Tutorial: Deploy an Azure Analysis Services Model

This tutorial guides you through the process of deploying your Azure Analysis Services model to a server instance. Deployment involves transferring your tabular model project from Visual Studio to your Analysis Services server, making it accessible for querying and reporting.

Prerequisites

Important: Ensure your Analysis Services server is running and accessible. Network security rules (firewalls, VNet integration) should be configured correctly if you are connecting from a restricted environment.

Steps to Deploy Your Model

  1. Open Your Tabular Model Project in Visual Studio:

    Launch Visual Studio and open your existing Azure Analysis Services tabular model project. This project contains the definition of your data model, including tables, relationships, and calculations.

  2. Configure Deployment Server Property:

    In Solution Explorer, right-click on your Analysis Services project (e.g., "MyModelProject") and select Properties.

    In the Project Properties window:

    • Navigate to the Deployment tab.
    • Under Server name, enter the fully qualified name of your Azure Analysis Services server. This will typically look like yourservername.asazure.windows.net.
    • Under Database name, specify the name you want for the deployed database on the server. If you leave this blank, it will default to the project name.
    • Ensure the Deployment action is set to Deploy.
    Visual Studio Project Properties for Deployment
    Visual Studio Project Properties - Deployment Tab
  3. Build the Solution:

    Before deploying, it's a good practice to build your project to ensure there are no compilation errors.

    Go to Build > Build Solution.

    Check the Output window for any build warnings or errors. Resolve them if necessary.

  4. Deploy the Model:

    Right-click on your Analysis Services project in Solution Explorer and select Deploy.

    Alternatively, you can go to Debug > Deploy Solution.

  5. Monitor Deployment Progress:

    Visual Studio will initiate the deployment process. You'll see a deployment status window appear, showing the progress of deploying the model to your Azure Analysis Services server.

    Analysis Services Deployment Progress
    Deployment Progress Window

    Upon successful completion, the status will indicate "Deployment completed successfully."

  6. Verify Deployment:

    Once deployed, you can verify the model in your Azure Analysis Services server:

    • Navigate to your Azure Analysis Services server in the Azure portal.
    • In the server overview, click on Server admin to ensure you have the correct permissions.
    • You can also connect to the server using tools like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Tabular Editor to view the deployed database.
Troubleshooting: If deployment fails, check the error messages carefully. Common issues include incorrect server names, authentication problems, network connectivity issues, or resource limitations on the Analysis Services server.

Next Steps

After successfully deploying your model, you can:

You have now successfully deployed your Azure Analysis Services model. This opens up possibilities for advanced analytics and interactive reporting for your organization.