LINQ to SQL with SQL Azure - azure

We are investigating moving to a cloud model and the Microsoft Azure PaaS platform.
Our current data layer is written using LINQ to SQL. Will it be compatible with SQL Azure?

Yes LINQ to SQL is compatible. But you have to keep 2 things in mind:
SQL Azure is not a dedicated machine for you alone. Your databases will run on machines with other customers. You may be throttled, you can encounter transient exceptions, ... That's why you should implement a retry policy. There's an article on TechNet explaining how to do this with LINQ to SQL.
Since SQL Azure is not a real SQL Server there are some limitations. Read all about those limitations here: General Guidelines and Limitations (Windows Azure SQL Database). If you're planning to move an existing database (with or without data) to SQL Azure, consider using a tool that supports SQL Azure like the SQL Database Migration Wizard (SQLAzureMW).

Related

Cross Database Insert in Azure?

Is it possible for me to insert some data from one database to another in Azure sql?
Let's say I have a trigger in db1 that updates some values in db2.
I read about elastic queries but it seems like they are read-only so they don't solve my problem.
You can't use cross-database in Azure Sql Server because databases can't see eachother physically , you could use elastic pools but they are Read Only.
A solution is to use SQL Managed Instance to upload your instance . This supports cross-database queries but it was expensive.
There was some previous discussion here about doing similar:
C# Azure Function trigger when SQL Database has a new row added without polling
There is also the Azure SQL Bindings for Azure Functions but they are input bindings and not triggers and they're still in preview and limited to C#, JavaScript and Python.
Azure SQL bindings for Azure Functions overview (preview)
There was a new announcement last week after MS Build however for Azure SQL Database External REST Endpoints Integration (hopefully they don't refer to it as ASDEREI) but this is currently in preview under Early Adoption Program (EAP).
Announcing the “Azure SQL Database External REST Endpoints Integration” Early Adoption Program

SSRS on Azure SQL Database Why its not supported?

I came across one issue that I cannot create SSRS databases on Azure SQL Database, netiher I can use the migrated databases of report server in the SSRS Config manager, can anyone explain why is this a limitation and something like Managed Instance or Azure SQL VM is needed in this case?
Is there no other way of configuring Azure SQL Database with SSRS?
Azure SQL database didn't explain why SSRS is not supported in Azure SQL database.
I think the reason the that Azure SQL database is PAAS and different between IAAS: Azure MI and SQL server in VMS:
And for now, there is no way to configure SSRS for Azure SQL database. SQL database product team confirmed this. Ref this feedback:
"Thanks for your feedback here. You can do SSRS today in an Azure VM.
I’m closing this as we have no plans in SQL DB to significantly grow
it’s scope to SSRS."
If you still want to SSRS, you need to choose Azure SQL managed instance or SQL Server in VMs.
HTH.
I think that you can pick a Azure Virtual Machine and then get things done by yourself, from scratch.
Or you can create RDLC and run them inside a web application, using Azure Database as data source.

What extra one gets by selecting Azure SQL Managed Instance vis-a-vis Azure SQL DB PaaS

I would like to know what extra benefits one get by choosing Azure SQL Managed Instance compared to Azure SQL DB PaaS. I know SQL Managed Instance is offered as a vCore based purchasing model only. Apart from this what is the extra add on and benefits that one gets over the other. Any reply would be appreciated.
With Azure SQL Managed Instance, you essentially get a full fledged SQL Server that you can control any way you want, just like you would control a locally configured SQL Server. All the power and access and customization you want.
With, Azure SQL DB PaaS, you are essentially getting a database service, so, you give up a lot of control.
For example, take server collation. With the database service, SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS , is all you get. With the Managed Instance, its your server. So, go ahead and select whatever collation you want, just like how you would select the collation at the time of creatoin.
Another issue is with auditing, if that is something that is important to your setup. with SQL Managed Instance, auditing happens at server level, because, you are getting the full database server. With the database service, it only database, because, you are only getting a database.
These are just the main details that I found. more details here at this Azure doc - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/features-comparison
Of course, Managed is going to cost you more because you are paying for the license of the SQL server too.
Lastly, for me, this is the almost (not the exact same thing) like you running your own File Server on a Windows VM on Azure (Managed Instance) versus, just using Blob Storage. In both cases, you are just trying to store some files, but its how much control you have.
I would say think about Azure SQL DB vs Azure SQL Managed Instance (MI) as
Azure SQL DB = Resources dedicated to individual DBs like a container. They are grouped under a Azure SQL Server but that SQL Server is just for grouping.
Azure SQL MI = Almost same as on-prem SQL Server except you don't have to worry about OS, backups, high availability.
Here is a good comparison.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/features-comparison
Hopefully this will help
Azure SQL Database - The usual PaaS way. You have vCore, DTU, and Serverless billing mode. And Elastic pool support.
Azure SQL Managed Instance - Similar as below. When you want to use instance-scoped features of Azure SQL Managed Instance like Service Broker, CLR, SQL Server Agent, and Linked servers. As if you have an SQL Server on premise, Azure is responsible for patching, upgrading version etc.
SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines - Similar as above. But you are responsible for OS and SQL server upgrade.

Azure Data Factory architecture with Azure SQL database to Power BI

I'm no MS expert - recently hopped onto the Azure train and apologies in advance if I get some information wrong.
Basically need some input in Azure's architecture utilising Azure Data Factory (as the ETL/ELT tool) and Azure SQL database (as the storage), to a BI output - Power BI. My situation is this;
I have on-premise data sources such as Oracle DB, Oracle Cloud SSAS, MS SQL server db
I'd like to have a MS cloud infrastructure solution for reporting purposes.
No data migration needed - merely pumping on-prem data onto cloud and producing a BI reporting solution
Based on my limited knowledge and Google research, Azure Data Factory caters for all my on-prem sources, as well as the future cloud Azure SQL database. If future analysis is needed, Azure Storage and Azure Databricks can be added in to this architecture. I have sketched out the architecture of my proposed solution.
Just confirming my understanding
Without Azure Storage & Databricks (the 2 pink boxes), the 2 Azure component (DF & SQL database) is sufficient to take data from on-premise sources, process on cloud & output into Power BI.
With Azure Storage & Databricks (the 2 pink boxes), processing will be more efficient as their summarised function is to store training data models & act as an analytics processing engine.
Azure SQL database is more suitable, as compared to Azure SQL datawarehouse as my data sources does not exceed 1TB; cost-wise is cheaper AND one of my data sources contain data from call centers, hence OLTP is more suitable. Plus I have Azure Databricks to support the analytical bit that SQL datawarehouse does (OLAP).
Any other comments to help me understand this whole architecture will be great!
I am a new learner of Azure. I was wondering if we have #Query (value="...") kind or any equivalence for DocumentDb (CosmosDB). Because, the documentDB does not take #Query. I am looking to convert the sql query (From jpa to cosmosDB).
Taking data from on-prem or IaaS sources like SQL on a VM, Oracle etc, requires a Self-Hosted Integration Runtime (SHIR).
Please review the Modern Data Warehouse pattern which sounds similar to what you are proposing.

Azure - SQL (IaaS or PaaS)

I've been trying to figure out if I can run my DBs using PaaS for a specific application.
The bit I can't quite find an answer to is if Azure DBs on PaaS supports running as a Transactional Publisher?
I've seen an article that says a DB in Azure is capable of being a subscriber, but can't find anything regarding the other way round.
Today SQL DB doesn't support transaction replication if the SQL DB database is the publisher.

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