How do I deploy Fabric?

[AnnOminous]

I'm going to start this out by saying, this is killing me. I'm a PBI report developer for my organization, and I am at the point where I need to deploy Fabric into the PBI workspace where my reports are hosted. I have been looking online for the detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to do this, but everything I've found appears to assume that I'm more than just a report developer who's a workspace admin, but has no other adminstrative access.

If I understand it correctly, I need to first generate/deploy an Azure  subscription. I then need to enable Fabric on that subscription, and then somehow enable/apply it to my PBI workspace. I am an admin on the workspace, but, again, that's the extent of my administrative access.

So I haven't been able to figure out if I need to reach out to the PBI tenant adminstrator (if that's even the right term) and, if so, how I can find out who that is, or if this is something I should be able to do myself since I am a workspace admin. And if I am able to do it myself, what the steps are to do that.

To be clear, I'm not asking for anyone in the Fabric community to walk me through the process, I'm asking if anyone can point me in the direction of any documentation or other resources that can help someone who's only ever had experience with PBI and report design, not any of the tenant management and adminstrative aspects.

[v-shex-msft]

Hi @AnnOminous,

Here is the official document about mange the fabric capacity, you can take a look on it:

Buy a Microsoft Fabric subscription - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

Notice: you need bought them on azure side at first and assign the capacity admin to manage this.

After these steps, these users can assign workspace to fabric capacity on the workspace settings.

Manage your Fabric capacity - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng

[AnnOminous]

@v-shex-msft, thanks, this was helpful. So if I understand it correctly, I need to get an Azure SKU/capacity (or find out if my org already has one) that can support Fabric, setup that capacity in the Admin portal, and then assign that capacity to the PBI workspace. Is that correct?

Also, is there a way that I can determine, from my PBI workspace, who the tenant/Azure admin would be?

[v-shex-msft]

Hi @AnnOminous,

In fact, this is a standalone permission named as 'capacity admin' that you can viewed at the 'admin portal' , 'capacity settings'. (notice: even if you are not PBI admin these options can also be checked if you have correspond permission )

These permissions can be managed on 'azure portal'-> 'fabric capacity'.

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng

[AnnOminous]

How did this get marked as a solution? This CLEARLY doesn't address my issue, since it's a view that's only available to the tenant admins and I've called out in my original post that I am only a workspace admin. 

If it's possible to remove this as an accepted solution, can someone on the MS side do so? It's not helpful to direct people to this as a solved issue when it's still not solved.

[lbendlin]

unmarked as requested.

[AnnOminous]

lbendlin, thanks, and apologies if my response came off as harsh. I thought that someone on the MS team had marked their own response as a solution and was annoyed at the state based on that clearly incorrect assumption.

If it was you that marked it as such, I can see how it could have looked like a step in the right direction from your perspective. Unfortunately, the only thing I can see when I view the admin portal is Refresh summary, which is of no real value at all if it's the only thing you can see.

[lbendlin]

Have you contacted your tenant admin and your vendor management group as I suggested?  You can't just "enable Fabric". You have to make purchases.

[AnnOminous]

No. I was able to find a contact internally that provided me with detailed instructions on how to create the capacity (which I realize is the component that needs to be purchased) and then assign my workspace to it, but it came in just before the winter break so I haven't had a chance to look into it yet. Not sure if it tells me how I can identify my capacity admin, although it does make me think that if I'm the one purchasing the capacity (or, more accurately, purchasing it on my org's behalf) then I'll actually be the capacity admin once it's in place.

[lbendlin]

You got it right - you need to identify your company's tenant admin and talk to them (and likely to Vendor Management as well).  Note that Fabric features can be enabled on Power BI Premium capacities  (by said tenant admin, not by you)

[AnnOminous]

lbendlin, thanks.

Turns out I didn't mention in my original post that one of the roadblocks I've been facing in trying to figure all of this out is how to find out who my tenant admin is. Much like trying to find out who's managing your SP tenancy at the top level, MS makes it pretty much impossible to determine who you need to talk to for stuff like this.

But this is still helpful. At least now I know that I have to see if I can figure out who the heck that is. Although it looks like my workspace is licensed for Power BI Pro, so maybe it's not even an option for me. I was able to play with Fabric using a trial license, but that's not going to be enough for me to actually put a supportable solution in place.

Anyway, thanks again, appreciate the response!

PS - LOVE your profile tagline. It's hilarious!