SQL Azure

Cloud Witness – A new feature to make our lives easier

September 4, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

In order to have a well-configured cluster we need to setup the quorum properly, but there’s more…Here is where the Cloud Witness comes to help.

In this article, I’m going to present something that would be very useful if was already been released, but no, I need to anxiously wait for the next version of Windows Server to be released, in order to start implementing this. Even though, I’m going to share with you, SQL Shack reader, why I’m so excited with that small and simple feature.

Low cost disaster recovery solution using Azure

August 31, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

We already talked a lot about Azure and hybrid deployments on this. In order to better understand this article I suggest the reading of the article “Azure Blob Storage – Placing database files in the cloud”, as the presented solution will be based on the same approach.

Using MS Excel to access to a relational SQL Database in Azure

August 14, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

There are great Microsoft tools to access to SQL Server in Azure. However, as a Database Developers and Administrators we need to help the end user to access to the information using a familiar and intuitive interface.

Most of the end users have a good knowledge in MS Excel. That is why it is recommended to connect our SQL Azure database to Excel. That way, the end user will be able to easily create reports, charts and generate useful information.

In this chapter, we will show how to connect to SQL Azure using Microsoft Excel.

The DBAs guide to stretch database

August 11, 2015 by Brian Bønk Rueløkke

One of the new features in SQL Server 2016 – and there is a lot – is the ability to stretch the on premise databases to an Azure environment.

This blogpost will cover some of the aspects of this – including:

Primarily setup – how to get started
Monitoring state of databases that are in ‘stretch mode’
Daily work with stretch databases
Backup – what’s good to know

Stretch Database – The art of extend to reduce

August 7, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

Let’s continue the hybrid saga! After two articles talking about the Azure Blob Storage and what we can do using it, it’s time to check an alternative solution, that does the same of what was presented in the last article (a Hybrid Database used as archival solution for who didn’t read). This time we are not using the Azure Blob Storage, but we are still using Azure!

The feature is…Stretch Database

Azure Blob Storage – Literally a Hybrid database deployment

August 4, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

In continuation to our hybrid deployment series, we will check few more options in order to integrate on-premises and Azure, using of course SQL Server.

In the last article we talked about Azure Blob Storage and how to use this service to store a SQL Server database entirely there. Meaning that we can have our instance in our datacenter, see the server in front of you, and still have your database stored in the cloud, with your data and log files out of your disks.

Azure Blob Storage – Placing database files in the cloud

July 31, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

Do you know that since SQL Server 2012 you can have your entire database stored in Azure, even if you have your server on-premises? This article will introduce you to this capability, showing the basic steps to allow your instance to be in contact with your Azure Blob Storage Account.

Using PowerShell to monitor your Azure Machine

July 17, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

In earlier chapters, I show you how to create your Virtual Machine in Azure using Power Shell.

In this new chapter, I will show you how to get information about your VM machine already created. We will use PowerShell cmdlet commands to retrieve the information.

Bcp and linked servers to Azure

July 13, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

Sometimes, we need to use the command line to copy tables using the command line. In this new chapter, we will use the BCP command to copy tables from a local machine to the SQL Server in Azure. The BCP is a very fast bulk copy tools used for this purpose.

We will also learn how to create a Linked Server in our local machine to Azure. The Linked Servers are very powerful features of SQL Server to connect SQL Server to different Data Sources like Excel, MS Access, Oracle, MySQL, and several databases. In this example, we will connect to SQL Azure.

Backups to Azure – How can I do this?

July 3, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

With the evolution of the Cloud, specifically talking about Azure, SQL Server team started to take advantage of the new opened horizon. We already discussed pros and cons of send backups to Azure, now let’s check how to do this!

Following the “Hybrid Scenarios series”, we already discussed about the connectivity options, and pros and cons of store our backup files in Azure.

In this article, we will specifically talk about the two options that we currently have, involving Azure: Blob Storage and Managed Backups.

Backups to Azure – Why I would do this?

July 2, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

With the evolution of the Cloud, specifically talking about Azure, SQL Server team started to take advantage of the new opened horizon. In this article we will discuss about backups. What are the pros and cons of store your backup files in Azure?

