Metadata repository
Encyclopedia
A Metadata repository is a database created to gather, store, and distribute contextual information about business data, when documented it is known as metadata
. This contextual information of business data include meaning and content, policies that govern, technical attributes, specifications that transform, and programs that manipulate.
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in that they only store metadata. The metadata repository is different from a metadata registry
in that a repository provides response times suitable for browsing and reporting, while registries provides response times suitable for service virtualization.
for creating a database, a logical meta model can help identify the metadata requirements for business data. The metadata repository will be centralized, decentralized, or distributed.
, or an Object-oriented design.
*Troux Technologies
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
. This contextual information of business data include meaning and content, policies that govern, technical attributes, specifications that transform, and programs that manipulate.
Definition
The metadata repository is responsible for physically storing and cataloging metadata. The metadata that is stored should be generic, integrated, current, and historical. Generic for a metadata repository means that the meta model should store the metadata by generic terms instead of storing it by an applications-specific defined way, so that if your data base standard changes from one product to another the physical meta model of the metadata repository would not need to change. Integration of the metadata repository allows all entities of the enterprise business to view all metadata subject areas. The metadata repository should also be designed so that current and historical metadata both can be accessed. Metadata repositories use to be referred to as a data dictionaryData dictionary
A data dictionary, or metadata repository, as defined in the IBM Dictionary of Computing, is a "centralized repository of information about data such as meaning, relationships to other data, origin, usage, and format." The term may have one of several closely related meanings pertaining to...
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Repository vs. Registry
A metadata repository is similar to a metadata registryMetadata registry
A metadata registry is a central location in an organization where metadata definitions are stored and maintained in a controlled method.-Use of Metadata Registries:...
in that they only store metadata. The metadata repository is different from a metadata registry
Metadata registry
A metadata registry is a central location in an organization where metadata definitions are stored and maintained in a controlled method.-Use of Metadata Registries:...
in that a repository provides response times suitable for browsing and reporting, while registries provides response times suitable for service virtualization.
Reason for use
Each database management system (DBMS) and database tools have their own language for the metadata components within. Database applications already have their own repositories or registries that are expected to provide all of the necessary functionality to access the data stored within. Vendors do not want other companies to be capable of easily migrating data away from their products and into competitors products, so they are proprietary with the way the handle metadata . CASE tools, DBMS dictionaries, ETL tools, data-cleansing tools, OLAP tools, and data mining tools all handle and store metadata differently. Only a metadata repository can be designed to store the metadata components from all of these tools.Design
Metadata repositories should store metadata in four classifications: ownership, descriptive characteristics, rules and policies, and physical characteristics. Ownership, showing the data owner and the application owner. The descriptive characteristics, define the names, types and lengths, and definitions describing business data or business processes. Rules and policies, will define security, data cleanliness, timelines for data, and relationships. Physical characteristics define the origin or source, and physical location.. Like building a logical data modelLogical data model
A logical data model in systems engineering is a representation of an organization's data, organized in terms of entities and relationships and is independent of any particular data management technology.- Overview :...
for creating a database, a logical meta model can help identify the metadata requirements for business data. The metadata repository will be centralized, decentralized, or distributed.
Centralized/Decentralized/Distributed
- A centralized metadata repository is the easiest to implement because there is only one database A centralized design means that there is one database for the metadata repository that stores metadata for all applications business wide. A centralized metadata repository has the same advantages and disadvantages of a centralized databaseCentralized databaseA Centralized database is a database located and maintained in one location, unlike a distributed database. One main advantage is that all data is located in one place. The disadvantage is that bottlenecks may occur....
. Easier to manage because all the data is in one database, but the disadvantage is that bottlenecks may occur. - A decentralized metadata repository stores metadata in multiple databases, either separated by location and or departments of the business. This makes management of the repository more involved than a centralized metadata repository, but the advantage is that the metadata can be broken down into individual departments.
- A distributed metadata repository uses a decentralized method, but unlike a decentralized metadata repository the metadata remains in its original application. An XMLXMLExtensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
gateway is created that acts as a directory for accessing the metadata within each different application. The advantages and disadvantages for a distributed metadata repository mirror that of a distributed database.
Entity-Relationship/Object-Oriented
Metadata repositories can be designed as either a Entity-relationship modelEntity-relationship model
In software engineering, an entity-relationship model is an abstract and conceptual representation of data. Entity-relationship modeling is a database modeling method, used to produce a type of conceptual schema or semantic data model of a system, often a relational database, and its requirements...
, or an Object-oriented design.
Metadata Repository Solutions
If you choose not to build your own Metadata repository here are some vendors who can.- ASGASGASG may refer to:*ASG *ASG Software Solutions*Abstract semantic graph*Abu Sayyaf Group*Adaptive Services Grid*Airsoft gun*All Saints Greek Orthodox Grammar School, or All Saints Grammar*All-star game*Alsager railway station's national rail code...
- Logic Library
- BEA SystemsBEA SystemsBEA Systems, Inc. specialized in enterprise infrastructure software products known as "middleware", which connect software applications to databases and was acquired by Oracle Corporation on April 29, 2008.- History :...
- CA
- MetaMatrixMetaMatrixMetaMatrix is an U.S.-based technology company that created the first true Enterprise Information Integration software product to deliver data services for service-oriented architectures. Founded in 1998 as Quadrian and later renamed, MetaMatrix has development offices in St...
*Troux Technologies
Troux Technologies
Troux Technologies is a software vendor that provides tools and services in the areas of Enterprise Architecture and Strategic Planning for large enterprises. Troux is based in Austin, Texas with offices in Washington D.C. & London. Troux was founded by Gerald H...
See also
- MetadataMetadataThe term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
- Metadata registryMetadata registryA metadata registry is a central location in an organization where metadata definitions are stored and maintained in a controlled method.-Use of Metadata Registries:...
- Metadata standardsMetadata standardsMetadata standards are requirements which are intended to establish a common understanding of the meaning or semantics of the data, to ensure correct and proper use and interpretation of the data by its owners and users...
- ISO/IEC 11179ISO/IEC 11179ISO/IEC 11179 is an international standard for representing metadata for an organization in a metadata registry.- Intended purpose :...
- Data dictionaryData dictionaryA data dictionary, or metadata repository, as defined in the IBM Dictionary of Computing, is a "centralized repository of information about data such as meaning, relationships to other data, origin, usage, and format." The term may have one of several closely related meanings pertaining to...
- Data modelingData modelingData modeling in software engineering is the process of creating a data model for an information system by applying formal data modeling techniques.- Overview :...