User Guide

Chapter
4
Distributed
Analysis Mode
Distributed analysis mode allows you to use a computer other than your local (or
desktop) co
mputer for memory-intensive work. Since remote servers used for
distributed analysis are typically more powerful and faster than your local computer,
appropriate use of distributed analysis mode can significantly reduce computer
processin
g time. Distributed analysis with a remote server can be useful if your
work involves:
 Large data files, particularly data read from database sources.
 Memory-intensive tasks. Any task that takes a long time in local analysis mode
mightbeag
ood candidate for distributed analysis.
Distributed analysis affects only data-related tasks, such as reading data, transforming
data, computing new variables, and calculating statistics. It has no effect on tasks
related t
o editing output, such as manipulating pivot tables or modifying charts.
Note: Distributed analysis is available only if you have both a local version and access
to a licensed server version of the software installed on a remote server.
Distributed versus Local Analysis
Following are some guidelines for choosing distributed or local analysis mode:
Database access. Jobs that perform database queries may run faster in distributed
mode if t
he server has superior access to the database or if the server is running on
the same machine as the database engine. If the necessary database access software
is available only on the server or if your network administrator does not permit
youtodo
wnload large data tables, you will be able to access the database only in
distributed mode.
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