Microsoft Azure SQL Database is a cloud-based relational database that is based on SQL Server technologies. The purpose of this page is to provide a centralized listing of all technical content pertaining to SQL Database. Content on this page is organized into two groupings; by topic (scenario,) and by feature. Topics are broken down into broad scenarios such as getting started, administration, or troubleshooting, while features are broken down by product features such as SQL Database, SQL Data Sync, and SQL Reporting (SQL Reporting is now done on an Azure VM).

For an index that contains only TechNet Wiki articles related to SQL Database, see Windows Azure SQL Database TechNet Wiki Articles Index (en-US).

Note
If you wish to contribute to this page, use the Edit tab at the top (sign-in required). If you wish to provide feedback for this documentation please either send e-mail to azuredocs@microsoft.com or use the Comment field at the bottom of this page (sign-in required).

Topics

Getting Started

Articles

• Overview of Windows Azure SQL Database
• Compare SQL Server with Windows Azure SQL Database
• MSDN: General Guidelines and Limitations (Azure SQL Database)
• MSDN: SQL Server Feature Limitations (Azure SQL Database)
• Understanding Data Storage Offerings on Windows Azure
• MSDN Magazine: SQL Database and Azure Table Storage
• Windows Azure SQL Database FAQ
• Getting Started with Windows Azure SQL Database Using the Windows Azure Platform Management Portal
• Getting Started with Windows Azure SQL Database Development (en-US)
• Windows Azure SQL Database Delivery Guide (en-US)
• Windows Azure SQL Database Survival Guide
• Windows Azure SQL Database Guide
• Windows Azure SQL Database Performance and Elasticity Guide
• SQL Database: Glossary of Terms
• SQL Data Sync Overview
• SQL Data Sync FAQ

Videos

• MSDN: What is SQL Database?
• MSDN: Introduction to SQL Database
• Microsoft Showcase: SQL Database: Creating Your First Database
• Microsoft Showcase: Creating an Account and Your First SQL Database
• TechEd Berlin 2010: Channel 9: What’s New in Microsoft SQL Azure
• New Business and Application Models with Microsoft SQL Azure
• Microsoft Showcase: SQL Database at a Glance
• Channel 9: Introduction to Database Manager for SQL Database (PDC 2010)
• Microsoft Showcase: Interacting with a SQL Database

Training

• [[Windows Azure and SQL Database Tutorials - Tutorial 2: Using SQL Database]]
• Microsoft Virtual Academy: Introduction to SQL Database
• Microsoft On-Line learning: Clinic 10332: Introduction to SQL Database

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Connectivity

• Windows Azure SQL Database Connection Management (en-US)
• Best Practices for Handling Transient Conditions in SQL Database Client Applications
• Retry Logic for Transient Failures in Windows Azure SQL Database (en-US)
• Windows Azure SQL Database Connectivity Troubleshooting Guide
• Connecting Microsoft Excel to SQL Database

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Scaling

Articles

• SQL Database Federations: Building Scalable, Elastic, and Multi-tenant Database Solutions
• Inside Windows Azure SQL Database
• Visual Studio Magazine: Build Big-Data Apps in SQL Database with Federation
• SQL Database Federation Data Migration Wizard

Videos

• PDC: Building Scale-Out Database Solutions on SQL Database

Posters

• SQL Database Federations Poster

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Migration

Articles

• Migrating Data-Centric Applications to Azure
• Overview of Options for Migrating Data and Schema to Windows Azure SQL Database
• Brute Force Migration of Existing SQL Server Databases to SQL Database
• Windows Azure SQL Database Data Migration Using SQL Server Import and Export Wizard (en-US)
• Moving Access Data to the Cloud
• MSDN: SQL Data Sync
• MSDN: Cost Considerations (SQL Data Sync)

Videos

• Migrating Applications to Azure SQL Database (TechEd 2010)
• PDC: Introduction to SQL Data Sync
• Migrating Microsoft Access Applications to SQL Database
• Migrating a SQL Server Database to SQL Database
• TechNet: SQL Database - Moving Data Using SSIS
• TechNet: SQL Data Sync: Synchronize and Share Data

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Security

Articles

• Overview of Security in Windows Azure SQL Database
• Windows Azure SQL Database Firewall (en-US)
• Windows Azure SQL Database Connection Security
• Windows Azure SQL Database SQL Authentication (en-US)
• Windows Azure SQL Database Connection Encryption (en-US)
• MSDN: Security Guidelines and Limitations (Azure SQL Database)
• Security Guidelines for Windows Azure SQL Database
• MSDN Magazine: Crypto Services and Data Security in Azure
• SQL Database Security - Overview
• SQL Database Secure Your Data (part 1) - Encryption
• SQL Database Secure Your Data (part 2) - Hashing
• SQL Database Secure Your Data (part 3) - Certificate

Videos

• Bing Videos: Securing SQL Database
• TechNet Videos: How Do I: Configure SQL Database Security?

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Performance

Articles

• Gaining Performance Insight into Windows Azure SQL Database
• Windows Azure SQL Database Performance and Elasticity Guide

Videos

• Azure SQL Database Performance Considerations and Troubleshooting

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Transactions

• Handling Transactions in Windows Azure SQL Database

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Troubleshooting

Articles

• MSDN: Troubleshooting SQL Database
• MSDN: Errors and Exceptions Reference
• Troubleshoot and Optimize Queries with Windows Azure SQL Database (en-US)
• Windows Azure SQL Database Connection Management (en-US)

Videos

• How Do I: Troubleshoot and Optimize Query in SQL Database?

