Power BI Server and Azure maps

[sydneycroud]

We are being asked about the Azure maps by users concerned that the existing maps visual will be removed. We have an on-Prem Power BI server and use Power BI Desktop. We currently have critical reports that include maps. If Azure maps replaces our existing map visual, will it no longer allow our maps to be updated, since we cannot use Azure for our maps? If we were to stop upgrading and used an older version of Power BI, would that be the workaround to continue using our existing map structure?

I have been googling but cannot get a clear answer on this. Basically, will the existing map visual be removed and will it break our maps if that happens?

Thank you

[R1k91 · Accepted solution]

Power BI report server and Power BI service have different road maps.

Something that works on the service could not work on the server (shape maps, if I remember well are not supported on the server for example).

one key difference is you can control the version of PBIRS that you install, therefore you can avoid to install something that'll break your reports.

generally speaking, if you don't upgrade both PBIRS and PBI desktop in your server farm, everything will work but obviously you're losing new functionalities and bug fixing.

it could be this announcement regards the service only for now. do you have the Azure Maps visual on PBI Desktop for PBIRS (preview feature maybe)? if yes you can start migrating report by report. Convert Map and Filled map visuals to an Azure Maps visual - Microsoft Azure Maps Power BI visual | ...

[R1k91 · Accepted solution]

Power BI report server and Power BI service have different road maps.

Something that works on the service could not work on the server (shape maps, if I remember well are not supported on the server for example).

one key difference is you can control the version of PBIRS that you install, therefore you can avoid to install something that'll break your reports.

generally speaking, if you don't upgrade both PBIRS and PBI desktop in your server farm, everything will work but obviously you're losing new functionalities and bug fixing.

it could be this announcement regards the service only for now. do you have the Azure Maps visual on PBI Desktop for PBIRS (preview feature maybe)? if yes you can start migrating report by report. Convert Map and Filled map visuals to an Azure Maps visual - Microsoft Azure Maps Power BI visual | ...

[sydneycroud]

Thank you Riccardo, I think the problem is some users had downloaded the wrong version of Power BI desktop and then got notifications about the Azure maps feature. So they started asking. If MSFT isn't going to provide it, then there is nothing to find on it. As far as new features, it sure seems like the only new features are being put in the online version, so we will eventually be forced to go to it as well. 

Thank you again for responding, I appreciate it.

Sydney Croud

[R1k91 · Accepted solution]

exactly, I would expect a warning of deprecation in future PBI Desktop optmized for PBIRS before having to warn.