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akj2784's avatar
akj2784
Post Partisan
8 years ago

Dataset in Power BI Desktop using SSAS

Hi All,   I am using SQL Server Analysis Services to create data model in Power BI Desktop using import method. I assume the data is in memory in SSAS.  Just wanted to check what happens to data ...
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v-jiascu-msft's avatar
v-jiascu-msft
Microsoft Employee
8 years ago

Hi akj2784,

 

Could you please mark the proper answer as solution or share the solution if it's convenient for you? That will be a big help to the others.

 

Best Regards!
Dale

akj2784's avatar
akj2784
Post Partisan
8 years ago

So basically when we import the tables from SSAS in Power BI Dekstop, it imports all the data to the file and when I publish it to the service the data also goes to cloud along with file and hence when I run the report, the data gets pulled from the cloud but not from in memory SSAS database and hence in this scenario we are not leveraging the in memory SSAS database.

 

Is this correct understanding as per your reply ?

 

Thank you for the the reply.

  • v-jiascu-msft's avatar
    v-jiascu-msft
    Microsoft Employee
    8 years ago

    Hi akj2784,

     

    Totally right. In my opinion, the biggest advantage of Import mode is performance. We don't need to consider the bad bandwidth and the workload of the SSAS server. 

    There are many solid evidences we can see the Import mode is working alone.

    1. If we shutdown the SSAS server or close the network connection, the reports work fine.

    2. The size of the pbix file (Power BI Desktop file).

    3. We can use that file in a environment where we don't have access to the SSAS Server.

     

    Dataset_in_Power_BI_Desktop_using_SSAS2

     

     

    Best Regards,

    Dale

    • akj2784's avatar
      akj2784
      Post Partisan
      8 years ago

      I totally understand the benefit of import method but it will actually put the data in cloud and hence will consume cloud space. 

      The thing is if we have SSAS in memory database we would like to leverage that so that we don't push all the data in cloud and keep the performance intact because it will fetch the data from in memory database.

       

      So what I am looking for is, lets say I have created a model in power bi desktop by connecting to oracle db using import method.

      Now I want to deploy that to SSAS so that I can leverage in memory database and I don't want to push the data to cloud.

      Now sure if it is feasible .

       

      Regards,

      Akash

       

       

      • v-jiascu-msft's avatar
        v-jiascu-msft
        Microsoft Employee
        8 years ago

        Hi Akash,

         

        As far as I know, we can't deploy the PBI model to SSAS directly. The SSAS is also a powerful analysis tool. Why not using Direct query in Power BI? Most of work will be done in the SSAS database.

         

        Best Regards,

        Dale