In the sessions that I was attending in Redmond yesterday, I was interested to see the presenter discussing the idea of having individual database files in the cloud as some sort of bizarre option that’s now available in SQL Server 2014. I don’t see it as bizarre at all. However, I see two distinct use cases that make complete sense to me:
Overcoming Drive Limitations in Azure-based SQL Virtual Machines
2013-11-20
The Azure team keep rolling out improvements at an amazing pace. Scott Guthrie posted recently about the latest set of changes. Here are the ones that I think are most important for SQL people:
Import/Export Hard Drives
Even though Azure storage accounts can hold a very large amount of data, one of the big questions has always been about how to get that data into the storage account in the first place. That question is now answered because the new Windows Azure Import/Export service lets you ship hard drives directly to the Azure team for uploading. The reverse is also available. If you export a large amount of data to a storage account, you can move it onto a hard drive and have the drive sent to you.
2013-11-14
I had the distinct honour (honor) this week of recording a new SQL Down Under podcast with Dr David DeWitt from the Jim Gray Systems Lab at Microsoft. Anyone that has been to a PASS summit over the last few years would know that David seems to have single-handedly converted morning keynotes into must-attend events.
In this podcast, David explains his role, gives a philosophical view on where we’re at in the database industry and discusses core enhancements in SQL Server 2014.
2013-11-14
Azure updates continue to come thick and fast.
Scott Guthrie has posted again today about a number of enhancements just released. From these, I think the following are the most interesting for SQL Server devotees:
1. I posted last week about the new A5 size Azure VMs. These will be a good option for many SQL VMs, particularly those based on tabular data models.
2. Microsoft continues their partnership with Oracle by providing VM templates with Oracle software preinstalled. This is by far the quickest way to try any of this software, particularly for SQL Server folk that just want to try something on Oracle versions. Versions supported are:
2013-09-27
In Windows Azure SQL Database, a database “server” is a logical concept that’s used to keep details of connected databases. It does have a “master” database but it’s not like the on-premises equivalent. It’s pretty much a container for logins.
Generally there is no point provisioning a server that has no databases. Servers aren’t charged separately, only the user databases are charged for.
The Azure team has now made a change that means that if you have a server that hasn’t had any user databases within the last 90 days, it will be automatically deleted. It’s important to be aware that this can happen. The only thing that would be lost would be any pre-configured logins. You would need to recreate them when you later decide to provision a user database.
2013-09-25
Previously, when you selected a VM size in Azure, you had to choose a large size to get a bunch of memory.
Now a new A5 size has been provided and you can get 14GB of memory on a VM that only has two virtual cores, rather than only on the 8 core servers that were available before. The pricing is about 2/3 of the price of the 8 core version.
2013-09-24
I previously posted about enabling your Azure benefits before the end of this month if you have an MSDN subscription. Doing so doesn’t cost any more, and it adds a bunch of money for Azure credits into your account each month.
If you have an MSDN subscription and you haven’t do it, don’t put it off. Follow the link and do so (plus you might win an Aston Martin just for doing so):
2013-09-24
For the DayZero event at TechEd Australia last week, I presented a session on SQL Server 2014. Lots of people were keen to try SQL Server 2014 but said they don’t have much time, or they don’t have infrastructure to let them do it.
Either way, this is another example where Azure is really useful. You can spin up an Azure VM that has SQL Server 2014 CTP1 preinstalled on Windows Server. You can even choose a template that has Windows Server 2012 R2 if you want to also get exposure to that operating system. No doubt, an image with CTP2 will become available when that preview is ready.
2013-09-09
Most developers and DBAs that I come across have some level of access to an MSDN subscription, yet I am surprised about how many have not yet activated the Azure benefits that are associated with those subscriptions.
If you want to stay relevant within your organisations, it’s important to get your head around Azure and the best part is that you can do much of it at no additional cost.
2013-08-15
One of the topics that I’m covering in one of my sessions this year at TechEd Australia is around SQL Database and SQL Server in Azure VMs for DBAs. In that session, I’m planning to spend a while on hybrid on-premises / cloud scenarios.
Availability groups were introduced in SQL Server 2012 and while it’s unlikely that you’d use a synchronous replica in an Azure VM (unless the primary was also in an Azure VM), hosting an asynchronous replica in an Azure VM makes a lot of sense for disaster recovery scenarios where latency isn’t an issue.
2013-08-15
