same Report
In-memory ROLAP Can Smooth Database
Run many times by
many people
Usage
In-memory ROLAP Cubes can offload the most
Many Similar Reports
time-consuming and processor-consuming
Overlapping content in
different reports
queries from the database and serve them to the
users much more quickly, directly from memory .
Complex Queries
Span many attributes The result is faster average query time and a
and metrics
much more evenly utilized database system .
Complex Queries
Span multiple
databases
BEFORE AFTER
Average User Average User
Wait Time (sec) Wait Time (sec)
160 160
Wait Time
In-memory ROLAP Improves User Wait Time and Database Database
80 80
Workload Workload
Frees Up Database Capacity
MicroStrategy 9 In-memory ROLAP can shift database 40 40
processing to off-hours, freeing up database capacity 100% 100%
20 20
during peak interactive hours and improving user ETL ETL
Window Window
response time . 10 10
Wait Time
5 5
0% 0 0% 0
0:00a 3:00a 6:00a 9:00a Noon 3:00p 6:00p 9:00p 12:00a 0:00a 3:00a 6:00a 9:00a Noon 3:00p 6:00p 9:00p 12:00a
7

8. Extending the Performance, Scalability, & Efficiency of Enterprise BI
MicroStrategy 9 Web Architecture Can Support Thousands of Users
BEFORE AFTER
AJAX Operation Extreme AJAX Operation
32-bit JVM Operation 64-bit JVM Operation
Web Browsers Web Browsers
Web Browsers Web Browsers
Processing Workload
Processing Workload
Processing Workload
Processing Workload
Processing Workload
Processing Workload
Processing Workload
Processing Workload
Shifts from Shared
Web Server to
Workstation Browsers
64-bit Memory Space
Supports More Concurrent Users
32-bit JVM 64-bit JVM 32-bit JVM 64-bit JVM
with Larger Reports
Web Server Web Server Web Server Web Server
The Expanded Memory Available in 64-bit JVMs Allows MicroStrategy 9 to Extreme AJAX Coding Delivers Greater Responsiveness
Support More Concurrent Users with Larger Reports MicroStrategy 9 employs new Extreme AJAX coding disciplines within its Web
MicroStrategy 9 supports 64-bit Java Virtual Machines (JVMs), which offer much greater architecture . Extreme AJAX shifts processing from the shared Web servers to the
memory space . Vastly increased memory space allows each Web server to support many individual Web browsers, thus spreading the processing workload and providing the
more concurrent user sessions and larger reports . most responsive user experience while still preserving a true zero-footprint
Web interface .
8

9. Extending the Performance, Scalability, & Efficiency of Enterprise BI
MicroStrategy 9 Delivers Extensive Features for Business User Self-service
Drill Anywhere Report Creation
Self-service Report Design
ROLAP Drill Anywhere Allows Saving New Report Designs
ROLAP Prompting Allows
Users to “Surf” to Entirely Lets All Users Share
Users to “Land” Somewhere
New Combinations of Data New Information
in the Database
Attribute
2 Format
Attribute
SINGLE SINGLE
Attribute Category:
PAGE-BY: Books
REPORT REPORT
Attribute
DEFINITION DEFINITION
Subcategory Metrics Revenue Profit Cost
Attribute
Art & Architecture $859,358 $201,412 $857,945
Drag-and-Drop Run
Metric Business $589,246 $132,117 $457,129
COLUMNS
Literature $295,385 $59,491 $235,894
Metric
Books - Miscellaneous $366,250 $87,148 $299,102
1 3
Metric
Science & Technology $1,375,727 $310,489 $1,065,238
ROWS
Metric $538,269 $120,039 $418,230
Sports & Health
Shared Reports
$4,024,235 $890,696 $3,133,539
Total
Metric
My Reports
Saving New
Report Designs
MicroStrategy 9’s ROLAP Capability Allows Users to “Surf” Interactively
Business People Can Easily Assemble Reports from Metadata Building Blocks
Throughout the Entire Data Warehouse
The MicroStrategy 9 Web interface lets business users easily create any report by
Using ROLAP core features of prompting and drill anywhere, users can start from
dragging and dropping metadata building blocks (attributes and metrics) onto a
a single report design and create innumerable new combinations of data simply by
template . Formatting is easy using the intuitive Office-like formatting controls .
clicking on the report . These new combinations of data can be saved as new report
MicroStrategy’s powerful SQL engine can generate whatever SQL is necessary to get the
designs and shared with others to be run in the future . The MicroStrategy 9 security
data for the users’ new report designs .
system ensures that all users only see the data that they are allowed to see regardless of
who created the report .
9

