topic Re: PowerBI database server connection issue in Report Server

PowerBI database server connection issue

dcvman — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:19:15 GMT

I need to configure PowerBI database server connection with Encrypt=True and TrustServerCertificate=True options.
Is it possible to do this? If so, how is this done?

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

dcvman — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:32:52 GMT

Below is error message which I am receiving when trying to connect to SQL server:

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:37:57 GMT

Hi, @dcvman

Do you have a reference to the steps to configure the report server?

Create a Native Mode Report Server Database (Configuration Manager) - SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards

Jianpeng Li

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

dcvman — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 21:51:09 GMT

Thanks for providing report server configuration steps. These steps don't include how to use Encrypt=True and TrustServerCertificate=True connections options.

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

v-pnaroju-msft — Fri, 09 May 2025 17:26:07 GMT

Hi dcvman,

Thank you for reaching out through the Microsoft Fabric Community Forum.

Based on my understanding, the error message "The target principal name is incorrect" generally occurs when encryption is enabled without explicitly trusting the certificate.

To configure Power BI Report Server to use Encrypt=True; TrustServerCertificate=True, please follow the steps below, which may help to resolve the issue:

Open the RSReportServer.config file located at:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRSxx.<InstanceName>\Reporting Services\ReportServer
Locate the <ConnectionProperties> section.
Update the ConnectString as shown below:
<ConnectString>Data Source=192.168.1.53;Initial Catalog=ReportServer;Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=True</ConnectString>
Save the changes and restart SQL Server Reporting Services.

This configuration bypasses the certificate name verification and resolves the encryption-related login error.

For your reference, please find the relevant documentation here:
Reporting Services configuration files - SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) | Microsoft Learn

If you find our response helpful, kindly mark it as the accepted solution and provide kudos. This will assist other community members facing similar issues.

Should you have any further queries, please feel free to contact the Microsoft Fabric community.

Thank you.

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

rohit1991 — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:46:09 GMT

Hi @dcvman ,

Yes, you can set up a Power BI database server connection with both Encrypt=True and TrustServerCertificate=True—I’ve had to do this myself a few times, especially in dev/test environments. Here’s how you do it:

For Power BI Desktop: When you connect to your SQL Server, expand the “Advanced options” in the connection dialog. In the “Additional settings” box, enter: Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=True

For Power BI Report Server: Open up the RSReportServer.config file (you’ll find this under something like C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSRSxx.<InstanceName>\Reporting Services\ReportServer). Look for the <ConnectionProperties> section. Set your connection string to include both: <ConnectString>Data Source=YOURSERVER;Initial Catalog=YOURDB;Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=True</ConnectString>

Save the file and restart your report server service for changes to take effect.

If you get an error about the “target principal name,” it’s usually because the SQL certificate name doesn’t match the server name. Using TrustServerCertificate=True bypasses this, but again, best to fix your certs if you’re going to production.

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

v-pnaroju-msft — Mon, 12 May 2025 09:52:05 GMT

Hi dcvman,

We have not received a response from you regarding the query and were following up to check if you have found a resolution. If you have identified a solution, we kindly request you to share it with the community, as it may be helpful to others facing a similar issue.

If you find the response helpful, please mark it as the accepted solution and provide kudos, as this will help other members with similar queries.

Thank you.

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

v-pnaroju-msft — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:47:00 GMT

Hi dcvman,

We wanted to check in regarding your query, as we have not heard back from you. If you have resolved the issue, sharing the solution with the community would be greatly appreciated and could help others encountering similar challenges.

If you found our response useful, kindly mark it as the accepted solution and provide kudos to guide other members.

Thank you.

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

v-pnaroju-msft — Sun, 18 May 2025 18:34:45 GMT

Hi dcvman,

We are following up to see if your query has been resolved. Should you have identified a solution, we kindly request you to share it with the community to assist others facing similar issues.

If our response was helpful, please mark it as the accepted solution and provide kudos, as this helps the broader community.

Thank you.

Re: PowerBI database server connection issue

v-pnaroju-msft — Sun, 06 Jul 2025 17:12:08 GMT

Hi dcvman,

We are following up to check if your query has been resolved. If you have found a solution, kindly share it with the community to help others facing similar issues.

If our response was helpful, please mark it as the accepted solution. This will benefit the wider community.

Should you have any further queries, kindly feel free to contact the Microsoft Fabric community.

Thank you.