Setting up a dataflow to SQL Server

[Cristiano_Siben]

Hello,

I am currently trying to set up a dataflow on my PowerBi Services account so that my dashboards can update automatically.

However, I am not being able to connect to the SQL Server to get the data for the dataflow.

I am using the same setup that I am using on Power BI Desktop, however the connection does not work on services.

Do I need to set up a gateway to do so? If so, can the gateway be installed on my personal computer or does it necessarily need to be installed on the maching that has the SQL database installed?

Any help is appreciated

[lbendlin]

If your SQL Server is "on-premise" then you need a gateway.  You can choose to install a personal gateway on your PC but that would require your PC to be on during the refresh. You should NEVER install a gateway on the same server as your SQL Server database. The two applications will mercilessly fight for the compute resources. 

The recommended approach is to use two or more Windows Server VMs in your on-premise cloud and to create a cluster of Standard (Enterprise) gateways.