---
title: "Warehouse architecture and three phases"
subject: "Data Mining"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_7/data_mining:dw-architecture-three-phases"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/data_mining/dw-architecture-three-phases
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Warehouse architecture and three phases

Data Mining · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2066 Bhadra, 9 marks
- Video: [Data Warehouse Architecture In Data Mining And Warehousing Explained In Hindi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-C0zRlz46Y) — 5 Minutes Engineering
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/data_mining/dw-architecture-three-phases
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/data_mining/chapter-1

## Question

Explain the general architecture of a Warehouse system with its three main phases of development.

## Short answer

The architecture has source systems, a load manager, a warehouse manager, storage (detailed, summary, metadata), a query manager, and end-user tools. Development phases are: planning/requirements, design and construction (dimensional model, ETL, warehouse managers), and deployment/maintenance (load, test, train, refresh, extend). The process is iterative.

## Answer

#### General architecture
A warehouse system takes data from operational sources, integrates it in a central store and delivers it to users through query and analysis tools.

```text
 Source systems
      |  (load manager)
      v
 +-----------+  warehouse   +-----------------+
 |   LOAD    |  manager     |  Detailed data  |
 |  MANAGER  |------------->|  Summary data   |
 +-----------+      |       |  Metadata       |
                    v       +-----------------+
             Archive/backup        ^
                                   | (query manager)
                            +--------------+
                            |QUERY MANAGER |
                            +--------------+
                                   |
                              End-user tools
```

Main parts: source systems, the **load manager** (extract, clean, load), the **warehouse manager** (transform, aggregate, index, back up, maintain metadata), the **query manager** (route and schedule queries, return results), storage (detailed data, summaries, metadata, data marts) and end-user access tools (query, OLAP, data mining).

#### Three phases of development
1. **Planning / requirement phase**: identify business goals, users, subject areas and data sources; do feasibility, cost and risk analysis; choose the architecture (top-down, bottom-up or hybrid) and the project team.
2. **Design and construction phase**: design the dimensional model (star/snowflake schema, fact and dimension tables), design the ETL process, build the metadata, select the hardware, DBMS and tools, then build the load, warehouse and query managers and the data marts.
3. **Deployment and maintenance phase**: load the initial data, test with users, train staff and release the system. Then operate it: refresh the data regularly, tune performance, manage security, backup and archiving, handle change requests, and extend the warehouse with new subject areas.

The process is iterative: each new subject area repeats these phases.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which component extracts, cleans and loads source data?
   A. Query manager
   B. Archive manager
   C. Load manager
   D. Warehouse manager
   Answer: C. The load manager does extraction, cleaning and loading from source systems. (Key point: Load manager)

2. What does the query manager do?
   A. Routes queries, schedules them and shows results
   B. Designs the star schema
   C. Extracts from operational systems
   D. Transforms and aggregates data
   Answer: A. The query manager routes, schedules and returns query results to end-user tools. (Key point: Query manager)

3. Which activity belongs to the planning/requirement phase?
   A. Identifying business goals, users, subject areas and sources, with feasibility and risk analysis
   B. Loading the initial data
   C. Tuning performance
   D. Training staff
   Answer: A. Planning defines goals, users, sources, cost and risk, and chooses the architecture. (Key point: Planning phase)

4. What happens in the deployment and maintenance phase?
   A. Selecting business goals
   B. Choosing top-down or bottom-up approach
   C. Initial load, user testing, training, then regular refresh, tuning, security and backup
   D. Dimensional model design
   Answer: C. This phase releases the system and keeps it running with refresh, tuning, backup and change handling. (Key point: Deployment and maintenance)

## Related in Data Mining

- [Kathmandu Mall warehouse architecture](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdata_mining%3Akathmandu-mall-warehouse) — Data Mining, chapter 1
- [National data warehouse process architecture](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdata_mining%3Anepal-national-data-warehouse) — Data Mining, chapter 1
- [Data warehouse architecture and components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdata_mining%3Adw-architecture-components) — Data Mining, chapter 1
- [College warehouse project leader responsibilities](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdata_mining%3Acmis-college-warehouse-project) — Data Mining, chapter 1
- [Architecture of data mining system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdata_mining%3Adm-system-architecture) — Data Mining, chapter 1
- [Data warehouse, data mart and need](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fdata_mining%3Awarehouse-datamart-need) — Data Mining, chapter 1

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