Understanding what is Environment

[VoltesDev]

Hello guys,

Need help to clarify about what is exactly an "Environment" is in Fabric.

When create new Environment, my initial thought is, I can include my exiting Workspace (with all its component such Lakehouse, Notebooks, Semantic model, etc) to this new Environment. 

Turned out it is not, can I have this confirmation ?

So when create new means it is new Workspace needed. While for the component of the existing (old) workspace is export-able and import-able to this newly create Workspace in this newly created Environment.

Basically these points:

1. Workspaces Are Environment-Specific:

   • Workspaces created in one environment (e.g., "Development") are scoped to that environment.
   • They cannot be directly transferred or shared across environments.

2. Components Must Be Migrated:

   • To "move" or replicate an existing workspace to a new environment, you need to export its components (datasets, reports, pipelines, etc.) and import them into a new workspace in the target environment.

3. New Environment Requires New Workspaces:

   • After creating a new environment, you must:
     • Create a new workspace in that environment.
     • Import the exported components into this new workspace.

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How This Works

1. Existing Environment:

   • Workspace "A" in Environment "Dev" contains datasets, pipelines, and reports.

2. New Environment:

   • You create a new environment, "Prod".
   • This environment has no workspaces or resources.

3. Migration Steps:

   • Export datasets, reports, and pipelines from Workspace "A" in "Dev".
   • Import them into a new workspace (e.g., Workspace "B") in "Prod".

What also confuse me then, After create new Environment, then starting to create new Workspace, there is no "action" to select to which environment is this workspace will be "controlled".

And it makes me even confuse that after create new Environment (which no setting to relate this to new workspace), then in my new Workspace after create new notebook, in the top panel as usual there is "Environment" selection in the dropdown, but I'm also cannot see my "new" environment, basically my "new" environment which obviosuly got a naming when I created, not visible in this workspace, for sure in the selection, it is not my newly created environment ->

So am still confuse to explain to my self of what is this environment for. And whether we should create environment first or create workspace ? it seems create environment first, but then there is no specific relation when create Workspace.

And in the end, as the above picture, after the new Workspace and during create new notebook, go to the environment selection (as in the above picture), there is New environment options, so I create again new environment. That is the one I'm using for now, while the 1st ever environment creation, am not sure what is for.

thanks.

[v-shex-msft · Accepted solution]

HI @VoltesDev,

I'd like to suggest you take a look at the official documents about spark environment and computer at the first. They should help you to understand with the basic part of spark and environments.

Create, configure, and use an environment in Fabric - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

Compute management in Fabric environments - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng