what is the difference of on/off 'Distribute requests across all active gateways in this cluster'

[pennyhoho117]

what is the difference of on/off gateway option: 'Distribute requests across all active gateways in this cluster'

and where can find this option? could you tell me which platform and the steps to find it? Thanks.

[V-yubandi-msft]

Hi @pennyhoho117 ,

Thank you @Poojara_D12 , for the clear explanation. Your description of how the Distribute requests across all active gateways in this cluster option aids in load balancing and high availability in Power BI gateway clusters was very helpful.

Here are some additional details to consider when deciding whether to enable or disable this option

When Option is ON

1. Ideal for high-volume data refreshes or when multiple users access reports concurrently. It ensures even distribution of requests, enhancing performance.

2. If a gateway fails, the system automatically switches to another, minimizing downtime and ensuring smooth data refreshes.

When Option is OFF

1. Use this when specific workloads need to be handled by a particular gateway. Disabling directs all requests to the primary node.

2.Suitable for dedicated gateways managing specialized data sources or non-overlapping workloads. Monitor the primary gateway to ensure it can handle the load effectively.

You can find this option in the Power BI Service :

Go to the Power BI service, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner, then select Manage gateways. Next, select Distribute requests across all active gateways in this cluster.

Helpful refences:

Manage on-premises data gateway high-availability clusters and load balancing | Microsoft Learn

Manage an on-premises data gateway | Microsoft Learn

If there is any post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution  to help the other members find it more quickly. 

[Poojara_D12]

Thank you @V-yubandi-msft for your kind words!!

Thank you @pennyhoho117  for accepting my answer as a solution.
If possible kindly subscribe my Youtube channel with videos related to BI, it will motivate me to do more work on that. Link is given below.

Thanks in advance!!

[Poojara_D12 · Accepted solution]

Hi @pennyhoho117 

The "Distribute requests across all active gateways in this cluster" option in Power BI controls how queries are distributed when multiple gateways are set up in a High Availability (HA) cluster. When enabled, Power BI evenly distributes requests across all active gateway nodes, balancing the load and improving performance by preventing any single gateway from becoming overwhelmed. This is useful for organizations handling large data refreshes or high query volumes, as it enhances reliability and efficiency. If disabled, Power BI prioritizes a primary gateway node and only switches to another if the primary one fails, which may lead to uneven workload distribution. This option is available in Power BI Service (app.powerbi.com) under Manage connections and gateways. Users can access it by clicking the gear icon in the top-right corner, selecting Manage connections and gateways, choosing a gateway cluster, and adjusting the setting under Cluster Settings. This feature is particularly beneficial for organizations needing consistent performance and fault tolerance in their data processing.