Status and Future of Connector for Data Lake Gen2

[Anonymous]

References >>

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform-release-plan/2020wave1/cdm-data-integration/new-enha...

AND

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/April19/business-intelligence/p...

Can anyone shed some lights on what happend with the Connectore for ADLGen2 in Power BI Services which is still in Preview and which is not mentioned in the latest Release notes? ADLS Gen 1 is mentioned - should it say ADLS Gen 2 instead?

It seems like Synapse is the answer to everything based on what was communicated during Ignite 2019. We found the Connector to fit well with regards to securing the end-to-end process consuming data from Data Lake, but we are now very uncertain about the future of the Connector... Will it ever reach GA?

We know that it requires Premium Capacity (Dataflow) and that it would be more suitable for larger Enterprises (also only supports one Connection per tenant in the current impementation).

Thank you in advance.

[v-shex-msft]

Hi @Anonymous,

AFAIK, current power already supports to use the desktop to get data from Azure data lake storage gen2, you can refer to below link to know more about this connector:

Analyze data in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 by using Power BI 

In addition, you can also use dataflow to link to azure data lake storage gen2. (it configured on the azure side and does not require a premium license)

Please refer to the following document about use dataflow to link to azure data lake storage gen2:

Connect Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 for dataflow storage 

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng

[Anonymous]

Thank you @v-shex-msft 

I'm aware of the option to Analyze data in Azure Data Lake Storage GEn2 by using Power BI Desktop. But this requires additional work since this connector (connection) is'nt CDM aware (end up with seeing the data in the csv files, but you have to map the column names).

I'm also aware of the article describing Connect Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 for dataflow storage and this is the core of my question. Maybe the term Connector is wrong, but the section Connect your Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 to Power BI is exactly what I'm asking about. After you Configure the connection to your Data Lake Gen2 enabled Azure Storage Account in Power BI Services (requires GA), the Attach an external CDM folder to a new dataflow (Preview) lights up and this is as the name says, CDM aware (understands model.json). After generating the Dataflow, this is directly consumable from Power BI Desktop (Get Data - Power BI Dataflows). This is the feature I'm asking about the GA date for or links to when (if) it will be GA. 

The buty based on my experience is that it allows central administration and access control (Workplaces), but it's quite difficult to discuss this with Customers - we as a Partner are confronted with "it's Preview - when will it be GA" and from there, we struggle...

[Anonymous]

I think I have finally got this right 🤐

The Attach an external CDM folder to a new dataflow (Preview) is not related to Connect your Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 to Power BI - unless You for some reason would like to store and share the Dataflow, in Your ADLGen2 (BYOL). It seems like The Attach an external CDM folder to a new dataflow (Preview), is related to The New Workspace experience in P BI Services.

It maks sense since The Attach an external CDM folder to a new dataflow (Preview) is reading CDM "data" from ADLGen2 (file system) and by default store the Dataflow in P BI Services. 

After this clarification (hopefully), the question should be - When will The Attach an external CDM folder to a new dataflow (Preview) be GA?

[v-shex-msft]

HI @Anonymous,

I checked the official blog but haven't found any related article mention this feature was released as GA.
So it means this feature still in preview, maybe you can vote similarly requirements to increase the priory of the release plan.

Regards,

Xiaoxin Sheng