What is the primary role of the Data Server in Tableau?

The primary role of the Data Server in Tableau is to manage connections to Tableau Server data sources. This component is essential for ensuring that different users can effectively and efficiently connect to, retrieve, and utilize the various data sources available on the Tableau Server. It facilitates data connectivity while allowing multiple workbooks and dashboards to reuse the same data sources, maintaining consistency and reducing redundancy.

Managing these connections is critical for performance, as it optimizes how users access and interact with data. The Data Server also handles permissions and authentication for these data sources, ensuring that users have appropriate access while maintaining secure data practices.

While other options touch on various functions within Tableau, they do not encapsulate the primary function of the Data Server. For instance, handling all client requests is more associated with the overall architecture of Tableau Server rather than the specific responsibility of the Data Server. Similarly, controlling the storage of extracts is a feature that relates to the management of data rather than connections themselves. Lastly, indexing data for Ask Data pertains more to enhancing the searchability and usability of data rather than managing connections directly.