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How to Connect VS Code to an Azure DevOps Power BI Git Repository Through Zscaler
Question details
The user needs to successfully clone an Azure DevOps Power BI Git repository using Visual Studio Code while operating behind a corporate Zscaler proxy.
- Product
- Visual Studio Code and Git
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to clone a Power BI Git repository from a dev.azure.com URL behind a Zscaler proxy using developer tools like VS Code or Azure Data Studio.
- Observed behavior
- Cloning the Power BI repository fails in Visual Studio Code, Azure Data Studio, and SourceTree, despite Git access to an Azure SQL repository working correctly through the same Zscaler proxy.
Ensure that Git and Visual Studio Code are installed on your system, and verify that you have obtained your organization's Zscaler root certificate file (usually a .cer file).
Configure Git Certificates and Clone with a Personal Access Token
Update Git's global configuration to trust the Zscaler root certificate and authenticate the repository clone using an Azure DevOps Personal Access Token (PAT).
Corporate proxies like Zscaler inspect SSL traffic by presenting their own certificates. If Git is not configured to recognize this specific certificate authority, it will reject the connection to Azure DevOps. Pointing Git to the Zscaler certificate and using a PAT ensures a secure and successful connection.
Log in to your Azure DevOps portal (dev.azure.com). Navigate to User Settings > Personal Access Tokens. Generate a new token and ensure it has Read and Write permissions for the repository.
Open the terminal in Visual Studio Code and set the SSL backend by running the command: git config --global http.sslbackend openssl
Point Git to your organization's Zscaler root certificate by running: git config --global http.sslcainfo "C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\ZscalerRootCA.cer" (replace the path with the actual location of your certificate).
Power BI projects often generate files with deep directory structures. Prevent cloning errors by running: git config --global core.longpaths true
In Visual Studio Code, open the Command Palette and select 'Git: Clone'. Enter your dev.azure.com Power BI repository URL. When prompted for credentials, use your Azure DevOps username and paste the Personal Access Token you created.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Git fail to clone Azure DevOps repositories when using Zscaler?
Zscaler acts as a proxy that intercepts SSL traffic to inspect it, replacing the destination's certificate with its own. Since Git maintains its own list of trusted certificates, it does not inherently trust the Zscaler certificate, causing the connection to drop for security reasons until the certificate is explicitly added to Git's configuration.
Where can I find the Zscaler root certificate on my computer?
The Zscaler root certificate is typically deployed by your IT department. You can often find it by opening the Windows Certificate Manager (certmgr.msc), navigating to 'Trusted Root Certification Authorities', locating the Zscaler certificate, and exporting it as a Base-64 encoded X.509 (.CER) file.
Can I use standard Windows credentials instead of a Personal Access Token?
When connecting through certain proxies or using non-Windows command-line tools, standard integrated authentication might fail or prompt repeatedly. Using a Personal Access Token (PAT) provides a dedicated, secure credential specifically designed for external tools like Git and Visual Studio Code to authenticate reliably.
