Cannot Create DIRECT_ACCESS on my Databricks Workspace

Question

Cannot Create DIRECT_ACCESS on my Databricks Workspace

Eric Tan 0

Got this error when trying to create a direct access index, my databricks workspace is premium type.

Exception: Response content b'{"error_code":"INVALID_PARAMETER_VALUE","message":"Vector index type DIRECT_ACCESS is not supported for this work space.","details":[{"@type":"type.googleapis.com/google.rpc.RequestInfo","request_id":"b9bc5f61-b35f-96e5-9f28-fe6401ef9360","serving_data":""} ]}', status_code 400

PRADEEPCHEEKATLA 91,496 Reputation points Moderator

2025-10-13T15:06:51.86+00:00

Eric Tan - Thanks for the question and using MS Q&A platform.

Based on the document: vector_search function this is a known limitations apply during the preview: Querying DIRECT_ACCESS index types are not supported.

𝘛𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘻𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴, 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯.
Eric Tan 0 Reputation points

2025-10-13T15:10:14.9866667+00:00

I am not querying the index, I am using VectorSearchClient.create_direct_access_index to create an index, this method has worked for me in other workspace before, just don't know why I can't the same in this new workspace.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-14T07:30:03.5966667+00:00

Hi Eric Tan,

The method VectorSearchClient.create_direct_access_index internally calls the Databricks Vector Search API to create a Direct Access index. This feature is workspace-tier dependent. Your previous workspace likely had Enterprise SKU or Unity Catalog with advanced entitlements enabled. Compare the Two Workspaces: • Compare the configuration of the two workspaces where the method worked and the new one. Look at: o The Databricks runtime version. o Cluster configurations (size, type, etc.). o Available features (check if the DIRECT_ACCESS index feature is listed for both workspaces). Check API and Permissions: • Verify that your API credentials and permissions in the new workspace allow the use of VectorSearchClient.create_direct_access_index. Ensure the user roles and policies are the same as the ones that worked in the other workspace. Check for Feature Flag: • If possible, check whether the DIRECT_ACCESS feature is behind a feature flag and ensure it's enabled in the new workspace. API Version Consistency: • Check that the same API version is used in both workspaces. If one workspace was created using a newer API version, it might have additional features or limitations.

Use Delta Sync Index Instead Replace create_direct_access_index with create_delta_sync_index: Python from databricks.vector_search.client import VectorSearchClient

client = VectorSearchClient() client.create_delta_sync_index( endpoint_name="my-endpoint", index_name="my-index", primary_key="id", source_table_name="catalog.schema.table" )

This approach works on Premium workspaces and is the recommended alternative. Reference: Create and Query Vector Search Index

Upgrade or Enable Direct Access If you must use Direct Access: • Contact your Databricks account team or Azure support to upgrade the workspace to Enterprise SKU or enroll in Direct Access private preview. • Ensure Unity Catalog and serverless compute are enabled, as these are prerequisites for Direct Access.

Reference - Workspace Entitlements

Hope the above steps were helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks, Vrishabh
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-15T02:08:09.13+00:00

Hi Eric Tan,

We haven't heard back from you. Please reply if you have any questions in this matter and we will gladly continue the discussion.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
Eric Tan 0 Reputation points

2025-10-16T04:08:58.8366667+00:00

Thanks @VRISHABHANATH PATIL

I need to use direct access index. The problem is I can't seem to be able to contact support or raise support ticket to do that, I keep trying but the Support from my azure portal will only direct me to document or search result.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-16T05:28:11.2733333+00:00
Hi Eric Tan

Thanks for providing the feedback -

Why You Can’t See Support Ticket Option

The Support blade in Azure Portal only shows ticket creation if your subscription has an active support plan (Standard, Professional Direct, or Unified).

If you’re on a basic plan, you’ll only see documentation links.

How to Enable Direct Access Index

Direct Access requires:

Enterprise SKU for your Databricks workspace.

Unity Catalog and serverless compute enabled.

Enrollment in Direct Access private preview (if not generally available).

