LookUpCube Function MDX Query

Performance Test
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Home Blogs DustinRyan LookUpCube Function MDX Query Performance Test

LookUpCube Function MDX Query Performance Test
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Comments (4)

posted 7/7/2010 by DustinRyan - Views: [9336]

In my previous blog post, I mentioned that there was a performance cost for using the LookUpCube
function. Well recently a coworker asked me just home much of a performance hit was the
LookUpCube function going to cause. So I decided to conduct a test. I wrote two simple MDX
queries (one using the LookUpCube function and one not), then executed the queries (6 times each: 3
w/ cold cache and 3 w/ warm cache) while running SQL Server Profiler and compared the duration
times of the query.
Print
Page 1 of 6 LookUpCube Function MDX Query Performance Test
4/1/2014 http://www.bidn.com/blogs/DustinRyan/ssis/814/lookupcube-function-mdx-query-performa...

Here are the two queries:
With the LookUpCube function:
WITH MEMBER [Measures].[Lookup Internet Order Count] AS
LOOKUPCUBE("Mined Customers",
"([Measures].[Internet Order Count], [Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country].&[" + [Customer].[Customer Geography].CurrentMember.Name + "])")
SELECT [Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country] on COLUMNS,
{[Measures].[Internet Sales Amount], [Measures].[Lookup Internet Order Count]} ON ROWS
FROM [ADVENTURE WORKS]
Without the LookUpCube function:
SELECT [Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country] on COLUMNS,
{[Measures].[Internet Sales Amount], [Measures].[Internet Order Count]} ON ROWS
FROM [ADVENTURE WORKS]
And here are the results:
Cold Cache:
LookUpCube Function: 17ms, 14ms, 15ms Average: 15.33 ms
No LookUpCube Function: 12ms, 12ms, 14ms Average: 12.67 ms
Warm Cache:
LookUpCube Function: 15ms, 14ms, 15ms Average: 14.67 ms
No LookUpCube Function: 13ms, 12ms, 12ms Average: 12.33 ms
As you can see, the query without the LookUpCube function performed significantly faster. With a
cold cache, the query without the LookUpCube function was more than 17% faster and with a warm
cache, the query without the LookUpCube function was almsot 16% faster.
I think these results speak volumes, especially considering the fact that the queries were very simple.
Imagine if you were using the LookUpCube function in a calculated measure that was performing
some more complex calculations. As I said before in my previous post, if you are using the
LookUpCube function in a very simple report with a simple query, you'll probably be fine. But if you
are using the LookUpCube function in a calculated measure in a cube that gets a lot of traffic, you
should start thinking about redesigning your solution.
Page 2 of 6 LookUpCube Function MDX Query Performance Test
4/1/2014 http://www.bidn.com/blogs/DustinRyan/ssis/814/lookupcube-function-mdx-query-performa...
I hope someone found this information useful. Please feel free to post any comments or questions.
Thanks!
tags : LookUpCube Function, MDX query performance
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Comments (4)
mikedavis said:
Good post
7/7/2010

Comment
furmangg said:
Dustin-
Your test is only retrieving a couple of cells, so it's not surprising that the times aren't that different.
However, compare the difference on the following queries, and you'll see the drastic hit to
performance that LookupCube makes. The first query was still running after 5 minutes, whereas the
second query completed in 9 seconds.
WITH MEMBER [Measures].[Lookup Internet Order Count] AS
LOOKUPCUBE("Mined Customers",
"([Measures].[Internet Order Count], [Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country].&[" + [Customer].
[Customer Geography].CurrentMember.Name + "])")
SELECT NON EMPTY [Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country].Members
* [Date].[Date].[Date].Members
* [Product].[Product].[Product].Members
on COLUMNS,
{[Measures].[Internet Sales Amount], [Measures].[Lookup Internet Order Count]} ON ROWS
FROM [ADVENTURE WORKS]
SELECT NON EMPTY [Customer].[Customer Geography].[Country].Members
* [Date].[Date].[Date].Members
Page 3 of 6 LookUpCube Function MDX Query Performance Test
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* [Product].[Product].[Product].Members
on COLUMNS,
{[Measures].[Internet Sales Amount], [Measures].[Internet Order Count]} ON ROWS
FROM [ADVENTURE WORKS]
7/8/2010

Comment
dustinryan said:
Well like I said, a near 20% speed increase in such a simple query is significant and like I also said, a
more complex query would further increase the performance hit. Good example.
7/8/2010

Comment
jason143 said:
Thanks for bringing this topic up Dustin, I always knew there was going to be a performance hit but
usually had to blabber something when someone asked how much. I guess your example along with
Greg's explanation answers this for me :)
7/12/2010

Comment
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