BI Connector Suite
Seamlessly connect your favorite business intelligence tools to your data lake with our high-performance, secure connectors for Tableau and PowerBI.
Optimized BI Integration
Our BI Connector Suite provides native, high-performance connections between your data lake and leading business intelligence tools, enabling analysts to work with their preferred visualization environments while leveraging the power and scale of your big data infrastructure.
Our connectors are designed to eliminate the traditional barriers between BI tools and big data platforms, providing a seamless experience for both business analysts and data engineers.
Tableau Connector
Native Tableau Integration
Our Tableau connector provides a seamless, high-performance connection between Tableau Desktop, Tableau Server, and Tableau Online and your NebulaLake data platform. The connector is certified by Tableau and supports the full range of Tableau capabilities.
Performance Optimization
- Query pushdown: Offload computation to the data lake for optimal performance
- Intelligent caching: Automatically cache frequently accessed data
- Parallel query execution: Distribute complex queries across the cluster
- Columnar optimization: Leverage columnar formats for faster analytics
Data Access
- Live connection mode: Direct query execution for real-time dashboards
- Extract mode: Optimized extraction for offline analysis
- Hybrid access: Combine live and extracted data for optimal performance
- Incremental refresh: Efficiently update extracts with only new data
Security Integration
- Authentication methods: SAML, OAuth, Kerberos, LDAP integration
- Row-level security: Seamless integration with data lake security policies
- Credential passthrough: End-to-end user identity propagation
- Audit logging: Comprehensive tracking of data access
Example Connection String:
server=data.aukstaitijadata.com;port=10000;database=your_database;
auth=OAUTH;ssl=1;sslmode=verify-ca
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ TABLEAU CONNECTOR FLOW ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────────────┐ ║
║ │ Tableau │ │ │ ║
║ │ Desktop │◄──┐ │ CONNECTOR LAYER │ ║
║ └─────────┘ │ │ ┌─────────────┐ │ ║
║ ├───┤ │ Query │ │ ║
║ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ Optimizer │ │ ║
║ │ Tableau │ │ │ └─────────────┘ │ ║
║ │ Server │◄──┘ │ │ ║
║ └─────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┐ │ ║
║ │ │ Security │ │ ║
║ ┌─────────┐ │ │ Manager │ │ ║
║ │ Tableau │ │ └─────────────┘ │ ║
║ │ Online │◄──────┤ │ ║
║ └─────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┐ │ ║
║ │ │ Performance │ │ ║
║ │ │ Monitor │ │ ║
║ │ └─────────────┘ │ ║
║ └───────┬───────────┘ ║
║ │ ║
║ ┌───────▼───────────┐ ║
║ │ DATA LAKE │ ║
║ │ (HDFS/S3) │ ║
║ └───────────────────┘ ║
║ ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
PowerBI Connector
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ POWERBI CONNECTOR FLOW ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ ┌─────────┐ ┌───────────────────┐ ║
║ │ PowerBI │ │ │ ║
║ │ Desktop │◄──┐ │ CONNECTOR LAYER │ ║
║ └─────────┘ │ │ ┌─────────────┐ │ ║
║ ├───┤ │ Direct │ │ ║
║ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ Query │ │ ║
║ │ PowerBI │ │ │ └─────────────┘ │ ║
║ │ Service │◄──┘ │ │ ║
║ └─────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┐ │ ║
║ │ │ Azure AD │ │ ║
║ ┌─────────┐ │ │ Integration │ │ ║
║ │ PowerBI │ │ └─────────────┘ │ ║
║ │ Gateway │◄──────┤ │ ║
║ └─────────┘ │ ┌─────────────┐ │ ║
║ │ │ Dataflows │ │ ║
║ │ │ Support │ │ ║
║ │ └─────────────┘ │ ║
║ └───────┬───────────┘ ║
║ │ ║
║ ┌───────▼───────────┐ ║
║ │ DATA LAKE │ ║
║ │ (HDFS/S3) │ ║
║ └───────────────────┘ ║
║ ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Microsoft PowerBI Integration
Our PowerBI connector provides native integration with Microsoft's BI ecosystem, enabling seamless access to your data lake from PowerBI Desktop, PowerBI Service, and through on-premises data gateways. The connector is certified by Microsoft and supports the full range of PowerBI capabilities.
