Trino Integration with Knowi: Unified Analytics Across Distributed SQL Engines

TL;DR

Knowi natively supports Trino, a powerful distributed SQL engine that lets you query data from multiple sources, relational, NoSQL, or otherwise, through a single interface. With Knowi’s integration, you can:

• Connect to Trino in minutes (via UI or Cloud9Agent)
  
• Run native Trino SQL queries or use a no-code Visual Query Builder
  
• Join Trino data with MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and more
  
• Build dashboards and reports without writing code
  
• Automate real-time reporting and share insights effortlessly
  

Start a free trial  to query Trino with Knowi today – no credit card required.

Table of Contents

What Is Trino?

Trino (formerly PrestoSQL) is an open-source distributed SQL query engine built for running fast analytic queries across multiple data sources of varying formats and structures. Trino supports federated queries across:

• Relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL)
  
• Data warehouses (e.g., Redshift, BigQuery)
  
• NoSQL systems (e.g., Cassandra, MongoDB)
  
• File systems and object storage (e.g., HDFS, S3)
  

This makes Trino an ideal backend for organizations with hybrid data architectures, especially when paired with Knowi for self-service BI and embedded analytics.

Why Use Trino with Knowi?

How to Connect Trino to Knowi

Knowi supports two connection modes for Trino:

1. UI-Based Trino Integration

Best for publicly accessible Trino coordinators.

Steps:

1. Go to Knowi > Data Sources > + New Datasource
   
2. Select Trino
   
3. Fill in the connection fields:
   

Click Test Connection, then Save

Note: If your Trino instance is inside a private network, use the Cloud9Agent method below.

2. Cloud9Agent Integration (for Internal Trino Clusters)

If your Trino instance isn’t publicly accessible, deploy Knowi’s Cloud9Agent inside your network to tunnel the connection.

Cloud9Agent Configuration Example:

datasource1.name=Internal Trino Cluster
datasource1.type=TRINO
datasource1.host=trino-coordinator.internal
datasource1.port=8080
datasource1.catalog=hive
datasource1.schema=analytics
datasource1.username=admin
datasource1.password=your_password
datasource1.useSSL=true
datasource1.properties=SSL=true&SSLVerification=NONE

Querying Trino in Knowi

Once connected, you can use either the Visual Builder or Query Editor to build Trino queries.

Visual Query Builder

Perfect for non-technical users:

• Drag & drop fields
  
• Apply filters, joins, aggregations visually
  
• Preview data instantly
  
• Auto-generates Trino SQL in the background
  

SQL Query Editor

Ideal for power users:

-- Join across Trino catalogs
SELECT c.custkey, c.name, o.orderdate, o.totalprice
FROM tpch.sf1.customer c
JOIN tpch.sf1.orders o ON c.custkey = o.custkey
WHERE o.orderdate > DATE '2024-01-01'
ORDER BY o.totalprice DESC
LIMIT 100

-- Cross-catalog join
SELECT m.user_id, p.total_orders
FROM mysql.users.members m
JOIN postgresql.analytics.purchasesummary p ON m.userid = p.customer_id
WHERE p.total_orders > 10

AI Features for Trino Users

Knowi’s built-in AI Assistant makes querying even easier:

Data Execution Options

Choose between:

• Direct Query: Run real-time queries against Trino
  
• Cached Dataset: Store results for faster load times
  

Great for high-volume dashboards or reports with predictable metrics.

Advanced Features

Session Properties

Improve query performance by setting Trino session properties:

SET SESSION distributed_join = true;
SET SESSION query_max_memory = '8GB';
SELECT * FROM large_table JOIN another_table ...

Schema & Catalog Explorer

• Browse available catalogs and schemas
  
• View column names and data types
  
• Generate sample queries with right-click
  

Best Practices for Trino Analytics in Knowi

• Specify schema: Avoid scanning unnecessary catalogs
  
• Push filters: Apply WHERE clauses early to reduce data scanned
  
• Monitor performance: Use Trino’s Web UI to analyze query execution
  
• Secure your setup: Prefer Cloud9Agent for private environments
  

Common Troubleshooting Scenarios

Get Started with Trino + Knowi

Trino gives you the freedom to query anywhere. Knowi makes that power accessible to everyone, from business users to data engineers.

Book a Personalized Demo to See Trino + Knowi in Action

Frequently Asked Questions