Connecting Data to Azure Analysis Services

Azure Analysis Services enables you to connect to various data sources to build analytical models. This document outlines the steps and considerations for establishing these connections.

Supported Data Sources

Azure Analysis Services supports a wide range of data sources, including:

Azure SQL Database
Azure Synapse Analytics
SQL Server (on-premises and Azure VM)
Azure Blob Storage
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen1 & Gen2
Oracle
Teradata
And many more...

Connection Methods

You can establish connections using different methods, primarily:

Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): A graphical tool for managing Analysis Services.
Using Visual Studio with Analysis Services Projects: A powerful development environment for building complex models.
Using Tabular Editor: A popular third-party tool for managing tabular models.
Programmatically: Using client libraries like TOM (Tabular Object Model) or AMO (Analysis Management Objects).

Steps to Connect Data

1. Using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Launch SSMS and connect to your Azure Analysis Services server instance. You'll typically use the server name provided in the Azure portal.
Right-click on the server name and select New Model.
Choose the model type (Tabular or Multidimensional). For most modern scenarios, Tabular is recommended.
In the Model Designer, right-click on Tables and select Add Table.
The Import Data wizard will appear. Select your data source type from the list.
Provide the connection details for your chosen data source (server name, database name, authentication credentials).
Select the tables or views you want to import into your model.
Click Load to import the data.

2. Using Visual Studio with Analysis Services Projects

Install the SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for Visual Studio.
Create a new Analysis Services Tabular Project in Visual Studio.
In the Solution Explorer, right-click on Data Sources and select Add Data Source.
In the Table import wizard, select your data source type and configure the connection string.
Use the Navigator to select the tables and columns.
The selected data will be available in your model. You can then define relationships, calculations, and hierarchies.

Note: When connecting to on-premises data sources from Azure Analysis Services, you will need to configure an On-premises data gateway.

Connection Strings

Connection strings are crucial for establishing links to your data. A typical connection string for Azure Analysis Services looks like this:

                Server=asazure://[region].asazure.windows.net/[your_server_name];Database=[your_database_name];...
            

For data sources, the connection string format varies. For example, connecting to Azure SQL Database:

                Server=tcp:[your_sql_server].database.windows.net,1433;Database=[your_database];User ID=[your_username];Password=[your_password];...
            

Authentication and Security

Proper authentication and security are paramount:

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): The recommended method for authenticating to Azure Analysis Services and many Azure data sources.
SQL Authentication: For SQL Server and Azure SQL Database, username and password can be used, though Azure AD is preferred.
Service Principals: For programmatic access and automation.

Tip: Always use the principle of least privilege when granting permissions to your data sources.

Data Refresh

Once connected, you'll need to configure data refresh to keep your models up-to-date:

Scheduled Refresh: Configure regular refreshes through the Azure portal or using tools like Azure Data Factory.
DirectQuery: For scenarios where real-time data is required, DirectQuery bypasses data import and queries the source directly.

Important: Ensure that your firewall rules on the data source allow connections from Azure Analysis Services or the on-premises data gateway.

Troubleshooting

Common connection issues include:

Incorrect server names or credentials.
Firewall blocking access.
Missing or incorrect gateway configuration.
Permissions issues on the data source.

Refer to the Azure Analysis Services documentation for detailed troubleshooting guides.