When a report in the Power BI Service fails to refresh because of issues with the gateway connection, many issues could be at play. Please see below the major troubleshooting measures you can carry out to help you pinpoint and fix these problems.
Check the Gateway Status and Data Source:
Make sure that the gateway is up and running within the Power BI Service. Log in to the Power BI Admin Portal and navigate to the Gateway Status to check whether it is online.
Also, make sure to check the data source connection configured in the gateway. There are instances when the data source is not active or is misconfigured so that the gateway is unable to connect to it for refreshing. So, ensure that your data source has the right credentials and configurations and can be accessed.
Network and Firewall Configuration:
Make sure the server where the gateway is installed can connect over the network to the data source. Sometimes, network issues, especially those relating to a firewall, can prevent this connection from taking place, which in turn results in a refresh failure. Confirm that the necessary ports for the gateway are accessible and that the server can reach the data source.
Further, in case the data source is a cloud-based solution, do not place the gateway behind any network defenses, such as a VPN or even a proxy, that would overly restrict communication with the data source.
Verify the Credentials for the Data Source:
To begin with, verify the credentials saved in Power BI for the data source. If the credentials have expired or changed, data access via the gateway will be impossible. Therefore, the credentials must be correct and up-to-date within the Power BI Service.
Analyze the Logs of the Gateway:
If the approaches mentioned above do not solve the problem, proceed to check the gateway log for error information. The logs would have diagnostic details on the failure, for example, timeouts, authentication failures, and connection failures.
Try Performing a Manual Refresh:
Before reaching any conclusion, try a manual dataset refresh on the Power BI service to find out if the error is occasional or constant. If it works sometimes and other times it does not, there is a chance that certain time loading or network conditions cause the issue.
Update Gateway Software:
Always ensure that the On-Premises Data Gateway is using the most recent version available. As with every software, there are instances when issues are discovered and addressed in subsequent releases, which are intended to enhance seamless connectivity. If there are any updates available, install them and perform the refresh test once more.
Delete Cache and Create Dataset Again:
Data refresh problems may also arise in cases where the cache is cleared, or the dataset is rebuilt. This is effective in getting rid of damaged data or outdated settings that could obstruct the refresh operation.
Actions to Take to Prevent Disruptions in Gateway Connections:
Establish Alerts for Refresh Failures: Power BI can be arranged in such a manner that it will send alerts in case of a refresh failure, notifying you so that corrective action can be taken before the situation gets worse.
Facilitate Gateway Monitoring: Your gateway's health checks and performance should be done regularly to avoid any possible strain on it. If necessary, pay attention to the size of your gateway infrastructure if you have numerous large datasets or reports.
Redundant Gateway Setup:
It is also possible to set up a second gateway to refresh data even when the primary gateway is unreachable. This comes in handy, especially in large companies where timely reports are a must.
Every Zone Should Do a Test on Regular Basic:
Connections and credentials to your data sources should be tested routinely to avoid issues during scheduled refreshes.
With the implementation of these measures, the need to worry about gateway connection failures will be greatly minimized, thereby enhancing the uninterrupted refreshing of your Power BI reports.
