Working with an sql server database from app.powerbi.com without data gateway

Question

I want to host a Microsoft sql server database. This can be anywhere: On a dedicated server or on azure.

I want to access to this sql server database from a power bi report.

This report will be built with power bi desktop. But it will be published on app.powerbi.com

I have tried several things and i always need to install a Microsoft software called "data gateway". Without this software, app.powerbi.com is not able to access to my database.

This is very strange: How can you explain app.powerbi.com is not able to connect to an sql server database directly ?

Is there a way to do that without this data gateway ? I can change sql server by another technology like mysql if needed

Thanks a lot

question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/65829461/working-with-an-sql-server-database-from-app-powerbi-com-without-data-gateway

Answer 1

The app.powerbi.com is a cloud service on local internet whereas the SQL server database which you are creating is within vnet in onpremises. So for having a connectivity between cloud and onprem ,you need a bridge which is the on premises gateway. In case if you don't want any gateway to be configured, your source needs to be on cloud like Azure SQL database etc. Which is most likely for your case.

Azure SQL Logical server settings :