Where should Tableau Prep Conductor be installed for optimal performance?

Tableau Prep Conductor should be installed on a separate node for optimal performance. This approach allows for dedicated resources specifically for data preparation workflows, which can improve the overall efficiency and performance of both Tableau Prep and Tableau Server. By isolating Prep Conductor on its own node, you minimize resource contention with other server processes, providing more consistent processing capabilities and reducing the impact of heavy data flows on the performance of visualization and reporting tasks.

Installing Prep Conductor on a separate node also enhances scalability. As data preparation tasks can consume significant computing power, dedicating a node to these processes ensures that they can scale independently from the main Tableau Server node. This configuration is particularly beneficial in environments with heavy data refresh schedules or complex data preparation jobs that require substantial processing power.

When installed on the same node as Tableau Server, there can be overhead and competition for resources, which might lead to performance issues. Likewise, choosing the least used node does not guarantee that the resources or environment are optimal for preparing data workloads, potentially leading to inefficiencies and bottlenecks. Hence, choosing a separate node is the most strategic configuration for both operational performance and reliability.