Jump to a section
- 0:00 Introduction and prerequisites
- 0:41 Why you need the on-premises gateway
- 1:17 Standard mode or personal mode
- 2:08 Step 1: Download the gateway
- 2:28 Step 2: Install the gateway
- 2:34 Step 3: Sign in with your Microsoft 365 account
- 2:49 Step 4: Register a new gateway
- 2:55 Step 5: Name the gateway and set the recovery key
- 3:23 Step 6: Configure and finish
- 3:31 What's next
Install the Microsoft Power BI on-premises data gateway in standard mode. The gateway is what lets the Power BI service refresh reports from a Syspro® SQL Server inside your own network, and it takes about four minutes to install.
This guide follows the video above, step by step. Once the gateway is running, the next job is connecting your data. That is covered in the on-premises connection guide for the Profit and Loss Analytics template app.
The video was recorded in March 2024. Microsoft updates the gateway installer from time to time, so some screens may look slightly different. The steps are the same.
Why you need the on-premises gateway
Your Power BI reports and datasets live in the Power BI cloud service. Your Syspro® SQL database is on a server in your own network. The gateway creates a secure connection between the two, so the dataset can be refreshed automatically on a schedule and the reports stay up to date. The gateway is free.
Standard mode or personal mode
The gateway comes in two versions. Both can be installed on a PC, a laptop or a file server inside your local domain, and both run as a Windows service in the background.
| Personal mode | Standard mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Testing and experimenting, one user | A team that uses or develops Power BI reports across the organisation |
| Where it runs | Your PC or laptop, which must be switched on and connected to the internet | A machine that stays on, such as a server |
We recommend standard mode. It suits a shared environment and keeps your setup ready for more users later.
Before you start
- A Microsoft Office 365 account, used to sign in at login.microsoftonline.com
- A Power BI Pro licence, available from Microsoft's pricing page
Step 1: Download the gateway
Go to the Microsoft gateway download page, click Download standard mode and wait for the download to finish. Then double-click GatewayInstall.exe.
Step 2: Install the gateway
Change the installation location if you want to, or keep the default. Accept the terms and conditions and click Install.
Step 3: Sign in
When the installation completes, enter your Microsoft 365 email address and click Sign in. Microsoft authenticates your credentials.
Step 4: Register a new gateway
Once you are signed in, leave the default option, Register a new gateway on this computer, and click Next.
Step 5: Name the gateway and set a recovery key
Enter a name for the gateway. Keep it to one word, joined with an underscore if you need more, for example my_gateway1. Avoid spaces, which can cause problems later on.
Then enter a recovery key of at least eight characters. You need this key if you ever move the gateway to another machine or restore it, so store it somewhere safe.
Step 6: Configure and finish
Click Configure. When it completes, the gateway is installed and running.
Next step: add and configure a connection to your on-premises SQL database in the Power BI service, using the gateway you just installed. The on-premises connection guide shows this for the Profit and Loss Analytics template app, with a full video.
Useful Microsoft documentation
Ready-made Power BI apps for Syspro
With the gateway installed, you can connect a ForesightSA template app to your own Syspro® data. Both apps are on Microsoft AppSource:
- Profit and Loss Analytics for Syspro on Microsoft AppSource (product page)
- Free Syspro Sales Summary app on Microsoft AppSource (product page)
- All ForesightSA apps on Microsoft AppSource
- Template App Store
Related guides
- Power BI Syspro® template app: on-premises connection guide
- Syspro® Profit and Loss in Power BI: full app walkthrough
- Build a custom Profit and Loss layout in Power BI for Syspro®
SYSPRO® is a registered trademark of SYSPRO Proprietary Limited. ForesightSA is an independent software vendor, not affiliated with SYSPRO Proprietary Limited.