RIDW contains three physical areas, all defined and residing within one database:
Configuration area: This area is identified in the physical model by the CONFIG schema. It contains and maintains warehouse configuration information and serves as a reference point for auditing and tracking the extract, transform, and load (ETL) activity.
Operational data store: This area is identified in the physical model by the RIDWODS schema. It is the area where data from various operational sources is integrated. The process by which data arrives and is stored in this area is known as the ETL process. Data residing in this area is manipulated and cleansed to meet a certain quality level. The purpose of the area is to maintain pertinent information needed in analytics. It is not intended to be a copy of the operational source. The area is implemented as a relational model.
Data mart: This area is identified in the physical model by the RIDW schema. Data stored in this area is derived from the operational data store. It consists of fact and dimension tables arranged in star schema form (fact tables surrounded by dimension tables). A fact table is the central table in a dimensional model, which contains business performance measurements that are typically numeric and additive. These measurements are characterized by a composite key that is composed of foreign keys that reference the dimension tables.
RIDW has an open schema. Any business intelligence tool can access RIDW to generate business reports.