Add SQL Server connection

[domtrump]

Premium per user. Created a new workspace. Want to start adding data sources. Want users to be able to build reports using a group of tables on our SQL Server. Found these instructions:

Key steps:

• Access settings: Go to the Power BI service, click on the gear icon in the top right corner to access "Settings." 
• Manage connections: Select "Manage connections and gateways" from the settings menu. 
• Create new connection: Click "New" to start adding a new data source.
• Choose SQL Server: Select "SQL Server" as the data source type. 
• Enter details: Provide the server name, database name (optional), and authentication credentials. 
• Consider gateway: If your SQL server is on-premises, choose the appropriate gateway to connect through. 
• Save connection: Click "Create" to finalize the new SQL Server connection.

I get to the third step and that is as far as I get. See print screen - there is no "Select "SQL Server" as the data source type". What am I doing wrong?

[Fowmy · Accepted solution]

@domtrump 

Ensure you have already installed and configured Power BI Gateway | Microsoft Power BI then choose your gatway, give a name for the connection and click on Connection Type to locate SQL Server

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @domtrump 

Thanks to Fowmy for paying attention to this post, the reply is great.

In your steps, you should consider whether to use a gateway in the first step. If your SQL Server is on-premises, you need to install a gateway before continuing with the subsequent steps.

Here are the detailed steps. I hope it will be helpful to you.

1. Install and configure the on-premises data gateway:
Download and install the Power BI Data Gateway. Log in to your Power BI account.
Select Register New Gateway. Enter the Gateway Name and Recovery Key (keep the Recovery Key safe so that you can recover the gateway if needed).

Download and install a standard gateway 

2. Add a data source:
In the Power BI service, navigate to “Settings” -> “Manage connections and gateways” -> Click "New".
Select the gateway you just registered in the “Gateway cluster name” drop-down box, and then you will see the “Connection Type” option appear. Select the data source type as “SQL Server”.

3. Configure the data source:
Enter the data source name, server name and database name. Select the authentication method (Windows or SQL Server authentication) and enter the appropriate credentials. Click Add to complete the data source configuration.

Manage a SQL Server data source - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

4. You can then apply this gateway in the settings of the semantic model that uses the SQL Server data source and set up scheduled refreshes for it if needed.

Best Regards,
Jarvis Tang
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[Fowmy · Accepted solution]

@domtrump 

Ensure you have already installed and configured Power BI Gateway | Microsoft Power BI then choose your gatway, give a name for the connection and click on Connection Type to locate SQL Server