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Administration

Articles

• MSDN: Administration (Azure SQL Database)
• Windows Azure SQL Database Billing Numbers Directly From Transact-SQL
• Business Continuity in SQL Database
• Current Options for Backing up Data with Windows Azure SQL Database
• Windows Azure SQL Database Backup and Restore Strategy

How To

• MSDN: Administration How-to Topics
• MSDN: How to Configure the SQL Database Firewall
• MSDN: How to Migrate a Database by Using the Generate Scripts Wizard
• MSDN: How to Backup your Database (Azure SQL Database)
• MSDN: How to Copy your Database to a Different Server (Azure SQL Database)
• How to Create a x509 Certificate for Windows Azure SQL Database Management API (en-US)

Videos

• PDC: Introduction to Database Manager for SQL Database
• TechNet: How Do I: Configure SQL Database Security?> Return to

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Architecture

General

• Designing for Cloud-Optimized Architecture
• Cloud-Optimized Architecture and Advanced Telemetry

  General

• ShowCase: Basic Architectural Considerations with SQL Database

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Development

Articles

• Getting Started with Windows Azure SQL Database Development (en-US)
• MSDN: Entity Framework and SQL Database
• MSDN: Guidelines for Connecting To SQL Database
• MSDN Magazine: Using the Entity Framework to Reduce Network Latency to SQL Database
• Best Practices for Handling Transient Conditions in SQL Database Client Applications
• Accessing Windows Azure SQL Database from PHP
• Develop and Deploy with Windows Azure SQL Database (en-US)
• How to use Lucene.NET with Windows Azure SQL Database (en-US)
• MSDN: Transact-SQL Reference (Azure SQL Database)
• MSDN: Supported Transact-SQL Statements (Azure SQL Database)
• MSDN: Partially Supported Transact-SQL Statements (Azure SQL Database)
• MSDN: Unsupported Transact-SQL Statements (Azure SQL Database)

How-To

• MSDN: Development How-to Topics (Azure SQL Database)
• MSDN: How to Connect to SQL Database Using sqlcmd
• MSDN: How to Connect to SQL Database Using ADO.NET
• MSDN: How to Connect to SQL Database Through ASP.NET
• MSDN: How to Connect to SQL Database Through WCF (ADO.NET) Data Services
• MSDN: How to Connect to SQL Database Using PHP
• MSDN: How to Connect to SQL Database Using the ADO.NET Entity Framework
• MSDN: How to Decode Reason Codes in SQL Database

Videos

• Working with SQL Database Using .NET (Entity Framework)

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Integration

Articles

• BizTalk Server 2010 Adapter Pack - SQL Database

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Case Studies

Articles

• Energy Monitoring Firm Saves Money, Scales Business with Hosted Computing Platform
• Startup Uses Cloud Computing to Change Business Model, Becomes Instantly Profitable

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Features

SQL Database

• Azure SQL Database Overview
• Getting Started with Azure SQL Database
• Getting Started with Windows Azure SQL Database Development (en-US)
• Overview of Windows Azure SQL Database
• SQL Database FAQ
• Overview of Tools to Use with SQL Database
• Inside Windows Azure SQL Database
• SQL Database Federations is open for business!
• Overview of Security in SQL Database
• Security Guidelines for SQL Database
• Gaining Performance Insight into Windows Azure SQL Database
• Current Options for Backing up Data with SQL Database
• Handling Transactions in Windows Azure SQL Database
• Troubleshooting and Optimizing Queries with SQL Database
• Connection Management in SQL Database
• Billing Numbers Directly From Transact-SQL
• MSDN Magazine: SQL Database and Azure Table Storage
• Windows Azure SQL Database: Glossary of Terms

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SQL Data Sync

Articles

• MSDN: SQL Data Sync
• MSDN: Cost Considerations (SQL Data Sync)
• SQL Data Sync FAQ

Videos

• PDC: Introduction to SQL Data Sync
• Liam Cavanagh on SQL Data Sync

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SQL Reporting

Articles

• • Windows Azure SQL Reporting Overview
  • Introducing Azure SQL Reporting
  • SQL Azure Reporting FAQ
  • Getting Started with Azure SQL Reporting
  • Signing up: Getting Started Guide for Windows Azure SQL Reporting
  • Understanding report data for DBAs: Getting Started Guide for Database Administrators
  • Writing reports: Getting Started Guide for Report Authors
  • Writing applications with embedded reporting: Getting Started Guide for Application Developers
  • Viewing reports: Getting Started Guide for Report Readers
  • Install Samples

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  Microsoft Access

  • Moving Access Data to the Cloud

  Videos

  • Migration Week Part I of II: Access Migration Video

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  Entity Framework

  • MSDN: Entity Framework and SQL Database
  • MSDN Magazine: Using the Entity Framework to Reduce Network Latency to SQL Database

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  WCF Data Services

  • MSDN: Data Service in the Cloud
  • Blog: Deploying an OData Service in Azure
  • OData

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  Microsoft Excel

  • Connecting Microsoft Excel to SQL Database

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