A method for providing
workload information in a structured
workload information data structure format that is organized according to a
workload schema to be conducive to a given end usage of the information. The structured workload information can be made accessible using standard
database analytical
server applications to facilitate ad-hoc querying of the structured workload information to summarize and analyze the
database workload or to facilitate exchange of workload information. A structured workload information (SWI) is constructed according to a SWI schema to facilitate a desired end usage of the workload information. The query information is extracted from the workload and stored in a structured workload information (SWI)
data structure according to the schema based on the desired end usage of the information such as ad hoc querying or
information exchange. The query information may be stored in a
relational database having query information organized as a central
fact table and a collection of hierarchical dimension tables or as an
OLAP cube featuring hierarchical dimensions that arrange the query information in dimensions having objects ordered as a function of
granularity or the information may be stored according to an
XML schema wherein units of query information are separated by
XML tags that identify a type of workload information.