Month: November 2011

part 8 of “Getting started with SQL Azure” series is live!

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Aim of “Getting started with SQL Azure” series is to offer you a set of brief articles that could act as a Launchpad for your to-be wonderful journey of exploring Microsoft’s cloud based database solution i.e. SQL Azure.

 

In part 8, I have discussed following administrative tasks:

1. Managing firewall rules

2. Managing SQL Azure servers, databases and Logins

3. Troubleshoot connection issues

4. Monitoring database size and costs

5. Monitoring SQL Azure availability

6. Migrating to SQL Azure

 

URL: http://beyondrelational.com/blogs/parasdoshi/archive/2011/11/28/getting-started-with-sql-azure-part-8-sql-azure-administration-ii-lt-lt-paras-doshi.aspx

 

Summary:

Part 1: We defined SQL Azure and discussed advantages of SQL Azure

Part 2: We created an Azure account and created our very first SQL Azure database

Part 3: We discussed about the provisioning and the billing model of SQL Azure

part4: We discussed the SQL Azure architecture

part 5: we discussed the SQL Azure security model

part 6: We discussed how to migrate databases to SQL Azure.

Part 7: We discussed how to improve performance and backup options in SQL Azure

part 7 of “Getting started with SQL Azure” series is live!

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Aim of “Getting started with SQL Azure” series is to offer you a set of brief articles that could act as a Launchpad for your to-be wonderful journey of exploring Microsoft’s cloud based database solution i.e. SQL Azure.

In part 7, I have discussed following administrative tasks:

1. How to improve performance

2. Backup and restore Strategies

 

URL: http://beyondrelational.com/blogs/parasdoshi/archive/2011/11/27/getting-started-with-sql-azure-part-7-sql-azure-administration-i-lt-lt-paras-doshi.aspx

 

Summary:

Part 1: We defined SQL Azure and discussed advantages of SQL Azure

Part 2: We created an Azure account and created our very first SQL Azure database

Part 3: We discussed about the provisioning and the billing model of SQL Azure

part4: We discussed the SQL Azure architecture

part 5: we discussed the SQL Azure security model

part 6: We discussed how to migrate databases to SQL Azure.

Part 7: We discussed how to improve performance and backup options in SQL Azure

Related articles

Book Review: SQL server Interview Questions and Answers by Pinal Dave and Vinod Kumar.

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Though SQL server is an huge ocean – this book does justice to touch-base on every different aspect of the product. Starting from the basic concepts and then discussing Tricky questions, authors Pinal Dave and Vinod Kumar lucidly explains each aspect in a Question Answer Format.

Personally, i liked the Tricky question section because it made me think about the topic at hand. And i believe, this exercise of thinking on my feet after reading the question will help me tackle questions during interviews that require quick thinking. And for questions which i knew, i learned the perfect way of answering them.

And every chapter, ends with a summary (called points to ponder) which is an excellent place to reflect upon and test one’s knowledge. And even if you are not planning to go for interview’s in near future – this book is a handy reference for all FAQ’s you may have on a day-to-day basis.

It’s an excellent book to master the SQL server Basics and Gain confidence before a SQL server based Interview. And perfect for any who is a SQL server Database Developer or a SQL server DBA or planning to be one!

 

Review cross-posted from: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2R7QM1NFVI8RE/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=1466405643&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=

part 6 of “Getting started with SQL Azure” is live!

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Aim of “Getting started with SQL Azure” series is to offer you a set of brief articles that could act as a Launchpad for your to-be wonderful journey of exploring Microsoft’s cloud based database solution i.e. SQL Azure.

In part 6, I have discussed the SQL Azure security model:

http://beyondrelational.com/blogs/parasdoshi/archive/2011/11/21/getting-started-with-sql-azure-part-6-lt-lt-paras-doshi.aspx

Summary:

Part 1: We defined SQL Azure and discussed advantages of SQL Azure

Part 2: We created an Azure account and created our very first SQL Azure database

Part 3: We discussed about the provisioning and the billing model of SQL Azure

part4: We discussed the SQL Azure architecture

part 5: we discussed the SQL Azure security model

part 6: We discussed how to migrate databases to SQL Azure.

[Link] 2011 Testing latency between client and SQL Azure via client statistics in SSMS

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As I write this blog post, There are six location options while provisioning a SQL Azure server. And so while provisioning a SQL Azure server, who may have to decide the optimal location of the SQL Azure server based on the criteria that the latency between your application and the SQL Azure server is the minimum. And as you may know, we get better performance – if we are able to minimize the latency between client and SQL Azure. So let’s get into action.

read more

yay! I passed Exam 70 583 PRO: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications

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I passed the exam 70 583: ‘Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications’

And I have listed the resources that helped me prepare for 70 583 here:

Top Five resources to help you prepare for “70 583 Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications”

Forum Q&A: Best method to Migrate on premise to SQL Azure

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Question:

What is the best method to use for copying an “On Premise SQL DB” to SQL Azure. I’ve used the generate script wizard method but it takes quite awhile to get everything setup.  I was looking a DAC Pack but I’m a little nervous using a command utility that you could easily use to wipe out a database on accident.  Looks like a great tool though. What do you recommend? Or, is the Generate Script method the best way to go? I noticed that SQL Azure requires Clustered indexes on all tables. I would imagine that this might be a hindrance to automated migration tools.

My Answer:

Generate script wizard is a great tool for smaller databases.

