Move Your SQL Server to Azure VMs. Then Build on It.
Pam Lahoud walks through moving SQL Server workloads to Azure Virtual Machines while retaining control over the operating system and database environment.
Overview
The video covers when Azure Virtual Machines are the right fit for running SQL Server, and how to plan the move and size infrastructure based on workload requirements.
When Azure Virtual Machines make sense for SQL Server
- Focuses on scenarios where you want to retain control over:
- The operating system configuration
- The SQL Server environment
Choosing compute for your workload
- How to choose VM compute based on workload characteristics, including:
- Memory requirements
- IOPS needs
- Throughput requirements
- How to decode Azure VM naming conventions to understand what a VM SKU is optimized for.
Storage options for SQL Server on Azure VMs
- How to evaluate storage choices based on performance needs.
- Storage options called out:
- Premium SSD v2
- Ultra Disk
Cost and licensing considerations
- Using constrained cores (constrained vCPU) to optimize SQL Server licensing costs.
Migration planning and assessment
- Mentions assessment tools and SQL migration skills that support migration planning.
What to build after the move
- How Azure management services can extend what you build after migrating.
- Additional Microsoft platform capabilities mentioned for building on top of migrated workloads:
- Microsoft Fabric mirroring
- Microsoft Foundry