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Universal Semantic Layer : The foundation for instant, actionable, agentic analytics

Kyvos supercharges Tableau to deliver lightning-fast performance on modern data platforms at an unprecedented scale. Our AI-powered smart aggregation technology provides fast and interactive query responses on massive amounts of data.

With its custom Tableau connector, Kyvos provides seamless integration across both cloud and on-premises environments, giving decision-makers immediate access to trusted data. The Tableau Kyvos Connector now also supports OAuth 2.0 authentication, offering a more secure and effortless way to connect to enterprise data.

With OAuth 2.0, users no longer need to store passwords in Tableau workbooks or data sources. A single sign-on (SSO) ensures faster, hassle-free access to existing enterprise credentials, while multi-factor authentication (MFA) strengthens security and compliance posture. Tokens are securely stored and automatically refreshed without any manual re-logins. The connector integrates smoothly with identity providers such as Entra ID and Okta.

This enhancement is ideal for organizations embracing zero-trust architecture and cloud-first strategies. It reduces IT overhead through centralized credential management and simplified user provisioning, while ensuring secure, auditable access to sensitive datasets across business units. Available for both Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server, the new connector helps enterprises scale BI securely and efficiently.

In this post, I will cover how users can connect to Kyvos semantic model from Tableau interface using the custom Kyvos Tableau Connector. To connect to Kyvos using the custom connector, users must first download the Kyvos ODBC Driver and install it. The driver can be downloaded from here and is also available on the Tableau website.

During installation, a default System DSN is created with the name Kyvos ODBC. Users can use this default System DSN to connect to Kyvos BI Server from Tableau.

Kyvos ODBC Driver DSN Setup

Figure 1: Kyvos ODBC Driver DSN Setup

Once the Kyvos ODBC driver is installed, users can connect Tableau to the Kyvos semantic models using any of the following two methods:

  • Through Tableau interface
  • Using Tableau Data Source File

Prerequisites

To connect Tableau to a Kyvos semantic model and set up the data source, users need the following information:

  • Name of the server that hosts the database a user wants to connect
  • Port number for client requests
  • HTTP path to the server
  • User name and password
  • (Optional) Initial SQL statement to run every time Tableau connects

Prerequisites for using OAuth

  • With Tableau version 2025.2.1 (Tableau Desktop and Tableau Server hosted on Windows OS), the Kyvos connector supports OAuth authentication, ensuring a more secure and seamless login experience.
  • Users must create the OAuthConfig.xml file in the C:\Users[Windows User]\Documents\My Tableau Repository\OAuthConfigs Tableau directory.
  • In Kyvos, they can configure OAuth with the OIDC Settings for Public Client selected from the Kyvos Manager. For more details, refer to Kyvos Documentation
  • For creating OAuth files, the following details in the properties of OAuthConfigDesktop.xml file are required.
    • clientIdDesktop: The Client ID user has registered for Tableau Desktop on the OAuth provider (Okta). For example, client id received from IDP
    • redirectUrisDesktop: Redirect URLs for Desktop.
    • authUri: Authorization endpoint URI to get an authorization code.
    • tokenUri: A token endpoint URI to get a token.

Connecting to Kyvos semantic models through Tableau interface

Here are the steps that can help users get started right away using the Kyvos Tableau Connector.

1. On the Tableau window, select the Kyvos option from the To a Server list on the navigation pane.

Tableau Connectors Kyvos Dialog box

Figure 2: Tableau connectors – Kyvos dialog box

2. In the displayed Kyvos dialog box, enter the connection information as described below:

3. In the Server field, type the IP address or hostname of Kyvos Web App Server without HTTP. For example, use kyvos_install NOT http://kyvos_install.

4. In the Port field, type the number of the TCP port that the Kyvos BI server uses to listen for client requests.

5. From the authentication list, choose one of the following authentication types:

  • Username and Password
    • Enter Kyvos BI Server credentials in the User Name and Password
    • In the Transport field, select the HTTP option
    • In the HTTP Path field, enter Kyvos/sql
  • Kerberos
    • Enter Realm, Host FQDN and Service Name
    • In the Transport field, select the HTTP option
    • In the HTTP Path field, enter Kyvos/sqlSSO
  • OAuth:
    • Select OAuth2.0 from the Authentication list
    • Confirm that authentication is enabled in the OAuth Provider list, where Kyvos OAuth is selected by default
    • Click Sign In to open the default browser for authentication.

      Click-Sign-In-to-open-the-default-browser

    • Enter Okta verification details, including username and password.
    • After clicking Sign In, the user will see the authentication confirmation window.

      After-clicking-Sign-In-authentication-confirmation

    • Return to the Tableau Desktop Application and select the required dataset.

      Return-to-the-Tableau-Desktop-Application

6. Select the Require SSL checkbox if connecting to an SSL server.

7. (Optional) Select Initial SQL to specify a SQL command to run at the beginning of every connection, such as when a user opens the workbook, refresh an extract, sign in to Tableau Server or publish to Tableau Server. For more information, see Run Initial SQL

8. Click Sign In. On the Data Source page, the user navigates to the Schema of the semantic model they want to connect to and select the semantic model. They can search for the Schema and then for the name of the semantic model/table.

9. Drag the selected table to the right pane. Next, go to Sheet1 to start browsing the semantic model.

10. Optionally, users can preview the data by using Update Now.

11. The levels, attributes and measures in the semantic model are listed under the Dimensions and Measure sections based on data types or Tableau’s recommendations based on field names. Users can start querying and analyzing their data.

Kyvos data store in Tableau

Figure 3: Kyvos data store in Tableau

Here’s a sample Tableau worksheet with the Kyvos connection.

Kyvos data store in Tableau

Figure 4: Tableau worksheet with Kyvos connection

Connecting to Kyvos Semantic Models using Tableau Data Source Connection

When using a Tableau Data Source (TDS) file, users will see the dimensions, hierarchies, measures, levels and attributes as they are configured in the Kyvos semantic model. If they generate a TDS file from the Kyvos web portal and publish it to the Tableau Server, they don’t need to provide the connection details. A TDS file contains all the metadata of the semantic model and connection information.

Creating TDS File from Kyvos web portal

Users can directly create a TDS file from the Kyvos web portal by performing the following steps.

1. From the Kyvos Web portal, click Toolbox > Utilities.

2. Select the Export Semantic Model Metadata option from the list.

3. Users select the semantic models they want to browse and click Download Selected

download-selected-semantic-model-metadata

4. In the Download Selected Semantic Model Metadata dialog box, select the Tableau Data Source (Spark SQL) option from the Format drop-down.
Enter the details in Tableau Version, Server IP/Hostname, Server Port and optionally the username used to connect.

5. Click Download.

Connecting to Kyvos Semantic Models using TDS File on Tableau Server or Tableau Desktop

Once the user has downloaded the TDS file, they can connect Kyvos semantic models using this TDS file on Tableau Server and Tableau Desktop. For this, they just need to open the TDS file in Tableau and enter their credentials and click Sign In.

Optionally, they can edit the connection details by using the Edit Connection option.

Publish the TDS file and allow Tableau to pre-load the semantic model metadata. The semantic model is now ready for the users.