For bigger databases, You should consider using a combination of Generate script wizard for migrating schema and then BCP for data.

And http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlcat/archive/2010/07/30/loading-data-to-sql-azure-the-fast-way.aspx  has some great info.

And as far as i know, the SQL Azure Migration wizard creates scripts that does clustered index creation (if it does not exist) – so yes, that is taken care of.

And for more information on various options for schema migration and data migration that you have – I would suggest an article from solidq Journal: http://www.solidq.com/sqj/Pages/2011-May-Issue/Migrating-Data-into-Microsofts-Data-Platform-SQL-Azure.aspx. It also covers best practices while migrating data to SQL Azure.

Link:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ssdsgetstarted/thread/ebb9f077-2a89-4044-bf57-212d29b48a01/

Forum Q & A: Question regarding TimeStamps in SQL Azure

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Question:

1. I’m in the process of purchasing an SSL certificate for my Company’s Azure installations. One of the questions that came up during the purchase was as follows:

Any of the servers for this certificate located outside USA/Canada?

There are a couple of hosted services on our Azure instance and both of them have their Country/Region setting specified as “Anywhere US” .

But looking at the timestamps on the data in SQL Azure, I’m not sure if all of them are North American.

What would be a response to this question?

2. Noticed that the server time stamp on my SQL AZure instance is an hour behind UK time, can I specify server time?

Answer:

1. Right! The timestamps are in UTC so they may not look American 🙂

2. SQL Azure does not allow setting TimeZone out of the box, but yes there is a workaround:

http://netindonesia.net/blogs/wely/archive/2011/07/10/managing-timezone-in-sql-azure.aspx

see, if it could help you. And an honest disclaimer from the author: “it’s a trick/workaround, and not a solution”

Link:

1. http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ssdsgetstarted/thread/87ccb4ea-1f3f-45a2-99be-1103905a5b8b/

2. http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ssdsgetstarted/thread/ab7bc8f6-bc29-4ddd-8409-511a32a0056a

Prepare yourselves for ‘Capped Data Plans’ VS ‘growing cloud computing adoption’ battle.

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I love cloud! And No, I am not a marketer – I am a technologist and I love cloud after minus-ing the marketing mumbo-jumbo/hype. And i would like cloud to emerge victorious. But i see a road block and that’s a problem. And…..I like pointing at problems (Oops!) I like coming up with creative solutions to problems.

So, in this post, I am going to talk about a problem Errrr, probable solution(s) to a potential problem that can adversely affect our lifestyle. To be specific, it can drastically increase the money we pay for Internet in future. And with growing cloud computing adoption, we will consume more bandwidth in future since we will have LOT of data on cloud. The more the data transfer between cloud and our device – the more will be the bandwidth usage.

Now, Today, it’s not a problem. At least not in USA – as we can live with “LIMITED” mobile (/Wireless cellular things like 4G, 3G, etc) data plans  combined with “UNLIMITED” Home data plans (Wired one’s – yes, the Internet made up of the fiber cables). So in future, “IF” we still have UNLIMITED home data plans around – this battle may fortunately never happen.

Wait…But think what if there will be no UNLIMITED plan?

I know it’s scary. So year by year, The internet usage would start doubling and Limit (cap) on data usage would be halved.

Wait..That’s sounds like an Inverse Moore’s law!

And what if the Home data plans would look like: $2 for every GB. At my current usage  – I would be paying little less than 80 dollars. And I can’t imagine my data usage if all my data is on cloud.  What if I do not have a local storage and instead, I’ll have all my data on some “cloud storage”. I can imagine a bill of $200 per month. And that’s a problem? You think so too?

No!? Unrealistic?! Home data plans cannot be capped?! Here’s the article: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/17/technology/netflix_canada/index.htm that talks about the challenge that Netflix faced in Canada because of “Capped Home data plans”. In fact, Netflix had to offer customization option in video quality that could help Canadian customers “save” on data usage. Any-who- if Home data plans were capped in Canada – I can say, this may happen in USA and other countries too.

And still if you think that capped home data plans are not a possibility. I would like to point out that, not long ago, we had UNLIMITED data plans through wireless cellular services and Now, we do not have it. (And I know – Sprint offers unlimited data plans. But could that not change too?)

So what can we do about it?

– Spread the word. Prepare yourselves for the battle! Contact Imp. People. Contact Gov. etc, etc, etc. ( Ok, I tweeted, Now what?! Any probable solution? )

Ideally, the data should not be capped. (And if it does happen – We can run an occupy Comcast campaign! Ok – sorry. could not resist it!)

realistically, How about a reasonable capped home data plan? What’s reasonable – Well, I mean I do not like 2 GB and 5 GB limits. That’s way too small. On the other hand a capped data plan of 1 TB is too high. It’s virtually unlimited. How about something in between which is reasonable for both – we THE CLOUD USERS and the Internet providers (ISP’s)? That is what I think – you may have different perspective on it – if you do, go ahead and post your views as comments.

Forum Q&A: Is SQL azure and SQL Server the same?

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Question:

Is SQL azure and SQL Server the same?

Answer:

I would recommend you read:

1. General Guidelines and Limitations SQL Azure (BOL)

2. SQL Azure vs SQL server (Technet Wiki)

3. Diagrammatic representation of “SQL Azure VS SQL server”

Link:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/ssdsgetstarted/thread/dc4ddeff-d92d-42b0-9feb-407092e58b05/