Azure Data Factory Connectors Simplify Data Pipelines

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Posted Nov 7, 2024

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Azure Data Factory (ADF) connectors are a game-changer for data integration. They allow you to connect to various data sources and services, making it easier to build and manage data pipelines.

With over 70 built-in connectors, ADF provides a wide range of options for connecting to different data sources, including Azure services like SQL Database and Cosmos DB, as well as on-premises data sources like Oracle and Salesforce.

These connectors enable you to integrate data from various sources, transform it, and load it into your target data warehouse or storage system. For example, you can use the SQL Server connector to connect to your on-premises SQL Server database and then copy data to your Azure SQL Database.

By leveraging ADF connectors, you can streamline your data integration process, reduce costs, and improve data quality.

Getting Started

Azure Data Factory (ADF) connectors are a crucial part of any integration project, and getting started with them is easier than you think.

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To begin with, ADF connectors are pre-built, reusable components that enable you to connect to various data sources and services, such as Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database, and more. ADF supports over 80 connectors, including popular services like Salesforce, Marketo, and Dynamics.

Before you start, make sure you have an Azure subscription and a basic understanding of data integration concepts. You'll also need to create a new Azure Data Factory instance in the Azure portal.

Once you've set up your ADF instance, you can start exploring the available connectors and select the ones you need for your project. For example, if you want to integrate with Azure Blob Storage, you can simply search for the "Azure Blob Storage" connector in the ADF catalog.

Key Features

Azure Data Factory (ADF) is a powerful tool for creating complex data pipelines and integrating data from various sources. It allows users to create data pipelines that can handle massive data movement and transformation tasks.

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ADF supports hybrid data integration, enabling users to integrate on-premises, cloud, and SaaS applications. This feature is particularly useful for businesses with diverse data infrastructure.

With ADF, users can design and execute data flows to transform data at scale. These flows can be visually designed using the ADF Data Flow UI, simplifying the process of defining complex transformations.

ADF leverages various Azure compute services such as Azure Databricks, Azure HDInsight, and Azure SQL Database to perform data processing and transformation tasks. This integration enables efficient data processing and analysis.

Azure Data Factory uses linked services to define connections to data sources and compute environments. This allows seamless integration and data movement across different platforms.

Here are the key features of Azure Data Factory:

  • Data Pipelines: Create complex data pipelines for massive data movement and transformation tasks.
  • Data Integration Capabilities: Integrate on-premises, cloud, and SaaS applications using hybrid data integration.
  • Data Flows: Design and execute data flows to transform data at scale using the ADF Data Flow UI.
  • Compute Services: Leverage Azure compute services like Azure Databricks, Azure HDInsight, and Azure SQL Database for data processing.
  • Linked Services: Define connections to data sources and compute environments for seamless integration.

Pipelines

A data pipeline in Azure Data Factory is a logical grouping of activities that together perform a task. It can ingest data from different sources, transform the data as needed, and load it into a destination.

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Pipelines are ideal for orchestrating data movement and transformation in complex data workflows due to their flexibility and scalability. This makes them a crucial component of Azure Data Factory connectors.

To build a data pipeline, you need to define linked services, create datasets, design the pipeline, and publish and monitor it. Here's a brief overview of each step:

Building a Pipeline

Building a pipeline in Azure Data Factory (ADF) is a straightforward process. You start by defining linked services for your data sources and destinations, specifying connection details for each data store you want to integrate with ADF.

To define linked services, you'll need to create a linked service for each data source and destination. This will involve specifying the connection details, such as the server name, database name, and authentication credentials.

Once you have your linked services set up, you can create datasets that represent the data structures you want to work with in your pipelines. Datasets are associated with linked services and specify the data within those services.

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Datasets are the building blocks of your pipeline, and they help you define the data you want to work with. You can think of them as a blueprint for your data.

To design your pipeline, you'll use the ADF pipeline designer to add activities that define the workflow for your pipeline. You can add data movement activities, data transformation activities, and control flow activities to orchestrate the data processing.

Here's a step-by-step guide to building a pipeline:

  1. Define Linked Services: Create linked services for your data sources and destinations.
  2. Create Datasets: Define datasets that represent the data structures you want to work with in your pipelines.
  3. Design the Pipeline: Use the ADF pipeline designer to add activities that define the workflow for your pipeline.
  4. Publish and Monitor: Once your pipeline is designed, publish it to ADF and use the monitoring tools in the Azure portal to track its execution and troubleshoot any issues.

Remember, building a pipeline is all about defining the workflow for your data processing. By following these steps, you'll be able to create a pipeline that meets your needs and helps you achieve your goals.

20000

If you're getting error code 20000, it's likely because the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) cannot be found on your Self-hosted Integration Runtime machine. This is a requirement for parsing or writing to Parquet/ORC files.

The self-hosted IR can't find Java Runtime, which is necessary for reading particular sources.

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To resolve this issue, you'll need to check your integration runtime environment to ensure the JRE has been installed. This is crucial for seamless data integration.

Here are some key takeaways for error code 20000:

  • Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is required for parsing or writing to Parquet/ORC files.
  • The self-hosted Integration Runtime machine needs to have JRE installed.
  • Check your integration runtime environment to ensure JRE is installed.

20020

Error code 20020 occurs when a wildcard in the path is not supported in a sink dataset. This is because the sink dataset doesn't support wildcard values.

The message you'll see is "Wildcard in path is not supported in sink dataset. Fix the path: '%setting;'". This is a clear indication that you need to rewrite the path without using a wildcard value.

To resolve this issue, check the sink dataset and rewrite the path accordingly. This will ensure that your pipeline runs smoothly.

20746

If you encounter error code 20746 in your pipeline, it's likely due to a file name issue. This error occurs when the skip invalid file name option is not supported for the source connector being used.

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To resolve this issue, you'll need to remove 'invalidFileName' from the skipErrorFile setting in the copy activity payload. This will allow the pipeline to continue running without encountering the error.

Here are the specific steps to take:

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve error code 20746 and get your pipeline up and running smoothly again.

20743

The 20743 error code is a common issue that can arise in pipelines. This error code occurs when the skip forbidden file is not supported in the current copy activity settings.

The only way to resolve this issue is to remove the 'fileForbidden' of the skipErrorFile setting in the copy activity payload. This is a specific setting that is required for direct binary copy with folder, but not for other copy activity settings.

Here are the steps to resolve the 20743 error code:

  • Remove the 'fileForbidden' setting from the skipErrorFile setting in the copy activity payload.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 20743 error code and get your pipeline up and running smoothly.

20772

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You're working on a pipeline and encountering error code 20772. Error code 20772 occurs when the 'deleteFilesAfterCompletion' setting is not supported for a specific connector.

The error message specifically mentions that the 'deleteFilesAfterCompletion' setting is not supported for the given connector. This setting can be found in the copy activity payload.

To resolve this issue, you need to remove the 'deleteFilesAfterCompletion' setting from the copy activity payload. This will allow the pipeline to complete successfully.

Here's a summary of the steps to resolve error code 20772:

  • Check the copy activity payload for the 'deleteFilesAfterCompletion' setting.
  • Remove the 'deleteFilesAfterCompletion' setting from the copy activity payload.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many connectors are there in Azure Data Factory?

Azure Data Factory offers over 90 built-in connectors to access various data sources, including big data, enterprise data warehouses, SaaS apps, and Azure data services. With this extensive range of connectors, you can easily integrate and process data from multiple sources.

What is an ADF connector?

An ADF connector is a tool that helps establish a connection between your source and destination data stores in Azure Data Factory. Learn more about linked services and how to create them to get started with ADF connectors.

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