New 8.3 Install Design Advice (Server 2008 vs 2005, etc)

[JeffNielson]

I am looking at an inexpensive Cognos BI solution to get things started in our small business.  We have very few users (<3) and gobs of data, though I can't really quantify it since it isn't organized yet. My questions are bolded.  Our plan so far:

Cognos 8.3 on Windows Server 2003 (1: 8.3 won't run on 2008 with IIS 7, right?)
SQL Server 2008 on Windows 2008 Server Web Edition as our database. (2: 8.3 connects fine to SQL server 2008 right

3: Can I use SQL Server Workgroup (no OLAP)?  It is much cheaper. 
4: Doesn't COGNOS 8.3 licensing include an OLAP server?
5: Is SQL server 2008's OLAP server better?


Thanks guys.

[kmuller]

If you want inexpensive, Cognos is not the way to go.

Look at a open source like Pantaho.

Also, Cognos does work on IE 7 (8v2, 8v3, and 8v4).

[geo120978]

Cognos works with SQL 2008 DB engine and also works with IIS 7 (if you configure IIS 7 to run in v6 mode - legacy).
In my opinion, MS OLAP is way better than Cognos and also easier to implement.
I understand you bought some SBS Premium, since you ask about Workgroup Edition, right ?
SQL 2005 Standard is below 1500 EUR anywhere you go to buy, and gives you OLAP + Reporting Services, you can integrate that inside the Sharepoint frame that comes with SBS or you can publish directly the reports through IIS...
Or you can try freeware OLAP (though it might be difficult) or you can try relational BI (such as Qlikview, ReportPortal etc), but you might need to optimize the relational reporting model (indexes, partitions etc).