Aggregated Azure Blogs

Feedback to the SQL Azure team

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:39:44 Z

Hey all,

During PDC09 we spent a bunch of time handing a survey for folks to fill out to give feedback to the team. I would really encourage you to fill this out. If there?s a data type that you?d like to see supported, feature enabled, enhancement, etc please try some time to fill this out.

Thanks in advance from the SQL Azure team!

SQL Azure talks are now available online

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:54:00 Z

Hey all,

My, "SQL Azure: Under the hood" talk is available for viewing now here. During the talk, I referred to GopalK's earlier under the hood talk in mine so I've attached a link to this here for those that are interested.

You can also find some of the other talks for SQL Azure here as well:

Development Best Practices and Patterns for Using Microsoft SQL Azure Databases

SQL Azure Database: Present and Future

Scaling out Web Applications with Microsoft SQL Azure Databases

The Future of Database Development with SQL Azure

Hope you find them interesting

--Jeff--

PDC is on!

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:38:00 Z

I'm here in LA this week for PDC along with a bunch of other SQL Azure folks. If you're interested in chatting, asking a question, etc have a swing by our both in the partner area and ask away!

Additionally, and this is a shamelss plug, but I'll be giving an under the hood talk tomorrow here at PDC. The talk is, "SQL Azure: Under the hood" and it's taking place in 403B.

Hope to see you there or in the booth!

What is SQL Azure Database?

SQL Azure Team Blog|http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/default.aspx — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:36:12 Z

Hi Folks,

Quick post?We have posted a new ?What is SQL Azure Database? video. It gives a great, high-level overview of the service. Check it out here.

Dave

SQL Server Management Studio R2 CTP download links

SQL Azure Team Blog|http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/default.aspx — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:38:12 Z

Hi folks,

As promised, here are the download links for SSMS in 32bit and 64bit flavors. The full download of SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP can be found here. I?ll post some walkthroughs of SSMS in the coming days.

6 days to PDC - W00t!!!!

See you there,

Dave

SQL Server Management Studio Support for SQL Azure!!!

SQL Azure Team Blog|http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/default.aspx — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:45:48 Z

Hi Folks,

Just a quick post to let you know that the long awaited build of SQL Server Management Studio with support for SQL Azure is available today for MSDN and TechNet subscribers and will be generally available for the rest of the world as of tomorrow. The download page can be found here. I will post a link to the tools only install when it becomes available tomorrow.

This support is included as part of the November CTP release of SQL Server 2008 R2. This release not only includes SQL Azure support from within SSMS but a wealth of other SQL Server 2008 specific features. Check out this blog entry for more.

Thanks,

Dave

SQL Azure Portal issue this week

SQL Azure Team Blog|http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/default.aspx — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:05:49 Z

Hi Everyone,

We received an inquiry earlier this week about a user who was trying to access the SQL Azure Portal and was unable to log in. I want to take a quick moment to respond broadly just incase anyone else had the same experience.

There were no issues with the SQL Azure Database service this week. There was, however, an availability issue with the SQL Azure Portal while some configuration changes were being made in preparation for the launch of SQL Azure Database at PDC on November 17th. The issue we experienced was with our portal only ? not the actual service. No one trying to connect to the service or their database(s) were impacted at all.

The portal is different than the service end point. The current portal is a placeholder tool (CTP only) used for signing up for the SQL Azure service prior to go-live. It also offers capabilities for creating and deleting databases within a provisioned SQL Azure Database server but, it is only one of several tools that are used to do this. Other tools, such as SSMS and SQLCMD, are routinely used for these create/delete operations. The use of these tools was not impacted at all due to the portal issue. Your data was, and is, safe, sound and accessible in our highly available service.

I also want to take a moment to thank all of our tremendous users. Your feedback has shaped the service and will continue to as we enhance SQL Azure Database and add new features. Keep the feedback coming. We listen and act upon it.

The next couple weeks are going to be exciting. There is much more to come as we continue to extend the SQL Server Platform to the cloud.

