Microsoft SQL Azure is a cloud database service, it enables the organization to store relational data in the cloud. Also, it can scale the size of the databases up and down as business need gets changed. Apart from these, there are other reasons due to which people are migrating on premise SQL Server to Azure. It includes high scalability & availability, advanced security, improved business agility & lower cost. Now the question arises what is the best method for SQL Server on premise to Azure migration? Therefore, to answer this query two perfect solutions are discussed in this write-up. So, continue reading.
Two Methods for On Premise SQL to Azure Migration
The two solutions for migrating on premise SQL Server to Azure are given as follows:
1- SSMS SQL Database Deployment Wizard
2- SysTools SQL Server to Azure Migration Tool
Method 1# By Using SQL Database Deployment Wizard
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides a direct method to transfer data from SQL Server to Azure. Its “SQL Database Deployment Wizard” option helps in migrating on premise SQL Server to Azure directly. Now, to carry out the entire process follow these simple steps:
1- Firstly, right click on the database and then click the Tasks option
2- Now, select the ‘Deploy Database to Microsoft Azure SQL Database‘ option
3- Fill in all the required fields
– Microsoft Azure SQL Server Database Name
– New database name
– Microsoft Azure SQL Settings:
a) Edition of Azure SQL database
b) Maximum database size
c) Service Objective (Basic, Standard, Premium)
4- Now, the bacpac file is created locally then it is applied on Azure SQL Server. Due to this, it is needed to store the bacpac file in a temporary place in the Server
5- Now, click the Next Button
6- Verify the specified settings & if it is correct then click the Finish Button & start SQL Server on premise to Azure migration
7- After that, wait for the process completion
8- Now, the deployment wizard will first show the Export process and then Import process
Note: If there is any error then the migration process will get stop
9- Click the Close button to exit the Deploy database wizard
10- Lastly, confirm that the new database is created in the Azure SQL Server.
Note: The manual procedure can take long hours for the large size database to finish the migration process. Also, SQL Server is manadatory for the process. Thus, it won’t be helpful for all those users who are just having MDF files but not SQL Server. Therefore, in such cases it becomes necessary to use third party tool, that we have clearly described in the next section.
Method #2 By Using SQL Server to Azure Migration Tool
SysTools SQL to Azure Migration Tool is the quick and trustworthy solution for migrating on premise SQL Server to Azure. With this software SQL MDF / NDF files can be migrated to Azure. The software is smart enough to migrate large size SQL Server database to Azure. Users can transfer all or selected SQL database components to Azure. Another feature of this software is that it can move data times ‘With Schema’ or ‘With Schema and Data’. The software is compatible with SQL Server 2017 and all below versions.
Steps for Migrating On Premise SQL Server to Azure
Follow these simple steps and transfer data from SQL Server to Azure:
1- Download and run the software and click on the Open button.
2- Select the MDF file you want to migrate and click Open.
3- If the MDF file has some corruption issues, choose Advance Scan.
4- Choose the SQL Server version. If Unknown, select the Autodetect option for MDF file.
5- Click OK button and the tool will scan the database file.
6- When prompted, click OK if you wish to save the scan result.
7- Complete data of the MDF and NDF file will be available for preview.
8- Click on Migrate button for SQL Server on premise to Azure migration
9- In the Migration Options window, fill in all the required fields like Azure Server name, database name, login credentials.
10- Choose which database objects to be migrated and whether to ‘Migrate only Schema’ or ‘Schema & Data’.
11- Click on Migrate button and all the selected components of SQL Server will be migrated to Azure.
Conclusion
In this write-up, we have discussed two different ways for migrating on premise SQL Server to Azure SQL Server database. But, if the user is searching for the fast and quick process then they select SysTools SQL Server to Azure Migrator. This utility just requires the MDF / NDF files for SQL Server on premise to Azure migration.
