Tableau Server and Online

There are several advantages of using Tableau Server over Tableau Online:

1. Control and customization: Tableau Server allows organizations to have full control over their data and infrastructure. They can customize the server to meet their specific needs and integrate it with other systems and data sources.

2. Security and compliance: With Tableau Server, organizations can ensure compliance with security and governance policies. They have full control over data access and can implement security measures such as encryption and authentication.

3. Performance and scalability: Tableau Server can be optimized for performance and can handle large amounts of data and concurrent users. Organizations can scale their server infrastructure as needed to meet growing demands.

4. Cost savings: While Tableau Server requires upfront investment in hardware and software licenses, it can be more cost-effective in the long run for organizations with large user bases or complex data requirements.

Tableau Online can be more beneficial than Tableau Server in scenarios where:

1. Quick deployment: Tableau Online is a fully hosted platform, so organizations can get started quickly without the need to set up and manage their own server infrastructure.

2. Limited resources: Organizations that don't have the resources or expertise to manage their own server can benefit from Tableau Online. It eliminates the need for hardware and software maintenance and allows organizations to focus on their core business.

3. Collaboration with external stakeholders: Tableau Online provides an easy way to share dashboards and reports with external stakeholders such as clients, partners, or vendors. It allows for real-time collaboration and data sharing without the need for VPN or firewall configurations.

4. Temporary projects: Tableau Online can be a cost-effective solution for temporary projects or short-term data analysis needs. Organizations can subscribe to Tableau Online for the duration of the project and then cancel the subscription when it is no longer needed.

Data security differs between Tableau Server and Tableau Online in the following ways:

1. Hosting: Tableau Server is self-hosted, which means organizations have full control over their data and can implement their own security measures. Tableau Online, on the other hand, is hosted by Tableau and follows industry-standard security practices.

2. Authentication: Both Tableau Server and Tableau Online support various authentication methods, such as Active Directory, SAML, and OAuth. However, with Tableau Server, organizations have more control over user authentication and can integrate it with their existing authentication systems.

3. Encryption: Tableau Server allows organizations to encrypt data at rest and in transit, providing an extra layer of security. Tableau Online also encrypts data in transit and at rest, but the encryption keys are managed by Tableau.

4. Compliance: Tableau Server gives organizations more control over compliance with security and governance policies. They can implement their own policies and ensure data compliance. Tableau Online follows industry-standard compliance practices and undergoes regular security audits.

The system requirements for Tableau Server depend on factors such as the number of users, the size of data, and the complexity of dashboards. Here are some general guidelines:

1. Hardware: Tableau Server requires a server-class machine with a minimum of 8 cores, 32 GB of RAM, and 50 GB of free disk space. The actual requirements may vary based on the workload.

2. Operating system: Tableau Server is compatible with Windows Server and Linux distributions such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS.

3. Database: Tableau Server supports various databases for storing metadata and extracts, including PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle.

4. Network: Tableau Server requires network connectivity for user access and data source connectivity. It is recommended to have a fast and reliable network connection.

It is important to consult the official Tableau Server documentation for detailed and up-to-date system requirements.

To refresh data in Tableau Online, follow these steps:

1. Open the workbook in Tableau Online.
2. Click on the 'Data' menu and select 'Refresh All Extracts'.
3. Tableau Online will start refreshing the data for all the data sources used in the workbook.

You can also schedule data refreshes in Tableau Online to automate the process.

To schedule data refreshes in Tableau Online, follow these steps:

1. Open the workbook in Tableau Online.
2. Click on the 'Data' menu and select 'Extract Refresh Schedules'.
3. In the 'Extract Refresh Schedules' dialog box, click on the 'Add Refresh Schedule' button.
4. Configure the schedule by selecting the frequency, start time, and other options.
5. Click on the 'Save' button to create the data refresh schedule.

Tableau Online will automatically refresh the data based on the schedule you have set.

If a data refresh fails in Tableau Online, Tableau will send an email notification to the owner of the workbook and any other users who have subscribed to the workbook. The email will contain information about the failure and any error messages that were encountered.

You can also view the refresh history in Tableau Online to see the status of each data refresh and any error messages that were encountered.

Some typical tasks a Site Administrator would perform in Tableau Server include:

• Installing and configuring Tableau Server
• Managing user accounts and permissions
• Creating and managing sites and projects
• Monitoring server performance and troubleshooting issues
• Managing data sources and ensuring data integrity
• Implementing security measures and managing user access
• Upgrading Tableau Server to newer versions
• Collaborating with other administrators and stakeholders to optimize server usage and performance.

