How to Use the Cloud Migration App for Small Deployments

The Cloud Migration App for Small Deployments is an open-source application based on the Tableau Migration SDK that allows administrators to copy content and users from Tableau Server to their Tableau Cloud site with ease. Created to simplify the migration process for Tableau admins with smaller deployments, this tool supports essential content transfers such as workbooks, users, groups, and more, providing a straightforward solution to make the transition to Tableau Cloud smoother.

The Cloud Migration App for Small Deployments is built to meet core migration needs in the following areas:

• Authentication — The app supports only local authentication, helping keep the process secure and manageable.
• Sites — To ensure a focused, efficient migration, the app transfers content for one site at a time.
• Data sources — All data sources supported by Tableau Cloud are eligible, including those integrated through Tableau Bridge (note that Bridge must be installed and configured separately by the user).
• Migrated content — The app transfers users, groups, projects, data sources, workbooks, permissions, and custom views, providing a comprehensive content migration experience.
• Operating system — The app runs on Microsoft Windows and MacOS, making it easy to integrate into most IT environments.
• Recommended workload — Though there is no strict limit, the app is designed to handle migrations of around 100 workbooks smoothly. This is a helpful benchmark for implementations with larger workloads to consider alternative or supplementary tools.

1. Ensure the app fits your needs

The Cloud Migration App for Small Deployments is ideal for specific use cases. To experience a smooth migration, we recommend administrators make sure their needs are addressed by the tool.

The following are situations in which the tool may not be the best fit:

• Data management — Tableau Prep Flows and Virtual Connections are not transferred by the app. Administrators will need to migrate these manually.
• Embedded content — The app migrates Tableau content only. If your Tableau Server content is embedded within other applications, those embedded integrations will require separate adjustments post-migration.
• Authentication — The tool does not support SAML or OIDC authentication, meaning advanced authentication configurations must be set up separately on Tableau Cloud.
• Data sources — Currently, the app does not support cube data sources or large Hyper extracts (over 25GB). The app supports data sources compatible with Tableau Cloud, so ensure your data fits within these requirements.

If you’re a large organization or have additional needs not supported by the app, refer to the Tableau Cloud Migration page to learn more about additional resources available to support your migration.

2. Set up your migration

After confirming the Cloud Migration App for Small Deployments meets your needs, you’ll only need a personal system (Windows or MacOS) to run it. Download the installer for your operating system from the Releases page in Github. The README section in the Github repository is the user manual.

You’ll start by providing the web addresses (URLs) of your Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud Site, along with your authentication credentials (Personal Access Token Name and Secret).

You also have the option to specify mappings between Tableau Server usernames and Tableau Cloud usernames. This is helpful since Tableau Cloud, unlike Tableau Server, requires usernames in the format name@domain. A file with username mappings can be used, or the app can apply a default domain name to any usernames not listed in a mapping file.

3. Migrate your content

To initiate the migration, simply click the Run Migration button. A window below the button displays progress in real time, and a log file will be generated for reference. Once migration is complete, all selected content should be available in your Tableau Cloud site. We highly recommend reviewing all workbooks and content post-migration to confirm everything operates as expected.

For administrators who may have large content sets or limited time to manually verify the migration, our trusted partner Wiiisdom offers an automated solution to verify workbooks quickly and efficiently.

How to get started

We’re excited to make the transition to Tableau Cloud more accessible than ever with the Cloud Migration App for Small Deployments—and we are here to support you every step of the way.

If you’re ready to get started, contact your account representative or connect with us. We hope you enjoy a seamless migration and we look forward to seeing what you create in the cloud!