Power BI Report Server Error: Direct Query to SQL

[SSNAC]

Hi all,

I’m uploading a Power BI report to the Power BI Report Server web portal. My report uses a DirectQuery connection to a SQL Server instance. Both the report server and the SQL Server are on-premises and on the same network. I have also set up a system environment variable and added the SQL Server name there, but I’m still getting the same error. 

Interestingly, the data source connection is shown as successful in the Report Server web portal, but when I try to view the report, I receive the following error:

"Error fetching data for this visual

A connection could not be made to the data source with the Name of '{"protocol":"tds","address":{"server":"xxx","database":"xxx"},"authentication":null,"query":null}'.

Please try again later or contact support. If you contact support, please provide these details.

Request IDc670352a-103b-abcf-a8e5-f19d06efb2c2

TimeMon Apr 14 2025 15:26:10 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)

Service version/powerbi/libs"

While the Direct Query works as expected from Power BI Desktop, I am encountering issues when accessing the report through the Power BI Report Server web portal.

Thanks in advance!

[v-echaithra]

Hi @SSNAC ,

As we haven’t heard back from you, we wanted to kindly follow up to check if the solution provided for the issue worked? or Let us know if you need any further assistance?
If our response addressed, please mark it as Accept as solution and click Yes if you found it helpful.

Regards,

Chaithra.

[v-echaithra]

Hi @SSNAC ,

Thank you for reaching out Microsoft Community.

The issue is likely environment- or configuration-related within the server rather than with the report or the data source itself.

Power BI DirectQuery reports must include "Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=True" as part of the connection string on data sources, or apply the "PBI_SQL_TRUSTED_SERVERS" environment variable on their Power BI Report Server.

If our response addressed, please mark it as Accept as solution and click Yes if you found it helpful.

Regards,
Chaithra E.