Snowflake Connector Release Notes¶
Alation Cloud Service Applies to Alation Cloud Service instances of Alation
Customer Managed Applies to customer-managed instances of Alation
November 06, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.7.0¶
Enhancements¶
Support for Dynamic Table Extraction¶
Available from Alation version 2024.3.2
The Snowflake OCF connector now supports the extraction of dynamic tables. The connector can now extract SQL Definition, refresh_mode, and target_lag properties for dynamic tables and display them on the Catalog page. Dynamic tables are now visible in the lineage graph to help visualize the cross-system lineage. (AL-131160)
October 30, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.6.3¶
Enhancements¶
SDK Upgrade¶
The SDK version is now upgraded to 4.9.7 along with updates to multiple packages in JVM.
This upgrade addresses the following Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs): CVE-2024-47554, CVE-2024-9143. (AL-176849)
October 25, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.6.2¶
Fixed issue¶
Metadata Extraction Fails to Comply With the Schema Filter When Extracting External Tables¶
Metadata Extraction doesn’t adhere to schema filter when extracting external tables.
The issue is now resolved. (AL-146187)
October 16, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.6.0¶
Enhancements¶
Addition of Application Name in JDBC URI¶
The application name parameter is now added automatically to JDBC URI to identify Alation with the value alation. (AL-174940).
Snowflake JDBC Driver Upgrade¶
The Snowflake JDBC driver is now upgraded from 3.16.0 to 3.19.0. (AL-174940)
Fixed Issues¶
Missing Offset Value in TEST_TIMESTAMP_LTZ and TEST_TIMESTAMP_TZ Column Types¶
The offset value is missing in both TEST_TIMESTAMP_LTZ and TEST_TIMESTAMP_TZ column types.
The issue is now resolved (AL-174940).
Unable to Sample Columns with BINARY Data Type From Snowflake¶
The connector fails to sample columns with BINARY data type from Snowflake.
This issue is resolved. (AL-174940)
September 18, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.5.0¶
Enhancements¶
FIPS Compliance¶
The JDK is now upgraded to Temurin-11.0.24+8. This upgrade addresses the following Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs): CVE-2024-45490, CVE-2024-45491, CVE-2024-45492, CVE-2024-6119 (AL-136817)
August 21, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.4.5¶
Enhancements¶
Update to Function Definition Extraction to Skip Redundant Errors in Snowflake Instance¶
Alation has now updated the function definition extraction logic to avoid redundant errors in your Snowflake instance.
There is no change or impact to the function definition extraction outcome. (AL-163439, AL-165803)
August 08, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.4.4¶
Enhancements¶
SDK Upgrade¶
The Snowflake OCF connector is now upgraded to the latest SDK version 4.8.16. (AL-162276)
This upgrade addresses the following Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs):
CVE-2022-25647, CVE-2023-2976, CVE-2021-22569 , CVE-2020-8908, CVE-2021-22570, CVE-2022-3509, CVE-2022-3510, CVE-2022-3171, CVE-2021-29425, CVE-2021-37136, CVE-2021-37137, CVE-2019-20444, CVE-2021-21290, CVE-2021-43797, CVE-2022-24823, CVE-2024-29025, CVE-2021-21295, CVE-2021-21409, CVE-2020-11612, CVE-2019-20445 , CVE-20
OpenJDK Upgrade to Address CVEs¶
The JDK is now upgraded to Temurin-11.0.23+9. This upgrade addresses the following Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs): CVE-2024-20952 and CVE-2023-20918 (AL-162276)
Support for Authentication Based on AWS Secret Manager Credentials¶
When installed on an Alation Agent, the Snowflake OCF connector now supports authentication using credentials the Agent has fetched from AWS Secrets Manager. For more information, see AWS Secrets Manager for Data Source Authentication Using OCF Connector. (AL-162276)
Note
Support for authentication based on AWS Secret Manager is available for all installations (on-premise and Alation Cloud Service), however, integrating with AWS Secrets Manager through an Alation Agent applies only to cloud native architecture.
Fixed Issues¶
Incorrect Display of Table Row Count¶
In table sampling, when the max rows to store is set to 0, table row count was appearing to be 0 instead of the actual count.
This issue is fixed now. (AL-162276)
June 26, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.4.3¶
Enhancements¶
Applies only to Alation Cloud Service on the cloud native architecture
When installed on an Alation Agent, this connector now supports authenticating with credentials the Agent has fetched from AWS Secrets Manager. For more information, see Integration with AWS Secrets Manager for Data Source Authentication Using OCF Connector. (AL-159538)
Fixed Issues¶
MDE Extracts Schemas Outside the Selected Scope for Selective Extraction¶
In Snowflake OCF connector version 2.0.0 and higher, the MDE also extracts schemas outside the inclusion scope when selective extraction is enabled.
The issue is now fixed. (AL-156145)
April 29, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.3.4¶
Fixed Issues¶
Tag Sync Feature Fails to Use OAuth Authentication¶
The Snowflake OCF connector doesn’t use OAuth authentication to sync the tags with Snowflake. Instead, it uses the service account to connect.
The issue is fixed. Now, the Tag Sync and Policy Sync features use an OAuth connection. (AL-152797, AL-153738)
Important
This fix will be available with Alation version 2024.1.2 onwards.
April 10, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.3.3¶
Fixed Issues¶
Catalog Page Displays Incorrect Row Count for Tables¶
The catalog page displays the number of rows profiled by Alation instead of actual row count.
