--- name: watsonxdata-power_bi title: Connecting Power BI to Presto in watsonx.data description: 'This topic provides you with the procedure to connect Power BI to Presto using one of the following ODBC drivers:' last-updated: 2025-12-18 --- > ## Documentation Index > The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?format=markdown > The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt > Use these files to discover more information as needed. # Connecting Power BI to Presto in watsonx.data {: #bi_intro} This topic provides you with the procedure to connect Power BI to Presto using one of the following ODBC drivers: * Simba ODBC driver * CData ODBC driver When you connect to the Presto engine in watsonx.data, you can access the various connected data sources and build compelling and interactive data visualizations. ## Pre-requisites {: #bi_preq} * Power BI Desktop : Download and install the latest desktop version of Power BI using the Advanced download link. Create a Power BI account by using your email-ID and log in. * Based on the ODBC driver that you select, download and install one of the following: * Simba ODBC driver for Presto: Download and install latest desktop version of Insight software Simba ODBC driver from the [Presto ODBC Driver](https://insightsoftware.com/drivers/presto-odbc-jdbc/). Based on your computer platform (Mac or Desktop), log in to the account. After you download, you will receive a license file in registered email . Copy the file and paste it under `~\Simba Presto ODBC Driver\lib folder`. * CData ODBC driver for Presto: Download and install latest desktop version of CData ODBC driver for Presto from the [Presto ODBC Driver](https://www.cdata.com/drivers/presto/odbc/?kw=&cpn=18157657805&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search_-_Connector_-_Other_Drivers_-_India_+_Secondary_Countries&utm_content=All_Drivers_-_DSA&utm_term=%7C&kw=&cpn=18157657805&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA88a5BhDPARIsAFj595gKFdWt_8AZPuQue7BTvrPf4paiIibaqIcp1IxzBDRp3_IcGTwRGoAaAhftEALw_wcB). * Subscription of watsonx.data on IBM Cloud. * Provision watsonx.data instance with Presto engine. ## Authentication {: #bi_auth} Power BI uses Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) authentication mechanism to connect to Presto. You need the following sign-in credentials: * Username: Username is `ibmlhapikey_`. * Password: The API key of the watsonx.data user. ## Configuring the Driver {: #bi_config} You can select one of the following ODBC drivers to connect to Presto from Power BI. * [Simba](#simba) * [CData](#cdata) ### Simba {: #simba} 1. Open **ODBC Data Source** > **Run as administrator** from your computer. The **ODBC Data Source Administrator** page opens. 2. Click **System DSN**. 3. Select **Simba Presto**. 4. Click **Add**. The **Create New Data Source** page opens. 5. Select the **Simba Presto ODBC** driver for which you want to set up the data source and click **Finish**. The **Simba Presto ODBC Driver DSN Setup** page opens. 6. Provide the following details: - Data source name : Enter a name for your data source connection. - Description : Provide a description for the Presto driver setup. - Authentication Type : Select LDAP from the list. - Username : The username is `ibmlhapikey_`. - Password : The API key of the watsonx.data user. For more information about retrieving the API key, see [Generating the API key](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-con-presto-serv&format=markdown). - Host : Hostname of the Presto engine in watsonx.data that you want to connect to. For more information about retrieving the hostname, see [Getting connection information](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-get_connection&format=markdown). - Port : For information about retrieving the port number, see [Getting connection information](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-get_connection&format=markdown). - Catalog : Select the Iceberg catalog (Iceberg_data) that is associated with the Presto engine in watsonx.data. - Schema : Select the schema that is associated with your data. 7. Click **Test** to verify that the connection is successful. The Test results window opens to display the success message. Click **Ok**. The **Simba Presto ODBC Driver DSN Setup** page opens. 8. Click **Ok**. The **ODBC Data Source Administrator** page opens. Click **Ok**. ### CData {: #cdata} 1. **Open ODBC Data Source** > **Run as administrator** from your computer. The ODBC Data Source Administrator page opens. 2. Click **System DSN**. 3. Select **CData Presto**. 4. Click **Add**. The **CData ODBC Driver for Presto - DSN Configuration** page opens. 5. Provide the following details: * Data source name : Enter a name for your data source connection. * Server : Hostname of the Presto engine in watsonx.data that you want to connect to. For more information about retrieving the hostname, see [Getting connection information](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-get_connection&format=markdown). * Port : For more information about retrieving the port number, see [Getting connection information](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-get_connection&format=markdown). * Auth Scheme : Select LDAP from the list. * Username : The username is `ibmlhapikey_`. * Password : The API key of the watsonx.data user. For more information about retrieving the API key, see [Generating the API key](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-con-presto-serv&format=markdown). * Use SSL : Select **True** from the list. 6. Click **Test Connection** to verify that the connection is successful. The **ODBC – DSN Configuration** window opens to display the success message. Click **Ok**. The **CData ODBC Driver for Presto - DSN Configuration** page opens. 7. Click **Ok**. The **ODBC Data Source Administrator** page opens. Click **Ok**. ## Setting up Power BI and viewing tables {: #bi_set} 1. Open **Power BI Desktop**. 2. Click **Get data from other sources**. The **Add** data to your report page opens. 3. Click **Get data from other sources** link. The **Get Data** page opens. 4. Search and select **ODBC**. 5. Click **Connect**. The **From ODBC** page opens. 6. From the **Data source name** list, select the data source that you created and click **Ok**. 7. The **ODBC driver** page opens. 8. Provide username and password and click **Connect**. Username : Username is `ibmlhapikey_` and password is the API key of the watsonx.data user. For more information about retrieving the API key, see [Generating the API key](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-con-presto-serv&format=markdown). 9. The **Navigator** page opens with the list of schemas in the Presto engine. 10. Select a required table to view the preview of the table and click **Load** or **Transform Data** based on your requirement. You can build visuals by using the data. ## Connecting to Presto by using the Config files {: #confug_file} In this method, you can select the catalog that you want to analyze in Power BI from the watsonx.data console, and watsonx.data generates a `Config` file for the selected driver (`Simba` or `CData`). This file can be used to access watsonx.data catalog directly in **Power BI** without any Presto configurations. `Config` files are shortcuts for quickly connecting to the original data that you use often. Data source files do not contain the actual data but rather the information necessary to connect to the actual data. 1. Log in to the watsonx.data instance. 2. Go to **Configurations**. 3. Click on the **Connection information** page. 4. Expand **BI Tools** and select **PowerBI**. 5. From the **Connection Details** section, expand the **Presto** engine. 6. Use the **Edit catalog** icon in the **Catalog** field to select the required catalog for data analysis. 7. Click the **Export config files** list. Select to download the config zip file (**Simba config.zip** or **CData config.zip**) based on the driver used. Click the downloaded file. It includes two files, `.reg` file and `.pbids` file. 8. Run the `.reg` file to configure the database connection on Windows. Now run the `.pbids` file to connect to the specified data source. The **PowerBI** desktop opens. Provide the username and password to log in. 11. The SSL cert info is available from watsonx.data **Connection Information** > **IBM Products** > **Instance details** > **SSL Certificate**. For more information about retrieving the SSL certificate, see [Getting connection information](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/watsonxdata?topic=watsonxdata-get_connection&format=markdown). 12. The Catalog page is displayed. You can select the schemas and tables for analysis.