Error "An unknown error related to remote content was detected (502)" Or "Cannot connect to Tableau Server" Refreshing Published Data Sources

KNOWLEDGE BASE

Error "An unknown error related to remote content was detected (502)" Or "Cannot connect to Tableau Server" Refreshing Published Data Sources

Published: 29 Oct 2018
Last Modified Date: 12 Jul 2019

Issue

When attempting to refresh a published data source in Tableau Bridge, Tableau Desktop (Refresh from Source), or using other API clients, intermittently the data source fails to refresh with the below error messages.

"An unknown error related to remote content was detected (502)."

"Cannot connect to Tableau Server. Please check the server name and port and try again."

Environment

Tableau Online
Tableau Bridge
Data Extract Command-Line Utility
REST API
Tableau Desktop (Refresh from Source)
Published Data Source

Resolution

As a workaround, schedule data sources to refresh more frequently, so that when they fail because of this issue, subsequent refreshes will update the data.