Now, the catalog page displays the row count based on the value set in the Max rows to Scan column under the Per-Object Parameters tab. If the row count in a table is less than the configured value in Max rows to Scan column, the actual row count is displayed. If it is more, Alation would display the row count value as 10000+, provided the Max rows to Scan is set to 10000. (AL-152558)
March 13, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.3.2¶
Enhancements¶
Improved Error Message for Incorrect Warehouse¶
In case of an incorrect warehouse name or inaccessible warehouse, the error message now provides cues to check the validity of the warehouse along with required user permissions. (AL-149456)
Improved Experience for Volume Check Threshold UI Message¶
As part of the QLI volume check, the following redundant message was displayed for daily average query volume less than 500K.
“Your daily average query volume <average query volume> is less than 500k.
Now, the message is displayed only when the daily average query volume exceeds the 500K threshold. (AL-141936)
Fixed Issues¶
Upload Data Fails for Column Data Type timestamp_NTZ¶
For Snowflake data source, the Upload Data action fails with the following error for the column data type timestamp_NTZ:
The uploaded data does not seem to match the selected table
Now, you must ensure that you run MDE before you try the Upload Data action again. (AL-138612)
Custom QLI Query Validation Fails If the ENDTIME Keyword Appears Before the STARTTIME¶
Including the STARTTIME and ENDTIME keywords in the Custom QLI queries is mandatory. However, the connector restricts users from using the ENDTIME keyword before the STARTTIME keyword within a custom query. This results in a validation error for the custom QLI queries that require the ENDTIME keyword to appear before the STARTTIME keyword and the user cannot save it.
Now, the connector allows the users to successfully save the custom QLI query irrespective of the STARTTIME or ENDTIME keyword order. (AL-149456)
February 28, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.3.0¶
Enhancements¶
Docker CIS Benchmark Compliance¶
Snowflake OCF connector versions 2.3.0 and newer are now compliant with the following Docker CIS benchmarks:
Docker 4.1 - Ensures that a user for the container is created
Docker 4.6 - Ensures that HEALTHCHECK instructions are added to container images
Docker 4.7 - Ensures that docker files do not include update instructions as a standalone or single-line instruction
Additional Checks for QLI¶
Snowflake OCF connector now checks the inclusion of queryString, startTime, or sessionID column in the view or custom query used for QLI. If the queryString, startTime, or sessionID column is missing, the connector displays an error message and a hint in the Job summary. This check prevents log flooding.
January 31, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.2.15¶
Fixed Issue¶
Alation Prevents Completion of Test Connection and Test Access and Fetch Actions Without System Views Access¶
You can now complete the Test Connection and Test Access and Fetch Schema actions on the General Settings and Metadata Extraction tabs, respectively, even when your configured service account cannot access system views but would like to use custom views instead.
In such cases, Alation now displays a warning message allowing you to proceed if you intend to use Custom MDE Queries to configure and run extraction. This functionality was blocked in connector version 2.2.13 and has now been re-introduced.
January 03, 2024¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.2.13¶
Fixed Issues¶
Compose Uses Incorrect Version of the JDBC Driver¶
Snowflake OCF connector supports the latest JDBC driver version (version 3.14.1). However, Compose is unable to use the latest version of the JDBC driver and falls back to the native version.
December 13, 2023¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.2.11¶
Compatible Alation Version - 2022.4 or higher
Enhancements¶
The allowUnderscoresInHost Parameter is Automatically Set in the JDBC URI¶
If you miss setting the allowunderscore parameter in the JDBC URI field on the General Settings tab of the Snowflake data source, the Snowflake OCF connector automatically sets the allowunderscore parameter to true (allowunderscore=true).
With this enhancement, Snowflake OCF connector supports underscores in the account names included in the Privatelink JDBC URLs.
Fixed Issues¶
Metadata Extraction Fails In the Absence of ALLOWED_VALUES Column¶
In Snowflake OCF connector version 2.2.9 and earlier, Alation introduced a new column called ALLOWED_VALUES in the Tag extraction query to extract all the available values associated with the ALLOWED_VALUES parameter from the Snowflake data source. If this column is absent in the custom query for the tag, MDE fails.
This column has now been made optional to ensure that MDE runs successfully for users who have installed the latest Snowflake OCF Connector version (2.2.9 and higher) on an earlier Alation version.
November 16, 2023¶
Snowflake OCF Connector: Version 2.2.9¶
Compatible Alation version: 2022.4 or higher
Enhancements¶
With Alation version 2023.3.2.1 and Snowflake OCF connector version 2.2.9, Alation has introduced an enhanced user interface for configuring the Snowflake data source settings.
Note
The connector version is compatible with Alation versions prior to 2023.3.2.1. However, you will view the old user interface with Alation versions prior to 2023.3.2.1.
The documentation for the new Snowflake experience is available at Snowflake OCF Connector.
The enhanced user interface provides the following features:
Improved User Experience¶
The enhanced Snowflake Admin user interface provides better navigation and multiple visual cues, making it easy to configure and manage Snowflake data source.
Easy to Connect¶
The Snowflake Admin user interface now provides a step-by-step process to connect to your Snowflake data source easily and quickly.
Extra Error-Prevention Checks¶
The Snowflake Admin user interface now includes added checks to avoid obvious configuration mistakes. The user interface also includes text to assist and provide cues while configuring.
Actionable Error Messages and Detailed Error Reports¶
The Snowflake Admin user interface has made troubleshooting easier for metadata extraction and query log ingestion, as you can now have actionable error messages. We also support a detailed error report for Metadata Extraction, which contains a detailed error description and steps to resolve the issue.