Switching PBI PPU environment's primary datasource from SQL DB to external Data Lake

[ebertsa]

We have the opportunity for our primary datasources in our PPU enviroment to swich from direct downloads using sql queries from our vendor azure instance to a new external data lake.   Sounds like a win but it seems PBI requires a Azure Data Lake Gen 2 connector to do so and a storage license.   Am reading correctly?  If so, I'm unclear about what to expect for the storage licensing use since PPU should cover the storage we need to avoid any cost surprises.   Any thoughts, pluses and minues from someone with more expertise than I would be appreciated.

[parry2k · Accepted solution]

@ebertsa if you have Fabric capacity, you can use a shortcut and then use it for downstream systems. 

[v-priyankata]

Hi @ebertsa 

Hope everything’s going smoothly on your end. I wanted to check if the issue got sorted. if yes, please accept user solution as "accept as solution", so it will use others also, if you have any other issues please reach community.

[parry2k]

@ebertsa I'm sure, but I would like to do an analysis of how many users you have that will use PPU backed workspace, and based on that, you can compare with the lowest entry-level F2 capacity cost, and then go from there.

[v-priyankata · Accepted solution]

Hi @ebertsa 

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

@parry2k Thanks for the inputs.
Super user was right & You’re thinking about it the right way that you’ll need the Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 connector to connect. The main thing to be aware of is that Power BI Premium Per User only covers storage inside Power BI/Fabric, not external Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, so that will still come with its own Azure costs. The Microsoft Fabric shortcut idea is a good one for simplifying the setup.

If there are any deviations from your expectation please let us know we are happy to address.

Thanks.

[parry2k · Accepted solution]

@ebertsa if you have Fabric capacity, you can use a shortcut and then use it for downstream systems. 

[ebertsa]

thanks.  Right now PPU makes more sense for us as fabric jumps our costs up significantly.