SQL Server + Azure: Introduction to Hybrid scenarios

July 1, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

We hear a lot about hybrid SQL Server environments, but how to integrate my datacenter with Azure? Check this article and you will have a simple and effective explanation about the connectivity option!

How to use PowerShell to create a SQL Virtual Machine in Azure

June 4, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

The first time that you create your VM in Azure manually using the UI is a very pleasant experience. However, when you have hundred and sometimes thousands of computers it is extremely exhausting and boring to create and configure it.

With PowerShell, it is possible to automate several administrative tasks and create scripts to automatically create VMs, enable ports, download and create remote desktop files, administer services, etc.

In this new chapter, we will show how to create a Virtual Machine in Azure with SQL Server installed using PowerShell.

How to work migrate backups, files and scripts to/from the cloud using the command line

May 26, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

Sometimes we need to move our local files, SQL scripts, backups from our local machine to Azure or vice versa. This can be done manually by accessing to Azure and using a browser, but there are other methods to automatically do this. This article describes the Microsoft Azure Storage Tool. This is a command line tool used to upload data to Azure from a local machine or to download data from Azure to our local machine. The article will describe step by step how to work with this tool.

How to work handle SQL Azure Databases with PowerShell

May 5, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

PowerShell is a shell used specially to automate administrative tasks.

It is an incredible tool used to programmatically automate tasks like SQL Server tasks, Exchange tasks, Windows tasks, etc. It is very useful to integrate different Microsoft and sometimes non-Microsoft programs.

In this new tutorial, we will show how to install PowerShell for Azure and then how to use it. We will create some databases, edit database properties and retrieve database information using PowerShell.

How to work with the command line and Azure to automate tasks

April 20, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

The sqlcmd is a very powerful tool to run SQL Server scripts, T-SQL commands. It is also very useful in disaster recovery situations like restoring the master database.

The sqlcmd can also be used in the Cloud, specifically with SQL Server Azure. In this new article, we will describe how to connect from a local machine to an Azure Virtual Machine (VM) with SQL Server Installed using sqlcmd.

How to export a local table to an Azure VM

March 31, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

Introduction

In my last chapter, How to migrate your database to an Azure Virtual Machine I showed you the steps to connect to a SQL Server in an Azure VM by using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). In this new chapter, we will show you how to work with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) to export a local table and its data to an Azure Virtual Machine (VM) with SQL Server installed.

How to migrate your database to an Azure Virtual Machine

March 31, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

In one of my articles about Microsoft Azure, I show how to create credentials and how to connect to an Azure Database using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). In this new article, we will talk about the Azure Virtual Machines and we will learn how to connect to them using our local SSMS. You will require unblocking ports, add endpoints and other tasks that I will explain later. We will also learn how to export a local database to an Azure Virtual Machine with SQL Server installed.

Integrate On-Premises and Azure using a site-to-site VPN with RRAS (step-by-step)

March 3, 2015 by Murilo Miranda

In order to connect on- premise and Azure we have two options, a point-to-site and a site-to-site VPN. On this article I will be showing how to configure a site-to-site VPN using a routing and remote access, step-by-step.

Creating Azure automation to start Azure VMs

February 2, 2015 by Régis Baccaro

When you have created a series of Azure VMs – for example for doing demos – you might want to be able to start it and shut it down easily. For convenience purposes but also for keeping the cost down while you’re not using the Azure VMs. In this case Azure Automation comes handy.

How to backup SQL Server databases to Microsoft Azure

January 22, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

In the last chapter, we explained how to create a Microsoft Azure Account and how to have a Microsoft Azure Portal.

This time, we will show how to backup our SQL Server Databases to a Microsoft Azure. We are assuming that you already have an Azure account.

Microsoft Azure, our first steps to migrate data

January 21, 2015 by Daniel Calbimonte

The cloud is a buzzword in the IT world. Oracle, Amazon and Microsoft with Microsoft Azure are offering Cloud Services to the public. Most of the companies plan to have part of their environments in the cloud to reduce the maintenance and security effort.