DirectQuery Optimization
- Query folding: Push operations to the data lake for optimal performance
- Smart query generation: Generate efficient SQL for complex DAX expressions
- Parallel execution: Distribute queries across the cluster
- Aggregation pushdown: Optimize aggregate calculations at the source
Data Modeling Support
- Import mode: Optimized data extraction for in-memory processing
- DirectQuery mode: Real-time querying for up-to-date dashboards
- Composite models: Combine imported and direct query tables
- Incremental refresh: Efficiently update models with only new data
Enterprise Security
- Azure AD integration: Seamless identity management
- Row-level security: Consistent access control across platforms
- Single sign-on: End-to-end authentication flow
- Compliance logging: Detailed audit trails for data access
Example Connection String:
Provider=NebulaLake.Hadoop;Data Source=data.aukstaitijadata.com;
Initial Catalog=your_database;Authentication=ActiveDirectoryInteractive
Supported Authentication Schemes
Our BI connectors support a wide range of authentication methods to seamlessly integrate with your existing identity and access management infrastructure while maintaining robust security.
SAML 2.0
Support for Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) 2.0 enables single sign-on integration with major identity providers including Okta, Azure AD, Ping Identity, and OneLogin. Includes support for multi-factor authentication and just-in-time provisioning.
OAuth 2.0
Complete OAuth 2.0 implementation with support for authorization code flow, implicit flow, and client credentials flow. Includes refresh token handling, token validation, and scope-based authorization for fine-grained access control.
Kerberos
Secure network authentication protocol support with Kerberos ticket management, service principal name (SPN) configuration, and delegation capabilities. Compatible with Active Directory and MIT Kerberos implementations.
LDAP / Active Directory
Direct integration with LDAP directories and Active Directory for authentication and group-based authorization. Includes support for secure LDAPS connections, nested group resolution, and directory synchronization.
Azure Active Directory
Native integration with Azure AD for Microsoft environments, including support for modern authentication flows, conditional access policies, and tenant isolation. Enables seamless single sign-on for PowerBI and Microsoft ecosystem.
JWT
Support for JSON Web Tokens with configurable signature verification, claim validation, and token expiration policies. Enables stateless authentication and integration with custom identity providers.
Query Optimization Technology
Advanced Performance Engineering
Our BI connectors incorporate sophisticated query optimization technologies that transform standard BI queries into highly efficient execution plans tailored for big data environments. This results in dramatically faster performance compared to generic database connectors.
Intelligent Query Planning
- Cost-based optimization: Select the most efficient execution plan based on data statistics and cluster resources
- Predicate pushdown: Filter data early in the execution pipeline to minimize data movement
- Join optimization: Automatically select the most appropriate join strategy (broadcast, shuffle, etc.)
- Subquery optimization: Flatten and rewrite nested queries for better performance
Intelligent Caching
- Result caching: Cache query results with automatic invalidation based on data changes
- Metadata caching: Optimize schema discovery and validation operations
- Partition pruning: Skip irrelevant data partitions based on query predicates
- Materialized view matching: Automatically leverage pre-computed aggregations when available
Data Optimization
- Columnar format utilization: Leverage Parquet and ORC formats for efficient analytics
- Dynamic partition selection: Read only relevant data partitions based on query filters
- Statistics-based optimization: Use column-level statistics to optimize execution plans
- Adaptive execution: Adjust query plans during execution based on runtime statistics
Performance Benchmarks:
- Interactive queries (< 1B rows): 75-95% reduction in query time vs. standard JDBC/ODBC
- Analytical queries (1B-100B rows): 85-98% reduction in query time vs. standard JDBC/ODBC
- Complex aggregations: Up to 99% reduction in query time through intelligent pushdown
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ QUERY OPTIMIZATION FLOW ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ║
║ Original Query ║
║ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║
║ │ SELECT c.customer_id, SUM(o.amount) │ ║
║ │ FROM customers c │ ║
║ │ JOIN orders o ON c.id = o.customer_id │ ║
║ │ WHERE c.region = 'Europe' │ ║
║ │ GROUP BY c.customer_id │ ║
║ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║
║ │ ║
║ ▼ ║
║ Logical Optimization ║
║ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║
║ │ 1. Push WHERE to customers scan │ ║
║ │ 2. Push projection before join │ ║
║ │ 3. Optimize join strategy │ ║
║ │ 4. Partition pruning: region='Europe' │ ║
║ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║
║ │ ║
║ ▼ ║
║ Physical Plan ║
║ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║
║ │ 1. Scan customers (partition filtered) │ ║
║ │ 2. Broadcast customers to workers │ ║
║ │ 3. Parallel scan orders │ ║
║ │ 4. Hash join on workers │ ║
║ │ 5. Parallel aggregation │ ║
║ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║
║ │ ║
║ ▼ ║
║ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║
║ │ Query Execution │ ║
║ └────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║
║ ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Best Practices for Querying Data Lakes
Filter Early and Effectively
Apply filters as early as possible in your queries to minimize the amount of data that needs to be processed. Our connectors automatically push filters to the data lake level, but designing dashboards with appropriate filters significantly improves performance.
