SQL Server on Azure

Question

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to provision a sql server on VM with A4 series. When I hit on create new VM, I see many options of sql server editions. I have windows server 2012 r2 and sql server 2012 r2. But I see windows server 2012 r2 with many combinations of sql server 2012 r2 editions. Could anyone please suggest me which would be the best option to pick. 

Answer 1

Hi Tanvi,

It depends!! What version of Windows and SQL server are you after based on your application/project documentation? You can select both SQL and Windows Server combination or Install your WM first with desired Windows and purchase required SQL Server edition from MSFT and use it to install on the VM.

To conclude from the above, Gather information - plan & Install as you need. Talk to Microsoft for support and possible recommendations. 

Keep in mind, You get charged as you select the extra features in Azure.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Bhanu.

Answer 2

Thanks for your response. I just have a simple data in azure vm. Current data is taking lot of time even for delta loads. Hence choosing for another. So particularly choosing for sql server on vm. Based on the options available at image gallery, I was thinking about sql server 2012 standard. So any idea if a huge volume of data (i.e 20 million) takes how much time to migrate from current vm to new one. Also which would be the best contact number to reach out for azure support.

Thanks

Answer 3

So any idea if a huge volume of data (i.e 20 million) takes how much time to migrate from current vm to new one. Also which would be the best contact number to reach out for azure support.

Thanks

Hi Tanvi123,

It depends on the method that you use to migrate databases between virtual machines in Azure. It  is recommended that you use the attach/detach operations when moving large user databases. The following steps provide the basic workflow:

1. Copy the data (.mdf, .ndf), log (.ldf), and backup (.bak) files to an additional data disk in the source virtual machine. Before copying the data (.mdf, .ndf) and log (.ldf) files, take the user databases offline and stop the instance of SQL Server for system databases.
2. Detach the data disk from the source virtual machine.
3. Attach the data disk to the destination virtual machine.
4. Log on to the destination virtual machine to locate your database files in the destination virtual machine.
5. Attach or restore your data and backup files to an instance of the database in the destination virtual machine.

In addition, for Azure VM issues, you can post the questions in the Azure Virtual Machines forum. It is appropriate and more experts will assist you.

Reference:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/azure/jj898505.aspx


Thanks,
Lydia Zhang

---

Lydia Zhang
TechNet Community Support