---
name: watsonxdata-sal_register
title: Registering and activating semantic layer
description: ''
last-updated: 2026-03-17
---

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# Registering and activating semantic layer
{: #sal_register}

Follow the instructions in this topic to activate semantic enrichment in IBM® watsonx.data. in your IBM Cloud account. Currently, this is available in the `us-south`, `au-syd`, `ca-tor`, `eu-de`, `eu-gb`, and `jp-tok` region.

## Before you begin
{: #sal_registerbyb}

To register and enable semantic layer in watsonx.data, make sure that the following are available.

- A registered IBM Knowledge Catalog (IKC) or watsonx.data intelligence instance access within your IBM Cloud account is required to activate semantic enrichment.
- [API key](https://cloud.ibm.com/iam/apikeys) of the account.
- Presto (Java) or Presto (C++) engine must be provisioned.

## Procedure
{: #sal_registerprcdre}

1. Log in to watsonx.data console.
1. From the navigation menu, select **Configurations** and click **Semantic layer integration** tile.
1. Click **Add a registration**.
1. For Lite plan users, enter the API key in the API key field of **Add registration** window.

   You can generate and copy a new API key from the `Manage->Access(IAM)->API keys` of the IBM Cloud cluster.
   {: note}

   Lite plan users can access a 30 days trial version only.
   {: note}

1. Select a **Presto engine** from the engine drop-down list.
1. Click **Register**. Semantic automation layer is active.

1. For Enterprise plan users, enter the API key in the API key field of **Add registration** window.

   You can generate and copy a new API key from the `Manage->Access(IAM)->API keys` of the IBM Cloud cluster.
   {: note}

1. Select a **Presto engine** from the engine drop-down list.
1. Enter Cloud Object Storage (COS) details:
   - Cloud Object Storage (COS) CRN
   - Select a Cloud Object Storage (COS) type

1. Click **Register**. Semantic automation layer is active.

## Related API
{: #salreg_api}

For information on related API, see
* [Get SAL integrations](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/watsonxdata#get-sal-integration)
* [Create SAL integration with wxd](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/watsonxdata#create-sal-integration)
* [Delete SAL-wxd integration](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/watsonxdata#delete-sal-integration)
* [Update SAL-wxd integration](https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs/watsonxdata#update-sal-integration)