The On-premises data gateway acts as a communication bridge between on-premises data sources and Azure cloud services. You can use this to set up automated workflows that collect, manipulate, and disperse data, without depending on cloud storage. One significant advantage of this setup is that you can maintain your data locally, addressing any data sovereignty issues while still leveraging the processing power of Azure services.
Installing the On-Premises Data Gateway
The gateway is software that you install within your on-premises environment. Here is a step-by-step guide:
- Download the gateway from the Power BI service.
- Run the installer, which will guide you through the setup process.
- After installing, sign in to the gateway with the same account you plan to use with Power Automate.
- Choose a name and recovery key for the gateway. Microsoft won’t be able to help recover the lost recovery key, so keep it stored securely.
Remember that the gateway cannot be installed on a domain controller, and the computer should have connectivity to the internet and your on-premises data source.
Connecting to On-Premises Data
Once the gateway is installed, setting up a connection to an on-premises data source is straightforward:
- In Power Automate, create a new flow or edit an existing one.
- Add a new action that connects to an on-premises data source.
- In the connection settings, choose the gateway that you have set up.
- Enter the necessary details to connect to your on-premises data source – this would usually include things like host name, database name, and credentials.
Your flow can now interact with your on-premises data.
Configuring Power Automate
To use on-premises data in your cloud flows, you should have Power Automate configured:
- Select ‘Data’ from the left side pane in Power Automate.
- Choose ‘Connections’ > ‘New connection’.
- Find the connector for your on-premises data. For example, if you’re connecting to a SQL Server, choose the SQL Server connector.
- Enter the necessary details, such as the server name and database name.
- From the ‘Connect Via Gateway’ dropdown, choose the gateway that you’ve just installed. Enter the necessary credentials, then click ‘Create’.
Power Automate can now interact with your on-premises data through this connection. You can use this connection in any flows that you create.
Considerations and Limitations
There are a few important things to remember while using an on-premises data gateway:
- The gateway uses outbound connections. Your firewall should allow outbound connections over HTTPS.
- The gateway doesn’t change the data security or compliance scenario. You’re responsible for protecting data and meeting any legal or regulatory requirements.
- Gateway doesn’t provide a real-time connection. There can be a lag depending on the load on your system and network.
In conclusion, the on-premises data gateway is a powerful tool that allows you to leverage the power of Microsoft Power Automate with your on-premises data. Understanding how to utilize it is an essential skill for any developer preparing for the “PL-500 Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer” exam.
Practice Test
The on-premises data gateway allows cloud flows to connect to on-premises data.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The on-premises data gateway provides quick and secure data transfer between on-premises data and Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI, and Azure Logic Apps.
To use on-premises data gateway, the data must be stored only in Microsoft cloud storage services.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The on-premises data gateway can connect to various types of on-premises data sources and is not limited to Microsoft cloud storage services.
Select the services that can use the on-premises data gateway.
- Power Automate
- Azure Logic Apps
- Power BI
- Salesforce
Answer: Power Automate, Azure Logic Apps, Power BI
Explanation: Salesforce is not a Microsoft product and does not utilize the on-premises data gateway. The gateway works with Power Automate, Azure Logic Apps, and Power BI.
The on-premises data gateway supports direct query data sources, such as SQL Server.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Direct query data sources like SQL Server can be directly connected via the on-premises data gateway for real-time data access.
On-premises data gateways cannot be clustered for high availability.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: On-premises data gateways indeed can be clustered for high availability to ensure continuity in the event that the primary gateway fails.
One on-premises data gateway can only support one Power Automate flow.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: A single on-premises data gateway can support multiple Power Automate flows.
Multiple gateways cannot be installed on the same computer.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Only one gateway installation is supported per machine.
The on-premises data gateway requires an Internet connection to function.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The gateway acts as the bridge between the on-premises data and the cloud storage, hence it requires an internet connection.
Cloud flows can automate data transfer between on-premises and cloud storage without using any data gateway.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The on-premises data gateway is required for cloud flows to connect and automate data transfer between on-premises data and the cloud.
The on-premises data gateway requires a separate Power BI license.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The on-premises data gateway does not need a separate Power BI license. The gateway is bound to the Microsoft 365 account you sign in with, not any particular Power BI license.
Encryption is used to secure data transferred via the on-premises data gateway.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The on-premises data gateway uses Azure Service Bus for all its network traffic and it uses encryption to secure data in transit.
Interview Questions
What is the main purpose of the on-premises data gateway?
The on-premises data gateway is a bridge that provides swift and secure data transfer between on-premises data (data that is located within an internal network) and the cloud-based services used in Power Automate.
What should be considered before installing the on-premises data gateway?
Before installing the on-premises data gateway, you should ensure that your system requirements match the prerequisites for the gateway, your account has the appropriate permissions, and you have a stable internet connection.
How do you set up the on-premises data gateway for Power Automate?
First, download the on-premises data gateway from the Microsoft download center. Then install and configure it on a computer on your network. When configuring, use the same account that you use to sign into Power Automate.
Can we use one on-premises data gateway with multiple cloud services?
Yes, you can use the same on-premises data gateway with several services such as Power BI, PowerApps, Azure Logic Apps, and Power Automate.
Can the on-premises data gateway be installed on multiple computers?
No, each data gateway installation requires a different gateway and name. For high availability and load balancing, you can install additional data gateways in the same region.
Is the on-premises data gateway required to connect cloud flows to on-premises data?
Yes, the on-premises data gateway is required to create a secure connection between cloud flows and on-premises data without the need for data migration or public exposure of data.
How often do you need to update the on-premises data gateway?
It is recommended to frequently update the on-premises data gateway for the latest features and security patches. Automatic updates can be enabled as per convenience.
How does the on-premises data gateway manage data security?
The gateway ensures your data remains secure by encrypting data sent between the cloud and the gateway, only sending queries from cloud services to your database, and never storing your data in the cloud.
Are there any ports that must be open for the on-premises data gateway to work correctly?
Yes, the ports required by the on-premises data gateway include ports 80 and 443.
How do I troubleshoot issues with the on-premises data gateway?
Power Automate provides a set of troubleshooting tools for the on-premises data gateway. These include auditing logs, network tests, and restarting the gateway service.
How secure is the data transmission through on-premises data gateway?
Data transmission through on-premises data gateway is very secure as it maintains an outbound connection to Azure Service Bus and uses Azure Relay Service for security.
Can the on-premises data gateway service be used for real-time operations?
Yes, the on-premises data gateway supports real-time and scheduled operations.
Can you use the on-premises data gateway to connect to a SQL Server instance?
Yes, an on-premises data gateway can be used to connect to a SQL Server instance by creating a SQL Server connection in Power Automate.
How can I monitor the performance of the on-premises data gateway?
You can use the Power Platform Admin center in Power Automate to monitor the performance and status of your on-premises data gateway.
Can you remove or delete an on-premises data gateway?
Yes, you can remove or delete an on-premises data gateway from the Power Platform Admin center or from the machine where it is installed.
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