When installing SSAS, should you install the version that corresponds to the version of SQL Server installed, or go with the newest version of SSAS?

Question

I am currently running SQL Server 2014 and need to install SSAS. Is it best to match the version of SSAS to the version of SQL Server installed or is it recommended that the newest version of SSAS be installed?

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I figure the SQL Server environment is set up one of two ways:

1) You should usually match versions of SQL Server and SSAS for compatibility reasons (they were in theory designed for each other).

2) You should usually install the newest version of SSAS because this is the current version that the SQL Server team is focusing their most time on and thus has more bug fixes, security fixes, features, etc. than older versions.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Great question, and in this case the answer is 2:

You should install the newest version of SSAS because this is the current version that the SQL Server team is focusing their most time on and thus has more bug fixes, security fixes, features, etc. than older versions ..unless you have a version installed prior or equal to SQL 2008.

In your case of SQL 2014, install the latest version. There is no need to install the version that was released at the same time as your version of SQL Server.

See The Installing SQL Server Analysis Services Page for more information.

The SSAS and SSMS teams work independantly of each other as is the case with many teams within Microsoft.