Forum Discussion
Clarity over Requirements for Refreshing Local Files
Generally when the term "local" is used, its often to mean that the file is on the device that created the report. If you are simply using the report within Power BI Desktop, this is probably ok.
When you want to publish this out to the Power BI Service, you never want this on your local device as it makes it quite hard to get to the file. If the device is off, no one is getting to your file. If the device is asleep, its likely the file will be inaccessable also because the computer isn't in a respondable state.
A network folder is a good option because it will be on a server, which should be on 24/7 and is designed for this exact purpose.
Thanks Anonymous, that makes perfect sense.
Your advice on network files and the 24/7 is what I was expecting. The part I'm confused about with the gateways though is if it is on a network with a web address much like sharepoint, do you still need a gateway? If so, wouldn't that still present the same issue - the gateway will still be connected to a device (ie. my computer) which if switched off will cause it to fail eventhough the network drive is available.
Or is the gateway something I'd need to get my IT department to set up on their end?
Thanks in advance,
KCWhen you publish your report, its going to live in Office 365. This will be outside your network. For that reason it will have no access to the network drive. This is the job of the gateway, to provide that secure access without creating a security hole.
Thanks Anonymous,, but I was more trying to understand how I can set this up appropriately to skip the requirement of needing my computer on.
I'm working with my IT department tomorrow to test putting a gateway on a server which is active 24/7 so hopefully that will do the trick.
