Microsoft Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure November CTP (32-bit)
Brief Description
This release features the SQL Azure provider for Microsoft Sync Framework, a plug-in for Visual Studio 2008 Professional SP1 and the tool SQL Azure Data Sync Tool for SQL Server, all of which simplify using Sync Framework and SQL Azure together.
*Download size depends on selected download components.
Overview
The Microsoft Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure November CTP contains a series of new components that improve the
experience of synchronizing with SQL Azure. This download includes runtime components that optimize performance and simplify
the process of synchronizing with the cloud. The Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure contains a database provider for
Sync Framework that is specifically tuned for SQL Azure and a stand-alone utility for SQL Server that enables synchronization
between an on-premise SQL Server database and SQL Azure. Additionally, the Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure contains a
Visual Studio plug-in that demonstrates how to add offline capabilities to applications which synchronize with SQL Azure by
using a local SQL Server Compact database. The Microsoft Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure
November CTP is comprised of the following:
SqlAzureSyncProvider: SqlAzureSyncProvider is a new database provider created by Microsoft for Sync Framework
2.0 that adds first class support for SQL Azure. This new provider performs efficiently, lowers the barrier to entry, and
ensures reliability when synchronizing with SQL Azure by intelligently handling some SQL Azure-specific complexities that
occur on multi-tenant systems. Specifically, the provider decreases the number of round-trips to the server by using
table-valued parameters (TVPs) to apply changes. In addition, When SQL Azure uses its throttling mechanism to minimize the
impact of run-away operations, SqlAzureSyncProvider responds by using a “back-off algorithm” which automatically reduces batch
sizes from the default of 5,000 rows during synchronization. A helpful side-effect of the use of this algorithm is that changes
are viewable before synchronization is complete, and synchronization progress can be displayed in real time.
Sql Azure Offline Visual Studio Plug-In: This plug-in extends the functionality of Visual Studio 2008 Professional
SP1 by providing a new Visual Studio item template called SqlAzureDataSyncClient. Using this tooling, developers can quickly
add the ability to cache data stored in SQL Azure for use in their own application. Data can be cached in SQL Compact using the tooling and the code generated can be extended to support SQL Express as well.
Projects that use this item are populated with both the appropriate assembly references and a generated class which contains a method named Synchronize that the
developer can call in their application to automatically refresh data from the cloud.
SQL Azure Data Sync Tool for SQL Server: This tool contains a wizard that walks users through the SQL
Azure connection process, automating both the provisioning and synchronization of data between SQL Server and SQL Azure.
This tool is targeted at database administrators and database developers who want the ability to quickly synchronize their
existing on-premise database with the cloud efficiently, reliably and without having to write any code.
New SQL Azure Events: When writing an application that uses synchronization, developers rely on events to
automatically detect and handle necessary synchronization operations. Existing events provided by Sync Framework,
such as ApplyChangeFailed, ApplyMetadataFailed, and all change enumeration events are here, but so are new events like
AzureBatchApplied, which is fired when changes are successfully applied to the SQL Azure database.
Automated Provisioning Getting off the ground has largely been automated by the SqlAzureSyncScopeProvisioning and SqlAzureSyncTableProvisioning classes.
Everything that needs to happen cloud-side and on-premise is taken care of by detecting the presence of, and (if necessary) creating, all of the appropriate metadata tables. This is taken a step further by a new
plug-in for Visual Studio and SQL Azure Data Sync Tool for SQL Server, both of which automate the setup of SQL Azure connectivity, provisioning and filtering.
Important Installation Notes:
Please note that it is very important that you install the 32-bit version of the Microsoft Sync Framework SDK along with this Power Pack for SQL Azure, even if running on a 64-bit machine because the Power Pack for SQL Azure CTP only provides 32-bit support.
Feedback Info:
This release was provided in order to gather feedback from our customers. Now that you have previewed what the Sync
Framework team is doing with SQL Azure integration, please let us know what you think of our direction, and tell us
about your experiences. You can send us your thoughts in any of the following ways:
Email syncfdbk@microsoft.com
Send us a note on Twitter @syncfx
Post a comment to our blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/sync
Post a thread to our forums at http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/sync
Make sure you have the latest service pack and critical updates for the version of Windows that you are running. To find recent security updates, visit Windows Update.
Important Installation Notes:
Please note that it is very important that you install the 32-bit version of the Microsoft Sync Framework SDK along with this Power Pack for SQL Azure, even if running on a 64-bit machine because the Power Pack for SQL Azure CTP only provides 32-bit support.
