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Michael986's avatar
Michael986
New Member
4 years ago

Understanding licencing and gateways

We have just a single user in our company who has a Power BI Pro licence - he creates reports which access data on an Azure SQL server (connected by VPN, so technically 'local'), and sends the links ...
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Michael986's avatar
Michael986
New Member
4 years ago

Thanks.

 

So if he accessed the data using the cloud address, would he still be able to share his reports with other users? And without using the gateway?

 

But if we assume that the data was on a local SQL server, what would be the correct setup then? The way he's currently done it?

 

 

  • Tutu_in_YYC's avatar
    Tutu_in_YYC
    Super User
    4 years ago

    Accessing the data through cloud and sharing reports are separated, so yes he can still share the report to others (assuming licensing requirements are fulfilled, changing the way he access the data source doesnt change the licensing requirements)

     

    If it is local (on-premise) SQL server, the current setup is correct, just have to make sure that the computer is not turn off when the report refresh is being done. Servers usually are on 24/7. 

     

    • Michael986's avatar
      Michael986
      New Member
      4 years ago
      Tutu_in_YYC wrote:

      If it is local (on-premise) SQL server, the current setup is correct, just have to make sure that the computer is not turn off when the report refresh is being done. Servers usually are on 24/7. 

       

      This is what I'm not understanding - you say 'servers usually are on 24/7' as if the gateway should be running on a server. But the setup I have (which you say is correct for on-premise SQL) has Power BI and the gateway running on the user's PC. It's when the gateway is switched off that the other users cannot access the reports.

       

      So how do I get around the problem (in the on-premise SQL server scenario) of the reports being unavailable when the user shuts down his PC (and therefore the gateway)?

      So what 

      • Tutu_in_YYC's avatar
        Tutu_in_YYC
        Super User
        4 years ago

        Gateway is usually installed in the computer where the data source resides (i.e Server, but the best practice is to install in a separate 24/7 computer that has network connection to the server), not Power BI. 

        If your report is using Import mode, then the only time the gateway is being used is when the dataset is being refresh. Other than that, the gateway can be switched off (common for non-servers).

        If your report is using Direct Query/Live Connection, then if the gateway is off, the report will not be able to retrieve the data from the data source. 

         

        So how do I get around the problem (in the on-premise SQL server scenario) of the reports being unavailable 
        when the user shuts down his PC (and therefore the gateway)?

        You option is to use import mode.

        Are you using direct query or live connection?