See you all at PDC,

Dave

SQL Azure at PASS Summit 2009

SQL Azure Team Blog|http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/default.aspx — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:59:43 Z

This upcoming week, PASS (Professional Association for SQL Server) will be holding its annual summit in Seattle, WA. The summit runs from November 2nd through the 5th and, as described on the website, provides:

In-depth technical sessions all focused on SQL Server
Unparalleled access to the industry?s top SQL Server experts and the Microsoft SQL Server development team
Unique opportunity to network with your peers, share challenges, and get answers and advice
Return to work with new skills and knowledge to do your job better, faster, easier ? right away.

This year the SQL Azure team will be presenting the following sessions:

What?s new in SQL Azure - Patric McElroy
Come and learn how SQL Azure has evolved over the past year based on your feedback. In this session you'll learn how SQL Azure delivers on promise of Database as a Service. You'll see how easy it is to take an existing class of SQL Server applications and extend them to the service using existing SQL Server knowledge, protocols, client libraries and tools. With minimal changes, your application will be running in a highly available and scalable service. Finally we?ll touch on the business model, terms of use and present a roadmap for the service.

Building Applications with SQL Azure and Windows Azure ? David Robinson and Liam Cavanagh
Are you looking to reduce the costs of building and maintaining enterprise applications? Do you want to extend the reach of your applications across multiple devices, locations and partners? SQL Azure and Windows Azure provides you a friction free, highly scalable platform for building applications. The scale and reach of the cloud lights up a new class of application scenarios. Come see how easy it is to consume SQL Azure from within Windows Azure. In addition, we will dive into Microsoft?s new Data Hub for businesses and see how this SQL Azure powered synchronization service allows for data aggregation within the Hub to provide straight-forward data sharing between on-premises databases, business partners, remote offices and mobile users.

Roles and Responsibilities Managing a Microsoft SQL Azure Database - Nino Bice
Come and learn about database administration in the new world of SQL Azure. Starting from the creation of an SQL Azure account, learn about tools and techniques for provisioning accounts, servers, and databases. See how billing is managed. Learn how to collaborate with your peers to build an Azure project that uses SQL Azure. We demonstrate the mechanisms for database management such as managing logins and permissions. See how SQL Azure automates the tedious and complex administrative tasks (e.g., machine failures) and allows you to spend more time on the important design functions of a DBA.

Windows Azure Platform Launch Update

SQL Azure Team Blog|http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/default.aspx — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:59:00 Z

In October 2008 at our Professional Developer Conference we opened the Community Technology Preview (CTP) for the Windows Azure platform (Windows Azure, SQL Azure and .NET Services). The CTP has been invaluable in terms of shaping many aspects of the Windows Azure platform.

PDC 2009 is an exciting event for all of us who are working on the Windows Azure platform as it?s our opportunity to show you the work that we?ve done over the past year, including some brand new features. Concurrent with the conference we will begin the Windows Azure platform?s transition from a CTP to a business. For your planning purposes, this post maps out the key stages of that transition that you should be aware of.

At PDC 2009, on November 17th, 2009, a number of new features in Windows Azure will be made available for the first time. The CTP will remain open through December 31st, allowing you to experiment with the full feature platform and to give us any final feedback.
Beginning January 2010, new customers will have to sign up for an offer to access services on the Windows Azure platform. Usage during the month of January will be at no charge, so you can see your exact usage while still enjoying free service.
On February 1, 2010, we will begin charging customers for using the Windows Azure platform.

Making the transition in these three steps accomplishes a few goals. First, it gives you a chance to explore our full feature set for free. Second, it allows our team time to get your feedback on the new features and address any issues that arise. Finally, it lets you preview exactly how billing will work before you need to start paying.

We?d like to thank everyone who has participated in our Community Technology Preview so far. Your feedback has really shaped the platform, and we?re looking forward to sharing our launch with you next month at PDC 2009!

Updated 10/30/2009: Clarified that January is free of charge.

Windows Azure Platform Training Kit – October Update is Live

Zach Skyles Owens|http://english.zachskylesowens.net — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:45:37 Z

Aligned with the SQL Azure October CTP release today we have published an updated version of the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=413E88F8-5966-4A83-B309-53B7B77EDF78 While the Download Center servers are being replicated you will want to make sure the title of the page contains ?October Update? and the File Name is ?WindowsAzurePlatformKitOctober2009.exe?. This update [...]