Azure Maps visual and on-prem report server

[debblowers]

We have an on-prem Report Server.  I am currently using the default map visual to create heat maps.  I am getting a pop-up message to upgrade to Azure maps visual and if I don't upgrade they will automatically convert at some point.

My question is - the Azure maps visual does not work with on-prem report server so what will happen to my existing maps when they convert to Azure maps visual?

[v-jtian-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi,girishthimmaiah ,thanks for your concern about this issue.

Your answer is excellent!
And I would like to share some additional solutions below.

Hello,@debblowers .I am glad to help you.

Understand your concern, but from a design perspective, Report Server Desktop (RS version) should not make a change (Map & Filled Map change to Azure Map)

Because Azure Map requires networking and is currently a Preview feature.
Power BI Report Server, as a locally deployed report server, does not support some visual that needs to be connected to Azure and some visual in Preview state.
This is against the design philosophy of Power BI Report Server (local deployment, closed functionality and secure data).
So I think the message you are getting is that officials want to alert users to the Map changeover. (Azure Map is promoted and used for Power BI Service, not Power BI Report Server)
And as you can see from the official documentation, Power BI Report Server does not support the Preview feature.

URL:

Compare Power BI Report Server and the Power BI service - Power BI | Microsoft Learn

Looking at this from the opposite perspective, some users have suggested on the IDEA website that they want to use Azure Map in Reprot Server, and some have suggested their own alternatives.

URL:

Microsoft Idea

For future plans of new features, you can follow the Microsoft official tweets.
URL:

Power BI Blog—Updates and News | Microsoft Power BI

I hope my suggestions give you good ideas, if you have any more questions, please clarify in a follow-up reply.

Best Regards,

Carson Jian,

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[debblowers]

Thank you for the replies.

I did not realize there was a Report Server Desktop (RS version).  When using that I do not get the pop-up message that I referenced earlier which makes sense.  And the Azure map visual is not available, which also makes sense.

Thank you so much!

Deb Blowers

[girishthimmaiah]

Yeah, I get why this is a concern. Since you're using the default map visual on an on-prem Report Server, and Microsoft is pushing the upgrade to Azure Maps, it's definitely something to watch out for.

The issue is that Azure Maps doesn’t support on-prem Report Server, so if the default map visual gets automatically converted, your existing maps might break or just stop rendering properly. Microsoft hasn’t clearly stated what will happen in this case, but the safest approach would be to look for an alternative before the forced conversion happens.

You might want to consider:

• Checking if Microsoft has an official workaround for on-prem users.
• Exploring custom visuals or third-party map solutions that still work with Report Server.
• Reverting to a previous version of Power BI Desktop that still supports the default map visual (if feasible for your setup).