Managing Your Gateway

Grant the Reporting Hub direct access to your gateway and data source

The most common scenario for data connection in Power is called "import mode", where Power BI stores the data in memory and acts as an intermediary for users to access that data via the Report or Dashboard. In this scenario, the Reporting Hub does not need to be added to your gateway or data source.

If you prefer to set up a direct connection between Power BI and your data source, known as "Direct Query" or a "live connection," and your data source is behind a gateway, additional configuration is needed. In that scenario, you'll need to grant your Reporting Hub service principal user access to both the Power BI gateway and the data source.

Similarly, if you're embedding a paginated report that uses a data source behind a gateway, you'll also need to add the Reporting Hub to the gateway and data source.

Important: You must add the Reporting Hub service principal to your gateway and data source if you are:

• using direct query connection to data sources behind a gateway in your Power BI report

• using a paginated report that references data behind a gateway

The report will error in the Reporting Hub otherwise.

You need a gateway for data sources that: reside on-premises, are located in a private network, or have connection requirements that the Power BI service doesn't support (like a driver or client library).

Learn more about data gateways at the Microsoft documentation linked below.

On-premises data gateway - Power BIMicrosoftLearn

Granting The Reporting Hub Access to Your Gateway and Data Source

1. From your admin settings drop-down, select Power BI Settings.

   

   Select Power BI Settings from the Admin Settings menu
2. Select the Manage Gateway tab.

3. Select the relevant gateway from the Available Gateways drop-down.

   

   Select a gateway from the dropdown
4. Information corresponding to your gateway will appear. Verify that it's correct.

5. Select Grant Access.

   

   Grant Access
6. Once access has been granted, a green Active icon will appear next to your data source.

   

   Active icon
7. Select Save Changes.

Important: Assigning the Reporting Hub service principal direct access must be done within the Reporting Hub, as opposed to within the Power BI service. Since Power BI does not recognize a service principal as a regular 'user', such permission must be granted through an API call.

Revoking Access to a Data Source

To revoke access, click the Active icon. An Access Control pop-up will appear confirming you wish to remove the Reporting Hub service principal access. Select Yes.