A Site Administrator manages user access in Tableau Server by assigning permissions and roles to users. They can create user accounts, assign them to specific groups, and define their level of access to various resources such as projects, workbooks, and data sources. The administrator can also set up authentication methods, such as Active Directory or SAML, to control user access. Additionally, the administrator can monitor and audit user activity to ensure compliance and security.

A Site Administrator handles data sources in Tableau Server by managing their availability, security, and performance. They can publish data sources to the server, making them accessible to users for analysis and reporting. The administrator can also set permissions on data sources to control who can view or edit them. They can monitor the usage and performance of data sources, optimize them for better performance, and troubleshoot any issues that may arise. Additionally, the administrator can schedule data source refreshes to ensure that the data is up-to-date for users.

Here are some best practices for organizing projects in Tableau Online:

1. Use a consistent naming convention for projects to make it easier to find and manage them.
2. Create separate projects for different teams or departments to keep the content organized.
3. Use project-level permissions to control access to the content within each project.
4. Consider creating sub-projects within a main project to further organize the content.
5. Regularly review and clean up unused or outdated projects to keep the environment tidy.

To manage permissions for a project in Tableau Online, follow these steps:

1. Go to the 'Projects' tab in Tableau Online.
2. Click on the project for which you want to manage permissions.
3. Click on the 'Permissions' tab.
4. Use the checkboxes to grant or revoke permissions for specific users or groups.
5. Click on the 'Save' button to apply the changes.

You can set permissions at the project level, workbook level, or view level, depending on your needs.

To move a workbook between projects in Tableau Online, follow these steps:

1. Go to the 'Projects' tab in Tableau Online.
2. Click on the project that currently contains the workbook.
3. Locate the workbook and click on the ellipsis (...) button next to it.
4. Select 'Move' from the dropdown menu.
5. Choose the destination project where you want to move the workbook.
6. Click on the 'Move' button to complete the process.

Note that moving a workbook to a different project may affect its permissions and access for other users.

Tableau Server provides multiple levels of data security, including:

1. Authentication: Tableau Server supports various authentication methods such as local authentication, Active Directory, SAML, and OAuth. This ensures that only authorized users can access the server.

2. Authorization: Tableau Server allows administrators to define permissions and access levels for users and groups. They can control who can access specific workbooks, views, and data sources, and what actions they can perform.

3. Encryption: Tableau Server encrypts data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols. It also supports encryption at rest for data stored in Tableau data extracts.

4. Data Source Security: Tableau Server allows administrators to control access to data sources. They can define permissions at the data source level, ensuring that only authorized users can connect to and use specific data sources.

5. Row-Level Security: Tableau Server provides row-level security, which allows administrators to restrict access to specific rows of data based on user roles or attributes.

6. User Filters: Tableau Server allows administrators to set up user filters, which dynamically limit the data that users can see based on their attributes or roles.

Row-level security in Tableau Server allows administrators to restrict access to specific rows of data based on user roles or attributes. Here's how it works:

1. Define Roles: Administrators define roles in Tableau Server and assign users to these roles.

2. Create Security Filters: For each data source, administrators can create security filters based on user roles or attributes. These filters define which rows of data each role can access.

3. Apply Security Filters: The security filters are applied to the data source, ensuring that users can only see the rows of data they are authorized to access.

4. Dynamic Filtering: When users interact with views or dashboards, Tableau Server dynamically applies the security filters to limit the data they can see.

By using row-level security, administrators can ensure that each user only sees the data that is relevant to them, while maintaining data confidentiality and integrity.

To set up user filters in Tableau Server, follow these steps:

1. Define User Attributes: Identify the user attributes that you want to use for filtering, such as department, region, or role.

2. Create User Filters: In Tableau Server, go to the data source tab and select the data source you want to apply user filters to. Click on the 'User Filters' option.

3. Define User Filter Rules: For each user attribute, define the filter rules that determine which data each user can access. For example, you can create a rule that allows users with the 'Sales' role to only see data for their assigned region.

4. Apply User Filters: Once the user filters are defined, apply them to the data source. Tableau Server will dynamically apply the filters when users interact with views or dashboards, limiting the data they can see.

By setting up user filters, you can ensure that each user only sees the data that is relevant to them, based on their attributes or roles.