Can a gateway contain both import and direct query connections in Power BI? Power BI interview questions and answers 401

 Can a gateway contain both import and direct query connections in Power BI?

Yes, a single gateway in Power BI can effectively manage both import and direct query connections, providing flexibility for different data needs.

Here's a breakdown of how it works:

1. Gateway Configuration:

• Register Data Sources: Within the gateway configuration, you can register both on-premises data sources intended for import and those for direct query.

• Connection Details: Provide necessary connection details (server names, database names, authentication credentials) for each data source.

2. Data Model Management:

• Independent Models: Power BI maintains separate data models for import and direct query datasets.

• Import Models: Import models store data locally within Power BI, enabling faster performance for interactive analysis.

• Direct Query Models: Direct query models maintain a live connection to the source database, ensuring up-to-date data but potentially impacting performance for large datasets or complex queries.

3. Report and Dashboard Development:

• Choose Connection Mode: When creating reports and dashboards, you can select either import or direct query mode for each dataset based on your analysis requirements.

• Visualization and Interaction: Both import and direct query datasets can be used seamlessly within visuals and interact with each other through filters and cross-highlighting.

Key Considerations:

• Performance: Import models generally offer faster performance for interactive analysis, while direct query models provide real-time data but might be slower for large datasets or complex queries.

• Data Refresh: Import models require scheduled data refreshes, while direct query models always reflect the latest data.

• Data Security: Implement appropriate security measures, especially for direct query connections to sensitive data sources.

By effectively utilizing both import and direct query connections within a single gateway, you can leverage the benefits of both approaches to achieve optimal data analysis and visualization in Power BI.