Tableau Server architecture

Now that we have reviewed the various Tableau file types, we can use that information to understand various ways to architect a Tableau Server environment. Since this is not a book dedicated to Tableau Server, this architecture discussion is presented at a high level. The intent is to help the Tableau Desktop author understand how to interact with Tableau Server so that workbooks best serve the end user:

The preceding diagram visually represents the contents of the four file types that are most relevant when considering how the Tableau Desktop author should interface with Tableau Server. To be clear, the previous section of this chapter provided descriptions of the various file types. Each of these descriptions included the line What it contains. What it contains is visually represented in the preceding diagram.

Each of the four file types listed in the diagram includes metadata; two include data and two include schema.

Let's consider four approaches to Tableau...