XML based Metadata Repository for Information Systems

Today's information systems include many components and computational processes such as data warehouses, data marts, ETL processes, data analysis tools, etc. An appropriate integration of these components requires the extensive use of metadata. However the representation, consolidation, management, and access to this metadata information can cause a major overhead in the system. This paper presents an XML based metadata repository that consists of a centralized repository built upon standard XML technologies such as XML Schema, XSL, XQuery and XLink, coupled with an appropriate storage that proved to be a flexible, and yet inexpensive, metadata solution. Moreover it provides the means for the metamodel extensibility and easy integration into any information system. The feasibility of this solution is documented by the description and discussion of a prototype implementation currently deployed and running in operational state as part of a complex information system