Last Updated: 2024-01-02

Background

Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) is a cloud-based storage solution provided by Microsoft Azure and is built on top of Azure Blob storage.

It is designed to store and manage large amounts of data in a scalable and secure manner. It is one of the main underlying technologies used to create cloud object storage data lakes.

Scope of tutorial

In this tutorial, you will learn how to configure a catalog in Starburst Galaxy that connects to your own Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS).

Learning objectives

Once you've completed this tutorial, you will be able to:

Configure an Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) catalog using Starburst Galaxy.
Choose which metastore and table format is best for your ADLS catalog.
Access your own ADLS data source using Starburst Galaxy.

Prerequisites

You need a Starburst Galaxy account to complete this tutorial. Please see Starburst Galaxy: Getting started for instructions on setting up a free account.
This tutorial comes with a bring your own storage requirement. Before proceeding with this lesson, you must already have an Azure Blob File System (ABFS) storage container set as your default container.

If this is not the case, please set this up first then return to this tutorial.

About Starburst tutorials

Starburst tutorials are designed to get you up and running quickly by providing bite-sized, hands-on educational resources. Each tutorial explores a single feature or topic through a series of guided, step-by-step instructions.

As you navigate through the tutorial you should follow along using your own Starburst Galaxy account. This will help consolidate the learning process by mixing theory and practice.

Background

Starburst Galaxy separates users by role. Configuring a new catalog will require access to a role with appropriate privileges. Today, you'll be using the accountadmin role.

This is a quick step, but an important one.

Step 1: Select accountadmin role

Your current role is listed in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Check your role, to ensure that it is set to accountadmin.
If it is set to anything else, use the drop-down menu to select the correct role.

Background

Adding a new ADLS datasource follows the same process as adding other data sources in Starburst Galaxy. This is one of the main ways that Starburst Galaxy is used to connect to data lakes.

The steps below will show you how to start the process of configuring a new catalog.

Step 1: Create catalog

Create a new catalog for your ADLS datasource.

In the left-hand navigation bar, click Data>>Catalogs.
Click the Create catalog button.

Step 2: Select ADLS datasource

Starburst Galaxy allows the creation of catalogs for a number of different data sources. In this case, you are going to create a new catalog in the Azure Data Lake Storage category.

Click the Azure Data Lake Storage tile.

Step 3: Input name and description

The catalog needs both a name and description. This ensures that you can find it later.

In the Catalog name field, enter the name of the new catalog.
In the Description field, input a description. This can be anything you want, so make it meaningful for you.
Scroll down to continue the configuration process.

Background

When you connect Starburst Galaxy to a new datasource, it is necessary to undergo an authentication process. This helps ensure that you are connecting the right data source and that you have the appropriate permissions.

Step 1: Input ABFS storage account

ADLS is built on top of Azure Blob storage so adding an ADLS catalog requires you to input the ABFS account too.

In the ABFS storage account field, enter the name of the Azure Blob File System (ABFS) storage account that you would like to add.

Step 2: Choosing an authentication method

Starburst Galaxy allows you to configure several different authentication methods when creating a new catalog. This lets you connect to data sources of different types.

Choose your connection type. Galaxy supports the following methods of authentication with Azure.
(Option 1): Azure service principal
Use this option if you have already worked with your cloud security engineer to create an Azure service principal configuration with Starburst Galaxy.
If you chose to authenticate with Azure service principal, select the Azure service principal configuration from the drop-down list.

(Option 2): Azure access key
Use this option if your cloud security engineer has given you an access key to use for authentication.
Enter the ABFS access key for your storage account.

Background

Starburst Galaxy uses a metastore to keep track of the location of your data when it is added to the data lake, in this case to ADLS.

You have two options when choosing a metastore. Take some time to consider your options, then proceed with the steps corresponding to the metastore of your choice.

Step 1: Select a Metastore

Now, it's time to select the Metastore. Starburst Galaxy allows you to use two different types of metastore with ADLS:

Galaxy Metastore
Hive Metastore

The steps required to set up each metastore differ.

For the next part of this tutorial, follow the instructions corresponding to the metastore of your choice.

Step 2 (Option 1): Using the Starburst Galaxy Metastore

Starburst Galaxy includes its own metastore, which can be used to easily store metadata. Using this option is often the simplest metadata management solution.

The choice of metastore is completely decoupled from the choice of storage option, allowing you to mix and match.

Select Starburst Galaxy.
Enter the Default ABFS storage container.
Enter the Default directory name.

If desired, select Allow creating external tables.

This will allow you to create external tables outside of the default container and default directory.

If desired, select Allow writing to external tables.

This will allow you to write data into external tables outside of the default container and default directory.

Step 2 (Option 2): Using the Hive Metastore

Starburst Galaxy also allows you to use the Hive Metastore. This is sometimes a good option for certain users.

The choice of metastore is completely decoupled from the choice of storage option, allowing you to mix and match.

Select Hive Metastore.
Select the Connection type you want to use, either a direct connection or a connection through SSH tunnel.

Select Connect via SSH tunnel from the drop-down menu.
In the Hive Metastore host field, input your IP address and DNS name.
In the Port field, input your Hive Metastore port number.
Select Allow creating external tables to create external tables that are located outside of the default container and default directory. This setting is recommended.
Select Allow writing to external tables to write data into external tables that are located outside of the default container and default directory. This setting is recommended.

Background

Table formats control the way that data is stored. These include popular modern, open table formats like Iceberg or Delta Lake, or older table formats like Hive.

Choose the default table format that fits your use case. In many cases, the best option is Iceberg, and Starburst Galaxy is designed to take advantage of its many enhanced features.

Step 1: Select the default table format

Use the radio buttons to select the default table format.

Select Iceberg, Hive, or Delta Lake.

Background

Every new catalog connection includes a test before you connect it. This helps to ensure that you have input the correct credentials and allows you to quickly fix any problems before actually connecting.

Step 1: Test and Connect

You're almost there! Time to test the connection and then complete the process of creating your new ADLS catalog.

Click the Test connection button.
Confirm that you see the Hooray! You can now add this catalog to a cluster message.
Click the Connect catalog button.

Background

Starburst Galaxy allows you to configure your catalog in a number of ways regarding access controls. The most important of these involves granting write access or restricting the catalog to read-only access.

Take some time to consider whether you require write access, or whether read-only access will be sufficient.

Step 1: Select read access

Select the appropriate read access for your situation.

If you want to restrict the write access, select the read-only catalog button.
If you want to grant write access, deselect the read-only catalog button.
Click the Save access controls button.

Step 2: Add catalog to cluster or skip

At this point, you can either add the new catalog to a cluster, or choose to skip this and connect it later.

If you want to add the catalog to a cluster later, click Skip
If you want to add the catalog to a cluster now, select the cluster name from the drop-down menu and click Add to cluster.

Tutorial complete

Congratulations! You have reached the end of this tutorial, and the end of this stage of your journey.

You're all set! Now you can query the data in your Azure Data Lake storage account.

Continuous learning

At Starburst, we believe in continuous learning. This tutorial provides the foundation for further training available on this platform, and you can return to it as many times as you like. Future tutorials will make use of the concepts used here.

Next steps

Starburst has lots of other tutorials to help you get up and running quickly. Each one breaks down an individual problem and guides you to a solution using a step-by-step approach to learning.

Tutorials available

Visit the Tutorials section to view the full list of tutorials and keep moving forward on your journey!