Connecting to Azure Databricks

[bsz412]

Hi experts, 

I am not too experienced with Power BI yet, and I am wondering what is the best way to set up connection between Azure Databricks and Power BI.

Shall I establish the connection in desktop, by choosing Azure Databricks when clicking add data? I guess import would be my best choice as daily datarefresh would be sufficient. What I am confused about is what happens if I import the data this way to desktop, I create the data model and the report, then I publish it to service. Do I schedule the daily refresh in service on the uploaded datamodel?

Or is it better to connect to databricks in PBI service, create a dataflow and import that dataflow to desktop? 

Also, I see there is a new connection method available now, by using Partner Connect. Any experience with that? 

thanks for your help!

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I'm using PowerBI version 2.112.1161.0 32-bit (dicember 2022) and I don't have Databricks connector on the list. As far I read, this connector is in-built since version september 2020.

Does anyone have a clue about this issue?

[v-janeyg-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi, @bsz412 

In the past, data was connected through Spark Connector, but now you can connect data directly through Azure Databricks Connector. When you publish to service, you only need to enter credentials to refresh data. 

Reference:

Connecting Power BI to Azure Databricks | Gerhard Brueckl on BI & Data (gbrueckl.at)

 With Partner Connect, you can also connect to Databricks.

Check this: 

Announcing Power BI integration with Databricks Partner Connect | Microsoft Power BI Blog | Microsof...

Connect with Power BI Desktop by using Partner Connect

Did I answer your question? Please mark my reply as solution. Thank you very much.
If not, please feel free to ask me.

Best Regards,
Community Support Team _ Janey

[Anonymous]

Hello

​What is the best practice here -

1. To develop the reports by connecting to Databricks using individual PATs.

2. Then, after deploying the report to PowerBI service, change the data source credentials to point to the PAT of the Service Principal so data import is done based on defined schedule.

3. PowerBI report users then need not be having Databricks accounts as the underlying service principal is fetching data for them.

Is my understanding correct?