MongoDB BI Connector and SQL Access
Parent: MongoDB Atlas · Published reference · snapshot 2026-09-08 · skill mongodb-atlas-expert/references/mongodb-bi-connector.md
↓ Facts as markdownall context files
Two distinct approaches for SQL-based BI tool integration with MongoDB:
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Overview
- Two distinct approaches for SQL-based BI tool integration with MongoDB: [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#overview]
- Legacy BI Connector (mongosqld): EOL September 2026. Self-hosted translation layer. [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#overview]
- Atlas SQL Interface (current): Managed service via Atlas Data Federation. Certified connectors for Tableau and Power BI. [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#overview]
What It Is
- A self-hosted binary (mongosqld) that acts as a MySQL-protocol SQL translation layer in front of MongoDB. BI tools connect via ODBC/JDBC as if connecting to a MySQL database. [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#what-it-is]
DRDL Schema Files
- mongosqld uses DRDL (Document Relational Definition Language) files to define the SQL schema mapping: [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#drdl-schema-files]
EOL Timeline
- September 2026: BI Connector reaches end-of-life; mongosqld will no longer be supported or updated [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#eol-timeline]
- Migration: All customers should migrate to Atlas SQL Interface (if on Atlas) or third-party tools (Hasura, DBeaver, etc.) [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#eol-timeline]
Architecture
- Atlas SQL Interface uses Atlas Data Federation (FDI) as its query engine. No self-hosted binary needed. [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#architecture-1]
Certified Connectors
- Custom connector in the Tableau Exchange or direct download [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Supports Tableau Desktop, Tableau Server, Tableau Prep [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Tableau Cloud: check current status (in progress as of 2025) [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Driver: JDBC or MongoDB ODBC Driver (Windows/Linux/macOS) [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Certified by Microsoft; available in Microsoft AppSource [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Supports DirectQuery (live Atlas queries) and Import mode [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Driver: MongoDB ODBC Driver [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Via ODBC connection with MongoDB ODBC Driver [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
- Windows only (ODBC data source configuration) [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#certified-connectors]
JDBC Connection
- Connection setup in Tableau: [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#jdbc-connection]
- Select "Other Databases (JDBC)" connector [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#jdbc-connection]
- URL: jdbc:mongodb://atlas-sql-<fdi-id>.mongodb.net:27017/<database>?ssl=true [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#jdbc-connection]
- Class name: com.mongodb.mongosql.MongoSQLDriver [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#jdbc-connection]
ODBC Connection (Power BI / Excel)
- Download MongoDB ODBC Driver 2.0+ [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#odbc-connection-power-bi-excel]
- In Windows ODBC Data Source Administrator: Add new DSN [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#odbc-connection-power-bi-excel]
- Server: atlas-sql-<fdi-id>.mongodb.net [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#odbc-connection-power-bi-excel]
- Database: <virtual database name> [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#odbc-connection-power-bi-excel]
- Authentication: username/password [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#odbc-connection-power-bi-excel]
DirectQuery vs Import Mode (Power BI)
- DirectQuery performance depends on Atlas query performance. Index optimization applies here too - slow MQL = slow DirectQuery. [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#directquery-vs-import-mode-power-bi]
Atlas Cluster Requirements
- Atlas clusters: MongoDB 5.0+ [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#atlas-cluster-requirements]
- Self-managed Enterprise: MongoDB 6.0+ (JDBC/ODBC 3.0.1+) [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#atlas-cluster-requirements]
- Data Federation is provisioned automatically when Atlas SQL Interface is enabled [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#atlas-cluster-requirements]
Cost
- Atlas SQL Interface incurs Data Federation query processing costs: [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#cost]
- $5.00/TB of data processed per query [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#cost]
- Partition strategy and Parquet format reduce costs significantly [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#cost]
- DirectQuery workloads (multiple users, frequent refreshes) accumulate more data processed charges than scheduled Import [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#cost]
Pre-migration checklist
- Verify cluster is on MongoDB 5.0+ [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#pre-migration-checklist]
- Enable Atlas Data Federation on the project [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#pre-migration-checklist]
- Map DRDL schema columns to Atlas SQL Interface schema (jsonSchema format) [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#pre-migration-checklist]
- Update BI tool connection: switch from mongosqld host to FDI hostname [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#pre-migration-checklist]