Example:
Use date range filters that align with data partitioning schemes for optimal performance. Filter on partition columns whenever possible.
Leverage Aggregated Tables
For dashboards that don't require row-level detail, use pre-aggregated tables or views instead of aggregating raw data at query time. Our platform includes tools to create and maintain these aggregations automatically.
Example:
For daily sales dashboards, use daily_sales_summary instead of calculating sums from individual transactions.
Optimize Data Models
Design your data models to match your query patterns. Denormalize when appropriate for analytical workloads, and use star or snowflake schemas for dimensional analysis. Our connectors work best with well-designed analytical models.
Example:
Create dimension tables for commonly filtered attributes and fact tables for metrics, with appropriate surrogate keys for joins.
Incremental Loading
For dashboards using imported data, configure incremental refresh to load only new or changed data. Both Tableau and PowerBI support incremental loading with our connectors, significantly reducing refresh times for large datasets.
Example:
Configure PowerBI incremental refresh using date/time parameters to load only the last 7 days of data during each refresh.
Push Calculations to the Source
Whenever possible, perform calculations in the data lake rather than in the BI tool. Our connectors can translate many BI-specific calculations to efficient SQL that executes in the data lake, leveraging distributed processing power.
Example:
Create calculated fields in the data source rather than in Tableau calculated fields for better performance.
Monitor and Optimize
Use the performance monitoring tools included with our connectors to identify slow queries and optimization opportunities. Regular performance reviews can help maintain dashboard responsiveness as data volumes grow.
Example:
Review the query log weekly to identify the top 5 slowest queries and optimize them for better performance.
Sample Dashboards
Our platform includes a library of sample dashboards for both Tableau and PowerBI that demonstrate best practices for querying data lakes and can be used as starting points for your own analytics projects.
Operational Analytics
Real-time Operations Monitor
Live dashboard showing key operational metrics with near real-time updates. Demonstrates DirectQuery/Live Connection mode with optimized query patterns for responsive performance.
- Sub-second refresh rates for critical metrics
- Efficient handling of high-frequency data
- Anomaly detection with alerting thresholds
Supply Chain Visibility
End-to-end supply chain dashboard integrating data from multiple systems. Shows effective use of join optimization and data model design for complex cross-system analytics.
- Multi-level drill-down capabilities
- Geospatial visualization of supply chain
- Predictive inventory and lead time analytics
Customer Analytics
Customer 360 View
Comprehensive customer profile dashboard integrating demographic, behavioral, and transactional data. Demonstrates effective data modeling for customer analytics at scale.
- Segmentation and cohort analysis
- Customer journey visualization
- Predictive churn and lifetime value models
Marketing Campaign Performance
Multi-channel marketing analytics dashboard tracking campaign performance across digital and traditional channels. Shows effective use of attribution modeling with big data.
- Multi-touch attribution modeling
- ROI and conversion analytics
- Audience segment performance comparison
Financial Analytics
Financial Performance Monitor
Executive financial dashboard with drill-down capabilities from company-level KPIs to transaction details. Demonstrates hierarchical data modeling and aggregation optimization.
- Multi-dimensional variance analysis
- Trend analysis and forecasting
- Scenario modeling capabilities
Risk Analytics Suite
Risk management dashboard integrating market, credit, and operational risk metrics. Shows advanced analytical techniques with large-scale data processing.
- Real-time risk exposure monitoring
- Stress testing and scenario analysis
- Regulatory compliance reporting
All sample dashboards are available as part of our platform deployment and can be customized to your specific data models and business requirements. Our data engineering team can assist with adapting these templates to your environment.
Ready to Connect Your BI Tools?
Contact us today to discuss how our BI Connector Suite can enhance your analytics capabilities and maximize the value of your data lake investment.