Technical Preview of Power BI Reports in SQL Server Reporting Services

Just had a chance to play with the Technical Preview of Power BI Reports in SQL Server Reporting Services. You can set up the VM yourself or download the updated Virtual Machine from Azure Marketplace.

I set up my own Virtual Machine and what you need is an instance of SQL Server 2016 or SQL Server vNext CTP v1.1. Also install Analysis Services Tabular or Multi-dimensional mode and sample database for the same.

Note: The preview version supports only Power BI Dashboards connected to Analysis Services on-premises otherwise you will get the following error.

It comprises of 3 files

• PBIDesktopRS.msi
• PBIDesktopRS_x64.msi
• SQLServerReportingServices.msi

Install the SQL Server Report Services and use the SSRS Preview Configuration Manager to create the Report Server Database.

Note: You will be seeing Create Database button in the screenshot similar to the above instead of Change Database. The above screenshot was taken once the Database was created.

Install the Power BI Desktop for Reporting Services 64-bit version and create a Power BI Report connected to your Analysis Services Database. Upload your new Power BI Report created using the Preview version of Power BI Desktop to the SSRS Portal and try navigating to the report.

As you can see from the above screenshot, Power BI report opens within the SSRS Portal Browser window.