Visualize Live DB2 Data in Power BI (via CData Connect AI)

Power BI transforms your company's data into rich visuals for you to collect and organize so you can focus on what matters to you. When paired with CData Connect AI, you get access to DB2 data for visualizations, dashboards, and more. This article shows how to use CData Connect to create a live connection to DB2, connect to DB2 data from Power BI and then create reports on DB2 data in Power BI.

Configure DB2 Connectivity for Power BI

Connectivity to DB2 from Power BI is made possible through CData Connect AI. To work with DB2 data from Power BI, we start by creating and configuring a DB2 connection.

1. Log into Connect AI, click Sources, and then click Add Connection

2. Select "DB2" from the Add Connection panel

3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to DB2.

   Set the following properties to connect to DB2:

   • Server: Set this to the name of the server running DB2.
   • Port: Set this to the port the DB2 server is listening on.
   • Database: Set this to the name of the DB2 database.
   • User: Set this to the username of a user allowed to access the database.
   • Password: Set this to the password of a user allowed to access the database.

   You will also need to install the corresponding DB2 driver:

   • Windows: Install the IBM Data Server Provider for .NET.

     On Windows, installing the IBM Data Server Provider is sufficient, as the installation registers it in the machine.config.

   • Java: Install the IBM Data Server Driver for JDBC.

     In the Java version, place the IBM Data Server Driver JAR in the www\WEB-INF\lib\ folder for this application.

   
4. Click Save & Test
5. Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add DB2 Connection page and update the User-based permissions.

With the connection configured, you are ready to connect to DB2 data from Power BI.

Query DB2 Tables

Follow the steps below to build a query to pull DB2 data into the report:

1. Open Power BI Desktop and click Get Data -> Online Services -> CData Connect AI and click "Connect"
2. Click "Sign in" and authenticate with your CData Connect AI account
3. After signing in, click "Connect"
4. Select tables in the Navigator dialog
5. Click Load to establish the connection to your DB2 data from Power BI

Create DB2 Data Visualizations

After connecting to the data into Power BI, you can create data visualizations in the Report view by dragging fields from the Fields pane onto the canvas. Select the dimensions and measures you wish to visualize along with the chart type.

Click Refresh to synchronize your report with any changes to the data.

Live Access to DB2 Data from Data Applications

With CData Connect AI you have a direct connection to DB2 data from Power BI. You can import more data, create new visualizations, build reports, and more — all without replicating DB2 data.

To get SQL data access to hundreds of SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources (including DB2) directly from your on-premise BI, reporting, ETL and other data applications, visit the CData Connect AI page and start a free trial.