Azure SQL Data Sources

Microsoft Azure provides data storage in the cloud as a service. Microsoft offers different types of storage options for Azure users, but only the Azure SQL Server database service is currently supported. JasperReports Server uses the Microsoft SQL Server JDBC driver (tibcosoftware.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerDriver), a management certificate, and your credentials to create a secure connection between JasperReports Server and the Azure SQL data source.

Uploading an Azure Certificate File to the Repository

Before you can create an Azure SQL data source, you will need a management certificate to authenticate JasperReports Server with Azure. The management certificate must be a x.509 certificate and can be either self-signed or signed by a trusted certificate authority. The certificate can use a public or private key. You will need to upload the management certificate (.cer) file to the Azure Management Portal and the key exchange (.pfx) file, which contains the server certificate and the key, to JasperReports Server. You can also store a server certificate (.cer) file in the repository.

To upload a certificate file to the repository:

Log into JasperReports Server as an administrator.

Click View > Repository and expand the folder tree.

Browse to the folder where you want to save the certificate.

Right-click the folder and select Add Resource > File > Azure Certificate from the context menu.

Click Choose File to locate and upload the certificate key exchange (.pfx) or server certificate (.cer) file.

Enter a name and resource ID for the file.

Click Submit to save the file to the repository.

Creating an Azure SQL Server Data Source

The data source wizard uses the Azure credentials that you provide to discover your Azure SQL Server databases. It then uses those credentials to properly configure access rules to maintain the connection between JasperReports Server and the data source. For information on configuring access rules for Azure, see Configuring Cloud Services.

To create an Azure SQL data source:

Log into JasperReports Server as an administrator.

Click View > Repository, expand the folder tree, and right-click a folder to select Add Resource > Data Source from the context menu. Alternatively, you can select Create > Data Source from the main menu on any page and specify a folder location later. If you installed the sample data, the suggested folder is Data Sources. The New Data Source page appears.

In the Type field, select Azure SQL. The information on the page changes to reflect what's needed to define an Azure SQL data source.

Entering Azure User Information

Under Azure Settings, enter your Azure subscription ID, user certificate (.pfx) file, and user certificate password. Click Browse to select the certificate file from your repository. See Azure SQL Data Sources for instructions on uploading the certificate file.

Under Select an Azure Database, specify the connection details of the Azure database that you want to connect to:

Click the Find My Azure Databases button.

JasperReports Server queries Azure and displays your available SQL Server databases.

Select your database.

Enter your server name, database name, user name, and database name.

The Azure data source queries your environment and adds the appropriate URL.

If you have Microsoft's JDBC driver for SQL Server installed on your JasperReports Server instance, you can choose to use it instead of the existing JDBC driver by checking Use Microsoft Driver.

Selecting an Azure SQL Data Source

When you've entered all the information, click Test Connection.

If your connection is successful, a message appears to the right of the button. Sometimes the process takes a few minutes. In that case you'll see an alert. Try the test again after one or two minutes. The test performs the following actions:

•

Validates the user name and password.

•

Creates firewall access rules to authorize ingress to the data service.

•

Adds the IP address of your JasperReports Server instance to the access rule.

If you want to control details of the access rule name or specify the IP address manually, see Configuring Cloud Services.

Click Save. The Save dialog appears.

Enter a name for the data source and an optional description. The Resource ID is generated from the name you enter. If you haven't already specified a location, expand the folder tree and select the location for your data source.

Sign In