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Deploying Models to Azure Analysis Services

This document provides comprehensive guidance on deploying tabular and multidimensional models to Azure Analysis Services. Learn about different deployment methods, best practices, and troubleshooting tips.

Introduction to Deployment

Deploying your Analysis Services model is a critical step in making your data accessible to users and applications. Azure Analysis Services offers several flexible deployment options to suit your workflow and requirements.

Deployment Methods

1. Deploying from Visual Studio (SQL Server Data Tools)

Visual Studio with SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is the primary tool for developing and deploying Analysis Services models. You can deploy directly from your development environment to an Azure Analysis Services instance.

  1. Open your Analysis Services project in Visual Studio.
  2. In the Solution Explorer, right-click on your project.
  3. Select Deploy.
  4. In the Analysis Services Deploy Wizard, enter your Azure Analysis Services server name.
  5. Follow the prompts to complete the deployment.

2. Deploying Using Tabular Editor

Tabular Editor is a powerful third-party tool for managing and deploying Analysis Services models. It offers advanced features for schema comparison, scripting, and deployment.

To deploy using Tabular Editor:

  1. Connect to your Azure Analysis Services server.
  2. Open your model.
  3. Use the Save to Server option or script the deployment using C#.
Note: Tabular Editor is not a Microsoft product. Refer to its official documentation for detailed usage instructions.

3. Automating Deployments with Azure DevOps and PowerShell

For CI/CD pipelines, automating model deployment is essential. You can use Azure DevOps or PowerShell scripts to deploy your models to Azure Analysis Services.

Using Azure DevOps Pipelines

Integrate your Analysis Services deployment into your Azure DevOps pipeline. You can use tasks such as "SQL Server Analysis Services Deployment" or custom PowerShell scripts.

Using PowerShell

The Azure Analysis Services PowerShell module (Az.AnalysisServices) provides cmdlets for managing and deploying models. You can script deployment using the Deploy-ASDatabase cmdlet.

PowerShell Example
$serverName = "your-aas-server.windows.net" $databaseName = "YourDatabaseName" $modelPath = "path\to\your\model.asdatabase" Invoke-ASAzureModelDeploy -Server $serverName -DatabaseName $databaseName -ModelPath $modelPath -EnvironmentName Azure

Deployment Considerations

  • Server Name: Ensure you have the correct server name for your Azure Analysis Services instance.
  • Permissions: The account or service principal used for deployment must have the necessary permissions (e.g., Administrator role) on the Azure Analysis Services server.
  • Model Compatibility Level: Deploying a model to a server with a lower compatibility level than the model might result in errors. Always ensure your server's compatibility level supports your model.
  • Data Refresh: After deployment, you will typically need to configure and run data refreshes to populate the deployed model with data.

Troubleshooting Deployment Issues

Common deployment issues include connectivity problems, insufficient permissions, and incompatible model versions.

  • Check your server name and connection string.
  • Verify that your credentials have the required administrative privileges on the server.
  • Ensure the compatibility level of your model is supported by your Azure Analysis Services instance.
  • Review the deployment logs for detailed error messages.
Tip: For advanced scenarios, consider using the TOM (Tabular Object Model) API to programmatically manage deployments and configurations.

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