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Tableau Bridge
2024-01-18 05:34:02

Tableau Bridge

What exactly is a Tableau bridge?

Tableau Bridge is a Tableau component that allows you to access and refresh live data from on-premises data sources such as databases or applications in Tableau Online or Tableau Server. It serves as a link between your on-premises data and your Tableau Online or Server environment, allowing you to maintain connectivity and keep your visualizations and dashboards up to date with the most recent data. This is especially useful if you have data behind a firewall or in a local environment that needs to be updated on a regular basis in your Tableau Online or Server instance.

What is the purpose of a Tableau bridge?

A Tableau Bridge serves several functions that may be critical for your data analysis requirements:

  • Connectivity to On-Premises Data: If your data is stored in on-premises sources such as databases or applications that are inaccessible from Tableau Online or Server due to security or network restrictions, Tableau Bridge acts as a bridge, allowing you to securely connect to and access this data.
  • Real-Time or Scheduled Data Updates: It ensures that your Tableau Online or Server visualizations and dashboards are regularly updated with the most recent data from on-premises sources, whether in real-time or on a schedule. This is especially important if your analysis relies on current data to provide accurate insights.
  • Maintaining Security and Compliance: Tableau Bridge facilitates the secure transfer of sensitive data within the organization's firewall to Tableau Online or Server while adhering to security protocols and compliance standards.
  • Minimizing Data Transfer: Tableau Bridge optimizes data transfer by sending only the necessary changes or updates to Tableau Online or Server, reducing bandwidth usage and ensuring data synchronization efficiency.

Finally, Tableau Bridge serves as a safe and efficient link between your on-premises data sources and your Tableau Online or Server environment, allowing for seamless and up-to-date data analysis and visualization.

Tableau Bridge uses which ports?

Tableau Bridge makes use of a few different ports for various functions:

  • Outbound Communication: Tableau Bridge communicates via port 80, which is primarily used for HTTP traffic. This port is frequently used for interacting with Tableau Online or Tableau Server.
  • Inbound Communication: Tableau Bridge uses port 443, which is a standard port for HTTPS traffic, for inbound communication. This port is used for incoming traffic to Tableau Bridge, allowing for secure communication between Tableau Online and Tableau Server and the Bridge.
  • Data Connections: The ports used for data connections can vary depending on the data source to which you're connecting. Tableau Bridge facilitates connections to on-premises data sources, and the ports used for these connections are determined by the nature of the data source (such as databases, applications, and so on) and their respective protocols (for example, SQL Server may use port 1433 for SQL traffic).

It's important to note that your organization's network configurations, firewalls, and security measures can all have an impact on the ports used by Tableau Bridge. Tableau Bridge may require modifications to communicate effectively between your on-premises data sources and Tableau Online or Tableau Server.

Where should Tableau Bridge be installed?

Tableau Bridge should be installed on a machine with consistent access to your on-premises data sources as well as a dependable internet connection. Here are some places to think about installing Tableau Bridge:

  • On-Premises Network or Environment: It is recommended that you install Tableau Bridge within your on-premises network or environment. This ensures that the Bridge has direct and efficient access to your local data sources, without the need for complicated network configurations or security measures.
  • Machine Stability: Select a machine that is dependable and has consistent uptime. This helps to ensure that Tableau Bridge is always available for data connections and refreshes.
  • Connectivity: The machine on which Tableau Bridge is installed should have consistent internet access. This is required for Tableau Bridge to communicate with Tableau Online or Tableau Server in order to sync data.
  • Resource Availability: Take into account Tableau Bridge's resource requirements. While it doesn't usually necessitate a lot of resources, having enough computing power and memory on the machine can help it perform better, especially when dealing with large datasets or frequent data refreshes.
  • Considerations for Security: Ensure that the machine meets your organization's security standards. Tableau Bridge transfers data between on-premises sources and cloud environments, so it's critical to protect the machine from potential vulnerabilities or unauthorized access.

Tableau Bridge is typically installed on a dedicated machine in your organization's network, where it can securely bridge the gap between on-premises data sources and Tableau Online or Tableau Server for seamless data synchronization and access.

Conclusion

Tableau Bridge connects on-premises data sources to Tableau Online or Tableau Server, ensuring that your visualizations and dashboards have access to the most up-to-date data. It is critical to install Tableau Bridge on a stable machine in your on-premises environment with reliable connectivity. This enables secure and efficient data transfer, allowing Tableau to refresh and display the most up-to-date information, allowing for informed decision-making and analysis.