Concrete Steps

Verify Your Support Plan Check your subscription’s support plan here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/plans/

Raise a Support Request via Alternate Path If the portal doesn’t show the option:

Go to https://portal.azure.com/#blade/Microsoft_Azure_Support/HelpAndSupportBlade

Select Quota or Feature Enablement → Databricks → Add details about Direct Access.

Hope the above steps were helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-17T01:53:32.5166667+00:00

Hi Eric Tan,

We hope the above steps were helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
Smaran Thoomu 32,520 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-13T11:12:38.4833333+00:00

Eric Tan Just checking in to see if the below answer helped. If this answers your query, do click Accept Answer and Yes for was this answer helpful. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

1 answer

Your answer

PRADEEPCHEEKATLA 91,496 Reputation points Moderator

2025-10-13T15:06:51.86+00:00

Eric Tan - Thanks for the question and using MS Q&A platform.

Based on the document: vector_search function this is a known limitations apply during the preview: Querying DIRECT_ACCESS index types are not supported.

𝘛𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘻𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴, 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯.
Eric Tan 0 Reputation points

2025-10-13T15:10:14.9866667+00:00

I am not querying the index, I am using VectorSearchClient.create_direct_access_index to create an index, this method has worked for me in other workspace before, just don't know why I can't the same in this new workspace.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-15T02:08:09.13+00:00

Hi Eric Tan,

We haven't heard back from you. Please reply if you have any questions in this matter and we will gladly continue the discussion.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
Eric Tan 0 Reputation points

2025-10-16T04:08:58.8366667+00:00

Thanks @VRISHABHANATH PATIL

I need to use direct access index. The problem is I can't seem to be able to contact support or raise support ticket to do that, I keep trying but the Support from my azure portal will only direct me to document or search result.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-16T05:28:11.2733333+00:00

Hi Eric Tan

Thanks for providing the feedback -

Why You Can’t See Support Ticket Option

The Support blade in Azure Portal only shows ticket creation if your subscription has an active support plan (Standard, Professional Direct, or Unified).

If you’re on a basic plan, you’ll only see documentation links.

How to Enable Direct Access Index

Direct Access requires:

Enterprise SKU for your Databricks workspace.

Unity Catalog and serverless compute enabled.

Enrollment in Direct Access private preview (if not generally available).

Concrete Steps

Verify Your Support Plan Check your subscription’s support plan here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/plans/

Raise a Support Request via Alternate Path If the portal doesn’t show the option:

Go to https://portal.azure.com/#blade/Microsoft_Azure_Support/HelpAndSupportBlade

Select Quota or Feature Enablement → Databricks → Add details about Direct Access.

Hope the above steps were helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-17T01:53:32.5166667+00:00

Hi Eric Tan,

We hope the above steps were helpful. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
Smaran Thoomu 32,520 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-13T11:12:38.4833333+00:00

Eric Tan Just checking in to see if the below answer helped. If this answers your query, do click Accept Answer and Yes for was this answer helpful. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

Answer 1

Hi Eric Tan
Thanks for sharing the details.

I understand you’re not querying the index but trying to create a DIRECT_ACCESS index using VectorSearchClient.create_direct_access_index.

While the documentation mentions that “Querying DIRECT_ACCESS index types are not supported” during the preview, the ability to create a DIRECT_ACCESS index also depends on workspace-tier entitlements. This feature is currently available only on Enterprise-tier workspaces (or those with the Direct Access private preview enabled).

Your previous workspace likely had Enterprise SKU or Unity Catalog with the Direct Access feature flag enabled - that’s why it worked there. The new workspace being on Premium SKU doesn’t include the entitlement for Direct Access creation, which leads to the INVALID_PARAMETER_VALUE error you’re seeing.

You can:

Use create_delta_sync_index instead (supported for Premium workspaces), or
Contact your Databricks account team or let us know to enable Direct Access for your workspace (requires Enterprise SKU or feature preview access).

Hope this helps. Do let us know if you any further queries.

If this answers your query, do click Accept Answer and Yes for was this answer helpful. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

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Cannot Create DIRECT_ACCESS on my Databricks Workspace

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