dbt core self hosted (via Direct Connect method)

This page will walkthrough the setup of dbt core (self hosted dbt) in K.

Integration details

Scope

Included

Comments

Metadata

YES

 

Tests

YES

 

Lineage

YES

 

Usage

YES

 

Sensitive Data Scanner

N/A



Step 1) Extract from dbt

  • Generate the Manifest using the dbt compile command for each project. This will ensure the manifest file contains compiled SQL. The following docs (and filenames are expected):

    • manifest.json reference

    • Must contain compiled SQL which is generated following DBT run / compile

    • filename: <project_id>_manifest_YYYYMMDDhhmmss.json

  • (Optional) Generate the Catalog file using the dbt docs generate command:

  • Run results are generated after each dbt run:

  • Use an orchestration tool like Airflow to align the filenames and push the docs (manifest, catalog, run_results) to the landing folder created in Step 3.

The inclusion of the project_id in the filename is to support multiple dbt projects.


Step 2) Add dbt Core as a New Source

  • Select Platform Settings in the side bar

  • In the pop-out side panel, under Integrations click on Sources

  • Click Add Source and select DBT_CORE

  • Select Load from File and add your dbt core details and click Next

  • Fill in the Source Settings and click Next

    • Name: Give the dbt source a name in K

    • Host: Enter the dbt server name

    • Project Mapping: A mapping is required to map dbt projects ids to KADA source hosts. Example

      {
          "projectid_1234": "af33141.australia-east.azure",
          "anotherprojectid_9283": "af33141.australia-east.azure"
      }
      
      

      Payload containing key, value pairs:

      • key - dbt project id. This can be found in the manifest.json file under metadata > project_id

      • value - host of the database matching the KADA onboarded source’s host.
        This can be found in Platform Admin > Sources > Edit source > See host name.

  • Click Finish Setup


Step 3) Configure the dbt extracts

  • Click Edit on the dbt core source you just created

  • Note down the storage location

    image-20220821-131540.png
  • Schedule the dbt extracts to land in this directory.

For details about how to push files to landing — see the Collectors documentation.


Step 4) Schedule the dbt core source load

  • Select Platform Settings in the side bar

  • In the pop-out side panel, under Integrations click on Sources

  • Locate your new dbt core Source and click on the Schedule Settings (clock) icon to set the schedule


Step 5) Push your extracts to K


Step 6) Manually run an ad hoc load to test dbt core setup

  • Select Platform Settings in the side bar

  • In the pop-out side panel, under Platform Settings click on Sources

  • Next to the Source click on the menu icon and select Run

    image-20260325-103306.png
  • After the manual run is triggered, a pop up bar will appear containing a link that can take you to the Monitor tab where you can check the progress of the job.

Troubleshooting failed loads

  • If the job failed at the extraction step

    • Check the error. Contact KADA Support if required.

    • Rerun the source job

  • If the job failed at the load step, the landing folder failed directory will contain the file with issues.

    • Find the bad record and fix the file

    • Rerun the source job