Forum Discussion

Christi's avatar
Christi
New Member
3 years ago

Connect Power Bi Dataflow to a Microsoft SQL Server Database

Hi all, I am trying to connect my Power Bi service directly to a specific SQL Server Database. Precisely, I would like to be able to create a dataflow (in the Power Bi app) that can directly be co...
Microsoft SQL
jaweher899's avatar
jaweher899
Impactful Individual
3 years ago

Based on your description, it seems like you are trying to connect to a SQL Server database that is not hosted on Azure, which requires an OAuth connection. OAuth is a security protocol that enables you to authorize a third-party application to access your data without sharing your password.

To resolve this issue, you have a few options:

  1. Host your SQL Server database on Azure: By hosting your database on Azure, you can use Azure Active Directory (AAD) to authenticate the Power BI dataflow, which will support OAuth connections.

  2. Use a DirectQuery connection: Instead of using a dataflow, you can create a Power BI report that uses DirectQuery to connect to your on-premises SQL Server database. This will allow you to connect to your database without using OAuth, but it has limitations, such as a lower refresh frequency and a more complex setup process.

  3. Use a data gateway: You can install a data gateway on a machine that has access to your SQL Server database and configure it to act as a bridge between Power BI and your database. This will allow you to use Power BI dataflows to connect to your database and refresh the data on a regular basis.

I hope these suggestions help you resolve your issue. If you need further assistance, please let me know.