Power BI Report Server is an on-premises server that allows you to host, manage, and distribute Power BI reports, along with paginated reports, Excel files, and mobile reports. It is designed for organizations that prefer to keep their data and reporting infrastructure within their own network rather than using the cloud-based Power BI Service.
Key Features:
- Host Power BI Reports On-Premises: Publish and view Power BI reports (.PBIX files) directly on your server without requiring the Power BI cloud.
- Paginated Reports Support: Allows creation and management of traditional SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services) reports.
- Web Portal: Provides a centralized, browser-based interface to organize and access reports, data files, and dashboards.
- Data Source Integration: Supports multiple data sources, including SQL Server, Oracle, and Excel.
- Custom Branding: Allows customization of the web portal to match organizational branding.
- Schedule and Manage Reports: Automate delivery of reports using subscriptions and scheduling.
Differences from Power BI Service:
- On-Premises Only: Power BI Report Server is hosted within the organization, while Power BI Service is cloud-based.
- No AI Features: Lacks advanced AI and real-time collaboration features available in the Power BI Service.
- Licensing: Requires either a Power BI Premium license or a SQL Server Enterprise Edition with Software Assurance.
Ideal For:
- Organizations with strict data privacy or compliance requirements.
- Companies needing a hybrid reporting solution combining Power BI and traditional SSRS reports.
