Getting started with the Actian Avalanche database

This page contains information to help you get started with Actian Avalanche in Semarchy xDI.

Connect to your data

The database structure can be entirely reverse-engineered in a Metadata and then used in Mappings and Processes to design and adapt business rules that meet the user’s requirements.

Refer to Connect to your data page which explains the procedure.

The Actian Avalanche third-party JDBC driver and the JDBC URL to use can be found in the Actian Avalanche Warehouse’s properties:

getting started actian avalanche metadata jdbc properties

An example of a reverse-engineered Actian Avalanche Metadata is given below.

getting started actian avalanche metadata overview

Temporary storage

Overview

To optimize loading data to Actian Avalanche, Semarchy xDI uses a storage location to store temporary files before loading them into Actian Avalanche.

When configured, source data is first extracted to the temporary files that are uploaded to this temporary storage location, then loaded into Actian Avalanche using the dedicated Actian Avalanche loaders.

Currently, Semarchy xDI supports Google Storage as a temporary location.

Prerequisites

There are two prerequisites to use temporary storage with Semarchy xDI:

  1. Configure the External Table Access for Google Cloud Storage in your Actian Avalanche account. getting started actian avalanche prerequisite external table access

  2. Create a Google Cloud Storage Metadata in Semarchy xDI. getting started actian avalanche metadata google cloud storage

Storage definition

In Semarchy xDI, the external storage location must be defined in the Actian Avalanche Metadata.

To configure the external storage in Semarchy xDI:

  1. Open the Actian Avalanche Metadata.

  2. Select the root server node, then go to the Storage tab.

  3. Select the External Storage from the list. All the storage nodes available in the workspace appear in this list.
    Selecting the external storage node

You can also drag and drop the Google Storage node from the Project Explorer to the External Storage property.
Selecting the external storage node

You can override the external storage location for individual schemas and tables. To configure this, select the Storage tab on the schema or table node and then select a specific External Storage value.

Create your first mappings

Your Metadata is ready and your tables reverse-engineered, you can now create your first Mappings.

The Actian Avalanche technology can be used like any other database in Semarchy xDI.

Drag and drop your sources, and targets, map the columns as usual and then configure the templates.

Loading data from a database into Actian Avalanche

getting started actian avalanche mapping database to actian avalanche

Loading data from Google BigQuery to Actian Avalanche

getting started actian avalanche mapping google bigquery to actian avalanche

Loading data from Actian Avalanche into another database

getting started actian avalanche mapping actian avalanche to database

Replicating a source database into Actian Avalanche

getting started actian avalanche process replication