Schema Migration
- DRDL columns → jsonSchema properties: [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#schema-migration]
Anti-Patterns
- Using BI Connector for new deployments (post-2024): EOL is September 2026; invest in Atlas SQL Interface [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#anti-patterns]
- DirectQuery without optimizing MongoDB indexes: Every Power BI interaction queries Atlas live; unindexed queries = slow dashboards [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#anti-patterns]
- Schema auto-infer on heterogeneous collections: Auto-infer samples 1,000 documents and may miss fields in outliers; validate schema explicitly for production [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#anti-patterns]
- Not setting a Data Federation query byte limit: Runaway DirectQuery workloads can drive significant $5/TB costs [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#anti-patterns]
References
- BI Connector Documentation (Legacy) [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#references]
- Atlas SQL Interface [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#references]
- Atlas SQL JDBC Driver [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#references]
- Atlas SQL ODBC Driver [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#references]
- BI Connector EOL Announcement [archived source: https://llms-explorer.com/sources/mdb-context-hub/mongodb-bi-connector/#references]
Where this helps
- Connecting Tableau or Power BI to MongoDB data without exporting to a relational warehouse first, when stakeholders need standard SQL-based BI tooling against live Atlas data. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Migrating an existing legacy mongosqld/BI Connector integration ahead of its September 2026 end-of-life to the managed Atlas SQL Interface. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Ad hoc SQL exploration of MongoDB collections by analysts who know SQL but not MQL or the aggregation framework. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Cost-conscious reporting where scheduled Import-mode refreshes are viable, avoiding the per-query Data Federation charges that DirectQuery accumulates. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
Project ideas
- Build a Power BI dashboard against Atlas SQL Interface using Import mode on a schedule, keeping Data Federation query-processing costs predictable instead of paying per DirectQuery refresh. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Write a DRDL-to-jsonSchema migration script that maps an existing mongosqld schema definition to the Atlas SQL Interface's jsonSchema format ahead of the BI Connector's EOL. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Set up a Tableau JDBC connection against Atlas SQL Interface and confirm index coverage on the underlying collections keeps DirectQuery latency acceptable. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Build a cost-monitoring script that tracks Data Federation bytes-processed against the $5/TB rate to catch a runaway DirectQuery workload before it gets expensive. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
Common mistakes
- Standing up new BI Connector (mongosqld) deployments in 2026 instead of building directly on Atlas SQL Interface, given the September 2026 EOL. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Running Power BI DirectQuery against unindexed MongoDB fields — every dashboard interaction issues a live query, so slow MQL translates directly into a slow dashboard. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Relying on schema auto-infer against heterogeneous collections without validation — auto-infer samples only 1,000 documents and can miss fields present only in outlier documents. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Leaving Data Federation without a query byte limit configured, letting a runaway DirectQuery workload accumulate uncapped $5/TB charges. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
Known issues
- The legacy BI Connector (mongosqld) reaches end-of-life in September 2026 and will receive no further support or updates, forcing a migration to Atlas SQL Interface or a third-party tool. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- DirectQuery mode ties dashboard responsiveness directly to live Atlas query performance, so BI-tool latency complaints are often really MongoDB index problems in disguise. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- The ODBC connection path for Power BI/Excel is Windows-only, which limits which analyst workstations can connect that way. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
- Atlas SQL Interface requires MongoDB 5.0+ on Atlas clusters (6.0+ with JDBC/ODBC 3.0.1+ for self-managed Enterprise), so older deployments must upgrade before adopting it. [source] — AI-suggested, synthesized from this pack's existing facts — not extracted from a source document.
Children
- Atlas SQL Interface MongoSQL
- Atlas Data API Removal
- mongosqld Architecture (frontier, viability 2.83 / 5, below research gate)
- DRDL Schema Management (frontier, viability 2.80 / 5, below research gate)
- BI Connector Authentication (frontier, viability 2.83 / 5, below research gate)
- SQL-to-MQL Translation (frontier, viability 3.92 / 5)
- BI Connector EOL Migration (frontier, viability 4.05 / 5)
- HTTP Data Access Replacements (frontier, viability 3.23 / 5)
- Atlas GraphQL API Removal (frontier, viability 3.17 / 5, below research gate)
Frontier under this node: Atlas GraphQL API Removal (3.17), BI Connector Authentication (2.83), BI Connector EOL Migration (4.05), DRDL Schema Management (2.80), HTTP Data Access Replacements (3.23), SQL-to-MQL Translation (3.92), mongosqld Architecture (2.83)