How to limit Capacity utilization in Fabric

Managing Capacity Consumption in Microsoft FabricCapacity consumption in Microsoft Fabric can easily spiral out of control if not managedproperly. While optimizing reports is important, it is not the sole solution. Below are keystrategies and best practices for effectively managing capacity usage.

Easy WinsFor interactive reports, consider setting a query limit to 30 seconds to control capacity usage. This can be configured in the Admin Portal under Power BI Workloads settings.

Optimizing the Semantic ModelIf your semantic model is hosted on Power BI, follow these guidelines:

• Minimize Column and Table Operations: Reduce the number of transformations

  
  

  directly in the semantic model and instead push them to your database.

• Avoid Calculated Columns: Calculated columns can be inefficient and should be

  
  

  minimized whenever possible.

• Minimize Bidirectional Filters: Bidirectional filters can lead to performance issues and

  
  

  should be limited.

Report Design Best PracticesReport design plays a significant role in capacity consumption:

• DirectQuery Considerations: Reports connected to the semantic model via DirectQuery can significantly increase capacity usage, especially for interactive reports.

• Visual Optimization: Avoid dynamically rendered visuals where possible. Stick to standard Microsoft visuals for better performance.

• Slicer Optimization: The standard slicer performs better than the newer Slicer (New) and should be preferred unless specific functionality is required.

• Card Visual Optimization: Similarly, the standard Card Visual outperforms the Card (New) in terms of capacity consumption, even if the newer version has enhanced visuals and functionality.

Report Distribution for Performance GainsDistributing reports strategically can also help manage capacity:

• If your report primarily runs on the desktop and does not require near real-time data updates, consider using the Embed Report link for web distribution.

• To generate the embed link: Open the report in Power BI Service, go to File > Embed Report, and select Website or Portal to generate a shareable link.

When to Upgrade CapacityIf capacity consumption remains high despite implementing these strategies, consider thefollowing:

• Upgrade Capacity: A higher-tier capacity may be required if the workload exceeds the current capacity limits.

• Separate Capacities: If multiple reports and semantic models are hosted in a single capacity, consider distributing them across separate capacities for better performance.

By following these best practices, you can manage capacity consumption more effectively and ensure a smoother experience in Microsoft Fabric.

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