Database Lifecycle Management for Azure SQL Database

DLM 1.0 Released Today

When “SQL Azure” first became available a couple of years ago, I played with it, created a few databases and then quickly left it behind but in the last few months I’ve found some really good uses for “Microsoft Windows Azure SQL Database”.  I just wish the name wasn’t so long.  If Microsoft had their way, everything would be in the cloud and that’s a debate for another time.  Quite honestly though, I’m finding that hosting certain databases in the cloud is cheap, easy, secure and gives me piece of mind.  I can rest assured that they’re going to be there the next day instead of on some failed, un-retrievable storage device.  I can also connect to them no matter where I am and what application I’m using.  In a later post, I’ll talk about my experience with some databases I’m keeping in the Azure cloud.

At the PASS Global Summit some of the SQL Server MVPs had a chance to sit & chat with Gert Drapers, the brainchild of SQL Server Data Tools, and gain some insight about his vision for the database lifecycle in the Microsoft ecosystem.  That vision has been put into a map along with some other documentation and resources in MSDN called the Database Lifecycle Management, or DLM.  version 1.0 of the DLM was released today and announced by Louis Berner (twitter: @Accidental_DBA)

According to Louis; This version 1.0 topic is a “curated content view” of the best content, video, and community-centric information available on the Web.  The topic was developed in response to CSS data, MVP suggestions, and customer pain points associated with barriers to adoption of the Azure platform.

Tasks and scenarios included in the current  topic:

SQL Server Data Tools

· Get started with sample projects, code samples

· Video demos by Gert Drapers

· Script common data portability tasks using Sqlpackage.exe

· Link to the SSDT team blog

SQL Server Management Studio

· Manage SQL Database using SSMS

· Backup and restore w/ SQL Azure

· Migrate local databases to Azure

· Video demo of hybrid scenarios by Gert Drapers

Windows Azure SQL Database

· SQL Database backup and restore

· Import/export SQL Database

· Windows Azure training kit

· Connection management and troubleshooting connections

The topic will be updated monthly, and KPI will be followed very closely.  Metrics currently track CSS customer call drivers, MPI, Red Zone issues, barriers to Azure adoption, and direct customer feedback.