What's changed: Deepened DP-600 Chapter 2 (ja figures; comparison tables/scenarios/FAQ/traps/deep paragraphs in all sections)
2.2Serving Data (SQL Analytics Endpoint and Direct Lake)
Understand how to serve prepared data for analysis—the SQL analytics endpoint (T-SQL queries), Power BI Direct Lake, and sharing/access—bridging the prepared gold layer to semantic models.
Prepared data (gold layer) must be served in a form usable by analysts and reports. Fabric serves it fast via the SQL analytics endpoint and Direct Lake.
2.2.1Serving methods
For serving semantic models, use the XMLA endpoint (connect/deploy from external tools like SSMS/Tabular Editor) and the Direct Lake storage mode that reads OneLake data directly at near-import speed. Classify items with Sensitivity labels.
- SQL analytics endpoint: query Lakehouse/Warehouse data with read T-SQL (Lakehouse is read-only).
- Direct Lake: Power BI reads OneLake Delta fast without import/DirectQuery.
- Sharing/access: share reports/semantic models and deliver to users via roles/RLS.
- Fallback: Direct Lake may fall back to DirectQuery when conditions aren’t met.
Common on DP-600: read T-SQL = SQL analytics endpoint, fast read without import/DirectQuery = Direct Lake, fall back to DirectQuery when conditions unmet, serve via sharing/roles. To maximize Direct Lake, optimize Delta with V-Order/OPTIMIZE.
Direct Lake needs no import refresh schedule and reads the latest Delta directly—especially effective for large data.
Power BI has three storage modes: Import (data loaded into the model—fastest but needs refresh schedules and memory; freshness as of refresh), DirectQuery (query the source each time—always fresh but slower with source load), and Direct Lake (load OneLake Delta directly into memory for reads—combining import-like speed with DirectQuery-like freshness). Direct Lake can fall back to DirectQuery (on complex features, mixing other sources, or exceeding limits), and for max performance optimize Delta with V-Order/OPTIMIZE. For serving, the SQL analytics endpoint (Lakehouse read-only; Warehouse read-write) supports T-SQL queries and views. Deliver via sharing, apps (Power BI apps), and workspace roles plus semantic-model RLS/OLS for per-user control. Choose by freshness/scale/concurrency/cost: “large + fresh = Direct Lake,” “small + fastest = Import,” “always-fresh lightweight = DirectQuery.”
| Mode | Freshness | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Import | As of refresh | Fastest | Small/medium, speed-first |
| DirectQuery | Always live | Slower | Always-live, lightweight |
| Direct Lake | Near-live | Fast | Large + fresh |
Scenario: show a hundreds-of-millions-row gold layer in Power BI—fresh and fast, with no refresh schedule. → Configure a Direct Lake semantic model and optimize Delta with V-Order/OPTIMIZE. Design to avoid fallback from complex features, control rows per user with RLS, and distribute via a Power BI app. Use the SQL analytics endpoint for ad-hoc T-SQL checks.
FAQ: Q. Is Direct Lake closer to Import or DirectQuery? → A. The best of both—import-like speed with near-live freshness; but it falls back to DirectQuery when conditions aren’t met. Q. Can I write via a Lakehouse SQL analytics endpoint? → A. No—read-only; write with Spark or use a Warehouse.
Trap: “Direct Lake requires a refresh schedule like Import” is wrong—it reads Delta directly, needing no scheduled refresh (near-live). Also “Direct Lake always runs as DirectQuery” is wrong—it normally loads directly into memory and only falls back to DirectQuery when conditions aren’t met.
2.2.2Section summary
- Serve = SQL analytics endpoint (T-SQL) / Direct Lake (fast Power BI)
- Deliver = sharing/roles/RLS, Direct Lake has fallback
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Quick check
(just a quick review)Q1. You want to query Lakehouse/Warehouse data with read T-SQL. What do you use?
Q2. Which serving mode lets Power BI read OneLake Delta fast without import/DirectQuery?
Q3. What can happen when Direct Lake conditions are not met?
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