How to Use Azure Service Connector for Efficient Data Integration

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Using Azure Service Connector can simplify your data integration process, allowing you to connect to various services and applications, including Azure Storage, Azure SQL Database, and third-party services.

You can connect to Azure services using the Azure Service Connector, which supports over 100 services, including popular ones like Salesforce, SAP, and AWS.

To get started, you need to create a connection to the service you want to integrate with, which can be done in a few simple steps.

This connection is then used to integrate data from the service with other Azure services or applications, streamlining your data workflow.

Configuration

To configure the Azure Service Bus connector, you'll need to provide a title for the Connector instance. This is done in the Configure tab, where you can enter a title for the Connector instance.

There are several configuration parameters to consider, including the Service Bus type, which can be either QUEUE or TOPIC. You'll also need to specify the subscription name if the Service Bus type is TOPIC. Additionally, you'll need to enter the Connection String to connect to Service Bus, as well as the KCQL queries.

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Here are the key configuration parameters to keep in mind:

These are just a few of the key configuration parameters to consider when setting up the Azure Service Bus connector. Be sure to review the full list of configuration parameters to ensure you have everything you need to get started.

Configurations

To configure the Azure Service Bus connector, you'll need to provide the connection string to connect to Service Bus. This string is used to authenticate and authorize the connector to access your Service Bus resources.

The connection string is a mandatory configuration property, and you can find more information about it in the Configuration Reference for Azure Service Bus Source Connector for Confluent Platform.

You can also specify the Service Bus type, either QUEUE or TOPIC, using the servicebus.type configuration property. This determines how the connector interacts with your Service Bus resources.

For example, if you're working with a topic, you'll need to specify the subscription name using the subscription.name configuration property.

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Here's a summary of the mandatory configuration properties:

These configuration properties can be found in the Configuration Reference for Azure Service Bus Source Connector for Confluent Platform.

Resource Provider

Microsoft.ServiceLinker is the name of Service Connector's resource provider.

The ServiceLinker resource provider is automatically registered in a user's active subscription when they open the Service Connector tab in the Azure portal.

The user who generated the registration is listed as the initiator of the registration event.

Service Connector lets users connect services across subscriptions.

Features

The Azure Service Bus Source connector offers several key features that make it a reliable choice for data integration. At least once delivery is guaranteed, ensuring that messages are processed even if there's an issue with the connector.

Multiple tasks can be executed simultaneously, allowing for efficient data processing. No ordering guarantees are provided, which means messages from different partitions may be received in a different order.

Here are the key features of the Azure Service Bus Source connector:

  • At least once delivery
  • Multiple tasks
  • No ordering guarantees
  • Fetch multiple messages
  • AMQP protocol

Messages within a partition are guaranteed to be delivered in the same order as they are delivered to the Azure Service Bus topic. This ensures that data is processed consistently and accurately.

At Least Once Delivery

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At Least Once Delivery is a key feature of the Azure Service Bus Source connector. It guarantees that messages from Azure Service Bus are delivered at least once to the Kafka topic.

This means that even if there's an issue with the delivery process, you can be sure that every message will be delivered at least once. This ensures that your data is complete and accurate.

Here are some key takeaways about At Least Once Delivery:

  • Guarantees delivery of messages at least once to the Kafka topic
  • Ensures complete and accurate data

In practice, this means that you don't have to worry about losing data due to technical issues. The connector will always deliver messages at least once, even if there are problems with the delivery process.

KCQL Support

You can specify multiple KCQL statements separated by semicolons to map between multiple topics. This allows for flexibility in data mapping.

The Azure Service Bus Connector supports KCQL statements, which enable you to map Service Bus to Kafka topics. It uses the PROPERTIES specified in the KCQL to make these mappings.

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You can map a Service Bus of a specific name to a Kafka topic of a specific name using the PROPERTIES specified in the KCQL. This includes the correlationId property.

To smoothly configure your KCQL mappings, pay attention to the PROPERTIES part of your KCQL mappings. This is especially important when reading from Service Bus of type QUEUE or TOPIC.

Payload Support

Azure Service Bus Connector follows a specific pattern of messages, known as the Schema. This format is crucial when transferring data to Kafka Topics specified in the KCQL config.

The Schema includes essential fields such as deliveryCount, enqueuedTimeUtc, contentType, and label. These fields provide valuable information about the message, including the number of times it was delivered, the time it was enqueued, and its content type.

To ensure smooth configuration of your mappings, pay attention to the PROPERTIES part of your KCQL mappings. This is particularly important when reading from Service Bus of type QUEUE or TOPIC.

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When sending customized data to a queue or topic, you need to select a queue or topic option from the list. This option is only available if your configured policy grants the Manage permission. If not, you must manually enter a queue/topic as a Custom Value.

The following parameters are essential when sending visitor data to a queue or topic:

• Queue or Topic: Required, select from the list or enter as a Custom Value

• User Properties: Map Attribute(s) to a message user property

• Broker Properties: Map Attribute(s) to the message broker property

• Include Current Visit Data: Check to include current visit data in the message payload

• Print Attribute Names: Check to display names for each visitor data Attribute in the message payload

Limitations and Requirements

The Azure Service Connector has some limitations and requirements you should be aware of.

It's not currently possible to read messages from sessioned Azure Service Bus entities.

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The connector also doesn't support proxy configuration, which might be a limitation for some users.

To use the Azure Service Connector, you'll need a few things.

You'll need a Microsoft Azure Account, which is a basic requirement.

You'll also need Service Bus Shared Access Policy Credentials, which are necessary for authentication.

Lastly, you'll need a Queue or Topic to send data to.

Here are the specific requirements in a concise list:

  • Microsoft Azure Account
  • Service Bus Shared Access Policy Credentials
  • Queue or Topic to send data to

Requirements

To get started, you'll need to meet a few requirements. You'll need a Microsoft Azure Account, which is free to create.

You'll also need Service Bus Shared Access Policy Credentials, which are used to authenticate and authorize access to your Service Bus resources.

To send data to a queue or topic, you'll need to have a Queue or Topic set up and ready to go. If you're new to Azure, creating a queue or topic is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few clicks.

Here's a quick rundown of the requirements:

  • Microsoft Azure Account
  • Service Bus Shared Access Policy Credentials
  • Queue or Topic to send data to

Limitations

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When working with this connector, there are a few things to keep in mind. Currently, it does not support reading messages from sessioned Azure Service Bus entities.

The connector also has limitations when it comes to configuration. Specifically, it doesn't currently support proxy configuration.

This means that if you need to use a proxy to connect to Azure Service Bus, you'll need to find another solution.

Rosemary Boyer

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Rosemary Boyer is a skilled writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative content. With a focus on technical and educational topics, she has established herself as a reliable voice in the industry. Her writing has been featured in a variety of publications, covering subjects such as CSS Precedence, where she breaks down complex concepts into clear and concise language.

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