Import mode to SSAS Tabular is successful, Live connection is unsuccessful

[DJura]

Hi,

On machine “ServerBI” I have installed two SSAS instances (SQL Server 2019 EE):

1. (default) - Multidimensional
2. (named) - Tabular (name: SSASTabular, fixed port: 1234)

A user account named “ServerBI\TestUser” is added as admin to instance level and also in database (BIModel) role.

I’m trying to connect from my local machine to this server over VPN. Our system administrators have enable traffic on the necessary ports (ping, telnet are OK).
On my local machine i have configured Windows Credental for this server (ServerBI\TestUser).
(Also tried RunAs option during my troubleshooting efforts because I suspected the issue might be related to authentication delegation.)

I have issues only with this Tabular instance so my next question is related to this instance.

Everything works fine in following scenarios:

• Connection to SSASTabular from same server (ServerBI)
• Conection from my local computer using Import Mode in: PowerBI, Excel, SSMS, Dax Studio, Tabular Editor
• Connection from my local computer using Live connection in: SSMS, Dax Studio, Tabular Editor

But..

• Conection from my local computer using Live mode from: PowerBI and Excel won’t work !?

In Power BI Desktop -> Get Data -> Navigator i see instance and database.
However when I select this BIModel and press OK there is an error “Double check that your server, and Database……. The system cannot contact a domain controller to service the authentication request. Please try again later.”

And…in next few pop-up windows:

“Error converting value {null} to type 'System.Int32'. Path 'topFrame.lineNumber',”

Any help is welcome, thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

This is really strange if Import works but Live connection fails. You may try using the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the SSAS server when connecting, just like the solution from the following old thread, although the scenario you encounter is the opposite.

Unable to connect to SSAS Tabular model from PowerBi Desktop in Import mode

Best Regards,
Jing

[DJura]

We have tried to add the FQDN to the server, but it didn’t help.

I start a trace in Profiler and first I tried to connect from local PowerBI Desktop and after that connect from PBID on my laptop.

I noticed that the first successful attempt generated two additional 'Session Initialized' events compared to the unsuccessful one. These events were fired after I selected Model and pressed OK in GetData -> Navigator.
These events in the 'RequestProperties' column contain:

<PropertyList>
    <Catalog>Project2017</Catalog>
    <Content>SchemaData</Content>
    <DiscoverAmbiguity>false</DiscoverAmbiguity>
    <Format>Native</Format>

PBID after few pop-up errors still looks like these :

With Dax Studio, tabular editor, SSMS everything is fine.

Best Regards

[Anonymous]

Hi @DJura 

May I know which version of Power BI Desktop are you using? As this behavior is quite rare and it works with other client applications, perhaps this is caused due to a specific version. Maybe you can update Power BI Desktop to the latest version or a previous version to test whether it will get a different result. 

Latest version download link

History versions download link

Best Regards,
Jing

[DJura]

I have tried the latest version (March 2024 - 2.127.1080.0 64-bit) as well as a few older.
Sometimes, the older versions throw a slightly different error "…Error in transport layer" (which is the error Excel always displays).

I use GlobalProtect VPN client but I doubt that problem lies there because other tools works fine.

I’v disabled Windows defender and Firewall on my local laptop.
I’m wondering if Dax Studio or SSMS uses different drivers than PBID, but than again, I have installed latest OLEDDB (MSOLAP), ADOMD and AMO drivers.

I will try one more thing, use different laptop, and install there VPN Client and PBID.

Thank you!

Best Regards

[AmiraBedh]

The error means that the client computer cannot access the domain controller for authentication. This can usually be caused by: The domain controller is offline. The client device is not properly configured.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/527940/the-system-cannot-contact-a-domain-contro...

[DJura]

I have asked system administrators, and they said that there are no domain controllers in this configuration.
Also, some tools can connect to the instance, but Power BI cannot!?
Power BI Desktop "see" instance in Navigator, but when he tries this last step (connect to selected instance) after approximately 15 seconds returns this error.

[AmiraBedh]

In this case try to contact the support team, they may help you.