10. Extending the Performance, Scalability, & Efficiency of Enterprise BI
MicroStrategy 9 Dynamic Dashboards Can Consolidate the Information from Dozens
of Individual Reports
Consolidate Information from Dozens of Individual Reports
MicroStrategy 9 Dynamic Dashboards Can Consolidate the Information from
CATEGORY PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD Select Region
Select Category Books Northeast
Books in Northeast
Dozens of Individual Reports
KPIs - 2006 Alerts
Revenue $4,078 This report shows revenue and profit data for a particular product category. It includes subcategory-level
Revenue LY $5,015 data as well as supplier data.
Profit Margin 26.7%
Alert: Forecasted revenue is $ 4,363 vs. revenue of $4,078 -- 6.5% under forecast.
Sell-through 24.3%
MicroStrategy 9 Dynamic Dashboards employ on-screen user controls called “selector
Revenue Contribution by Subcategory Detailed Table 2006 Monthly Revenue and Profit Trends Detailed Table
Art & $700
25.0%
Architecture
$600
25.1%
Business
$500
20.3%
Literature $400
$300
controls” that allow users to interactively flip through many different views of data all
Books -
3.3%
Miscellaneous
$200
Science &
17.2% $100
Technology
$0
Sports &
9.1% Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Health
Revenue Profit
Click on any revenue bar to view the Monthly Revenue and Profit
Trends for that Subcategory.
on a single dashboard page . This allows dashboard designers to embed the equivalent
Subcategory Performance Graph Summary Supplier Analysis Graph Summary
Profit End on Profit Supplier
Subcategory Supplier
Revenue Profit Margin hand Revenue Profit Margin Share
McGraw Hill $1,253 $338 26.98% 19.2%
Art & Architecture $918 $261 28.43% 1,980
Bantam Books $1,011 $284 28.09% 15.5%
Business $1,024 $275 26.86% 2,558
John Wiley & Sons $892 $252 28.25% 13.7%
Literature $826 $201 24.33% 3,328
of dozens of individual reports within the screen real estate of a single dashboard .
Warner Books $810 $210 25.93% 12.4%
Books -
$28 $7 25.00% 284
Miscellaneous Simon & Schuster $744 $195 26.21% 11.4%
Science & Scribner $644 $150 23.29% 9.9%
$439 $120 27.33% 857
Technology Perigee $438 $118 26.94% 6.7%
Sports & Health $371 $97 26.15% 1,341 Prentice Hall $376 $101 26.86% 5.8%
Total $3,606 $961 26.65% 10,348 Vintage Books $358 $94 26.26% 5.5%
A Dozen or More Reports Single Dynamic Dashboard
Executed Sequentially and Synchronized Views of Data with
Repeatedly by the User On-dashboard Selector Controls
PRODUCT PERFORMANCE
Country Category
USA Electronics
Revenue Profit Profit Margin # Customers Transactions Per Customer
Dynamic Dashboards Contain Selector Controls that Allow Users
Revenue Performance Product Revenue
Monthly Quarterly Monthly Quarterly
to Flip Through Many Different Views of the Data
Intuitive selector controls
Audio Equipment
$800K $70K
MicroStrategy Dynamic Dashboards support a wide range of selector
$700K $60K
Cameras
placed directly on the
$600K $50K
$500K $40K
Video Equipment
controls from radio buttons, to check boxes, drop-down boxes, time $400K $30K
dashboard let users flip
$300K $20K
TV’s
$200K $10K
through many different
sliders, and buttons . All of these selector controls are exposed directly on Computers
$100K $0K
07
07 07 07 07 07 07 07 07
M7
07
Fe 7
pr
$0K ay un Jul ug ep ct ov ec
0
0
b
ar
n
A J
M ON
S
A D
Electronics -
Ja
views of the data.
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
7
l0
ay
ug
ov
p
ec
b
ar
n
n
pr
ct
the dashboards for easy access by users and selector controls are added
Miscellaneous
Ju
Se
Fe
Ju
Ja
M
O
Audio Equipment Cameras TV’s
A
M
D
N
A
Revenue Revenue Revenue
to dashboards using just drag-and-drop actions – no programming Regional Revenue Performance Monthly Quarterly
required .
$200K
Northwest
$160K
Northeast
$120K
West
$80K
Central
$40K
Southeast
$0K
Mid-Atlantic
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
07
7
l0
ay
ug
ov
p
ec
b
ar
n
n
pr
ct
South
Ju
Se
Fe
Ju
Ja
M
O
A
M
D
N
A
Southwest Mid-Atlantic Revenue
10