MSBI Interview Questions & Answers for Fresher, Experienced

Introduction

BI or business intelligence techniques are used to transform data into information that can help in decision making. Through BI, raw data is transformed into meaningful and useful information that can be used for the business analysis process. If we talk about MSBI or Microsoft business tools then the tools that are provided by Microsoft can be used to transform information and they are known as MSBI tools. At the time, when SQL Server was re-released in 2012, it was renamed as SQL Server Data Tools. This article will cover all of the latest interview questions that can be asked to any MSBI professional.The MSBI developer interview questions may help you to understand what exactly is asked in the interview. The MSBI question series has been prepared by our expert team. Let us discuss each of them one by one to help you in your next interview and crack the interview with these MSBI real time interview questions and answer them smartly.

MSBI Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Q1). Define SSIS and how is it related to SQL Server?

SSIS or SQL Server Integration Service is SQL Server component that is used to perform a number of operations that may be data migration or ETL types of operations. In MSBI process, SSIS is basically a component that is used by the SQL Server. SSIS platform is used for workflow integration and applications. In this platform, OLAP and OLTP are quite faster that can be used for data transformation, extraction, and loading. This SSIS tool can also be used to automate maintenance process of multidimensional datasets and SQL Server databases.

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Q2). Name the tools that are associated with SSIS.

We use several tools for SSIS like BIDS or business intelligence development studio and SSMS or SQL Server Management Studio tool to manage the development of SSIS projects. Some of the tools that are mostly used listed below:

Q3). Define Control Flow in MSBI tools?

Control flow consists of more than one container and tasks that are executed along with the package execution. We can control the order of execution for containers and tasks of package control flow and for this, we prefer precedence constraints through which we can connect tasks and containers of a package. Even subset of any container and task can also be regrouped repeatedly as a unit. SSIS or SQL Server Integration Service basically provides three types of containers that can provide package structures, tasks to provide functionality and precedence constraints to connect executable containers and tasks.

Q4). Explain data flow in SSIS.

Data flow involves sources of data along with its destination to load and extract data, a transformation that can extend and modify data along with paths that can link sources, transformation, and destinations. Data flow engine is an executable process of SSIS that can create, order, and run data flow. For each data flow task, a separate data flow engine is opened in the package. Hence, we can say that in case of data flow data source, transformation, and data destinations are three important categories.

Q5). Explain error handling in SSIS.

In SSIS, data flow execution error may occur while fetching data from the source or in case of transformation or loading data to the destination. Here, the reason for the errors is unexpected data values while performing these operations.

Typically following types of errors can occur in SSIS:

• Data Connection Error: When connection manager cannot be initialized, this type of error occurs. These errors can occur at data source and destination both as it is basically associated with the connection string and both of them use connection string for establishing a connection.
• Data Transformation Error: When data is transformed over data pipeline, this type of error can occur. Secondly, when data flows from source to destination then this error occurs.
• Expression Evaluation Error: If any of the runtime expression execution fails then this error occurs.

Q6). Enlist and explain SSIS transformation and their purpose.

SSIS provides the following transformations as discussed below:

• AUDIT: It is used to add task and package level metadata like package name, machine name, execution instance or package ID.
• Aggregate: Through this aggregate function is applied to the record set and new output from these aggregated values is produced
• Conditional Split: Separate input values are distributed among separate output pipelines as per the Boolean value of the expression that is configured for each output
• Data conversion: It is used to convert column data types from one form to another
• Character Map: It can perform column level string operations like to change data from lower case to upper case
• Data Mining Query: It is used to perform data mining queries against managing controls and analysis services
• Fuzzy LookUp: Is used to match the pattern on the basis of Fuzzy Logic
• Merge: It can merge two sorted datasets into a single data asset or data flow
• Multicast: Is used to send a copy of supplied data source to multiple destinations.

Q7). How can an SSIS package be deployed?

There is a Deployment Manifest File that is provided by SSIS Build. This manifest file is run to perform deployment either onto file system or to SQL Server. SQL Server deployment is quite faster and secure than file system deployment. So, packages can be imported from SQL Server, File System or SSMS.

Q8). How can you log into SSIS execution?

When a run-time event occurs then log entries are being written through SSIS logging features. This is not enabled by default. A diverse set of log providers are supported by SSIS and user can also create custom log provider. Here log entries are written to text files, SQL Server, SQL Server Profiler or XML Files. Logs are usually configured at the package level as they are associated with packages. Task and containers can be enabled for logging.

MSBI Interview Questions and Answers for Experienced

The below section is meant for MSBI interview questions for 3 years experience

Q9). What is variable and the scope of variables?

The value that can be used by SSIS package containers, tasks, and event handlers at runtime are stored in the variables of SSIS package. Script task and script components are used by these variables. Moreover, precedence constraints can be used to sequence tasks and containers into a workflow. Usually, two types of variables are used by these integration services, one is user-defined variables and other is system variables. User-defined variables are basically defined by the package developers, while system variables are defined by the integration services. The user can define and use as many as user-defined variables, while there is only a certain number of system variables that can be used and they cannot be created.

Q10). Name any five perform counters for SSIS and what value they provide? 

• SQL Server: SSIS Service
• BLOB bytes read
• Buffer Memory
• Flat buffer memory
• Flat Buffer in use

Q11). What is query parameter in SSRS?

Query parameters are included in SQL script data sources. They begin with the symbol @.

Q12). What is subreport and how are they created?

Subreport is just like other reports that can be termed in main reports and even generated through that as well. Main report parameters can be inherited to subreports and a report can be created in this way.

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Q13). Define UDM or Unified Dimensional Model and its significance in SAAS.

UDM or unified dimensional model provides a bridge between data sources and user and is built with the help of one or more data sources. End user issues queries through various client tools by using UDM, these client tools may be Microsoft Excel. Following benefits are offered by UDM:

• The user model is enriched greatly.
• Even for huge data volumes, it can provide high-performance queries and can support interactive analysis too.
• Business rules can be captured in the model and they usually support the richer analysis.

Q14). Explain the need for SAAS component.

With the following facts, you will quickly understand the need for SAAS components -

• SSAS in an interactive and easy to use component,
• Troubleshooting and faster analysis can be performed,
• A data warehouse can be easily managed and created,
• Efficient security principles can be applied,
• Analysis and forecast operations can be performed by analysis services.

Q15). Explain two-tier SSAS architecture?

• Both client and server components are used to provide data mining functionality for BI applications and to supply OLAP

• The client can use analytics services by using XMLA protocol to receive a response, issue commands, and can be exposed as a web service

• The server component is used as Microsoft Windows service and each analysis service implement as a separate instance of windows service.

Q16). What are the SSAS components?

Following components are SSAS components:

• Dimensional database components can be used in OLAP
• Drilling is the process to explore data details
• Slicing means to place data in rows and columns
• Pivoting means to switch data categories between rows and columns

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Conclusion

Above listed are the frequently asked MSBI interview questions and learn answering them will help you land your job. There are many other questions that can be asked by professionals. MSBI of Microsoft business intelligence tools is really helpful for analyzing business reports. Data analysis can be made easier and quite convenient for these tools. These business analysis tools can be used by business owners and the user will also benefit  from these tools. You can also learn about MSBI Certification & Learning Path. To know more about these tools, you should join certification programs at JanBask training today for the right assistance and explore your chances of getting hired by top MNCs.