Ist mandatory to install SQL server for power BI reporting server?

[prakash869]

Dear Experts,

I am Prakash, new to Power BI family.

I am buying power BI to my company, I am in need of one clarification.

To user power BI reporting server, do i need to install SQL server ?

In below screen shot what is the meaning of current report server database?

Any suggetions greatly appriciated

Thanks in advance

[prakash869]

Hi

Thank you for the clarification,

Addition to that, i would like to know, can i use Power BI services instead of Power BI server ?

Just for clarification.

Regards

Prakash HN

[d_gosbell]

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@prakash869 wrote:

Addition to that, i would like to know, can i use Power BI services instead of Power BI server ?

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You can use what ever you want to use. People typically only use the on-prem report server if they are blocked from using cloud based services due to corporate or regulatory policies. If you can use the cloud service it is a much richer offering in terms of functionality

[d_gosbell · Accepted solution]

Yes, you need to have a SQL Server in order to store the metadata database. If you are purchasing Report Server through Power BI Premium then I believe the licensing terms allow you to install a SQL instance as part of that just for the purpose of hosting the ReportServer database. (if you want to use that server for other purposes then it needs to be licensed separately)