## dbt special cases

URL: https://docs.atlan.com/apps/connectors/etl-tools/dbt/references/special-cases

> dbt special cases - multiple environments, token rotation, Core migration, managed buckets, shared IAM roles, Cloud and Core in parallel.

Multiple environments, more than one dbt connection, token rotation, the Core-to-new-experience migration, and other setups the standard guides don't cover.

## Multiple dbt environments (dev / test / prod)

If several dbt environments feed one Atlan tenant, decide up front how they map to connections:

- **Scope each connection deliberately.** Use Include/Exclude Metadata (dbt Cloud) or separate bucket prefixes (dbt Core) so each connection sees exactly one environment. A token or credential scoped to the wrong environment silently crawls the wrong assets.
- **Expect duplicates if you don't.** The same model crawled from two environments appears twice, and lineage stitches to whichever warehouse connection matches - a top source of "why are there upstream duplicates?" confusion.
- Multiple dbt connections pointing at the same warehouse connection is supported - but only **one** dbt connection must enrich each warehouse connection, or enrichment becomes unpredictable. See [Troubleshooting dbt connectivity](https://docs.atlan.com/llms/connectors/dbt/troubleshooting-dbt-connectivity/llms.txt).

## Rotating dbt Cloud tokens

Tokens expire, people leave, security rotates secrets. To swap the token without rebuilding the connection:

1. Go to **Workflows → Monitor → your dbt workflow → most recent run → Config tab**.
2. Under **dbt Credential**, click **Edit Credentials**.
3. **Re-enter both fields**: the Host Name / access URL *and* the new token. The form treats every save as a full overwrite - pasting only the token while the host shows masked dots submits an incomplete payload and fails with *"Host URL and API token are required"*.
4. Run **Test Authentication**, then **Update**.

> **Note: Who can do this**
>
>
> Editing workflow credentials needs **workflow admin**; editing the connection itself needs **connection admin** on that dbt connection. They're separate roles - having one doesn't grant the other. If the edit form shows no input fields at all, take a screenshot and raise a ticket; that's a product bug, not your setup.
>

## Migrating from Core (legacy) to Cloud/object storage experience

Atlan has been migrating dbt connections off the legacy Core extraction method - affected admins received an email with a deadline. What to know:

- The migration reuses your existing bucket and access - it changes *how Atlan reads*, not *where your files live*.
- Re-check every field on save, especially **Region**: a missing/unmapped region blocks the save with *"Region not found."* If that happens near your deadline, raise a ticket immediately and reference the migration email - don't retry silently.
- After migrating, run one crawl and diff the asset count against the last legacy run before declaring victory.

## Using Atlan-managed bucket

- Support provisions a **dedicated prefix** and **upload credentials**; your pipeline uploads artifacts there instead of your own bucket.
- One prefix per Atlan environment - ask for a second prefix (for example, `dbt-dev/`) rather than mixing dev and prod files under one.
- Treat the upload credentials like any production secret; if they rotate, your uploads fail silently and the catalog goes stale.

## One IAM role for several Atlan crawlers (AWS)

The dbt Core role pattern (your role + Atlan's identity in the trust policy) is the same pattern other Atlan AWS connectors use (S3, Athena, miner backfills). You *can* reuse one role for all of them - grant it read on each bucket involved - which keeps your security review to a single role. Just remember: any Atlan workflow using that role can read everything it can read.

## Running dbt Cloud and dbt Core side by side

Supported - create one connection per flavor. Common during a Core→Cloud migration:

- Keep both connections scoped so the *same project* isn't crawled by both, or you'll double-catalog it.
- When cut-over completes, archive the old connection's assets rather than deleting the connection first - you keep history and lineage.

_Last updated: 8 October 2026._

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