[This article was contributed by the SQL Azure team.]

Ready to jump in and learn SQL Azure? Here are some resources from Microsoft’s Channel 9.

Introduction to SQL Azure

In this lab, you will walk through a series of simple use cases for SQL Azure such as: preparing your account, managing logins, creating database objects and query your database. Here are the direct links to the various sections:

• Overview
• Exercise 1: Preparing Your SQL Azure Account
  • Task 1 – Provisioning a SQL Azure Account
  • Task 2 – Connecting to SQL Azure and Creating a Database
  • Task 3 – Creating a Logins and Database Users
• Exercise 2: Working with Data. Basic DDL and DML
  • Task 1 – Creating Tables and Indexes
• Exercise 3: Build a Windows Azure Application that Accesses SQL Azure
  • Task 1 – Load Sample Database to your on premise SQL Database
  • Task 2 – Load Sample Database to your SQL Azure HolTestDB
  • Task 3 – Creating the Visual Studio Project
• Exercise 4: Connecting via Client Libraries
  • Task 1 – Connect to SQL Azure via Microsoft Technologies
  • Task 2 – Connecting to SQL Azure via Non windows technologies
• Summary

Migrating Databases to SQL Azure

In this lab, you will use the AdventureWorksLT2008 database and show how to move an existing on-premise database to SQL Azure including modifying the DDL and moving data via BCP and SQL Server Integration Services. Here are the direct links to the various sections:

• Overview
• Exercise 1: Moving an Existing Database to the Cloud
  • Task 1 – Exporting A Script from SQL Server 2008 (OPTIONAL)
  • Task 2 – Modifying the Exported Script from SQL Server 2008 (OPTIONAL)
• Exercise 2: Using BCP for Data Import and Export
  • Task 1 – Moving Data Out of SQL Azure with BCP
  • Task 2 – Deleting Data from the Existing Database
  • Task 3 – Moving Data into SQL Azure Using BCP
• Exercise 3: Using SSIS for Data Import and Export
  • Task 1 – Deleting Data from an Existing Database
  • Task 2 – Flowing Data from SQL Azure to SQL Server
• Summary
• Known Issues

SQL Azure: Tips and Tricks

In general, working with a database in SQL Azure is the same as working against an on SQL Server with some additional considerations covered in this lab.

• Overview
• Exercise 1: Manipulating the SQL Azure firewall via API’s
  • Task 1 – Create sample firewall rules via the SQL Azure portal.
  • Task 2 – Programmatically retrieve firewall rules
  • Task 3 – Programmatically add firewall rules
  • Task 4 – Programmatically delete firewall rules
• Exercise 2: Managing Connections – Logging SessionIds
  • Task 1 – Implement a SessionId class
  • Task 2 – Output SessionId to the console
• Exercise 3: Managing Connections – Throttling, latency and transactions
• Exercise 4: Supportability – Usage Metrics
  • Task 1 – Establish a connection to SQL Azure
  • Task 2 – Calculate SQL Azure bandwidth costs
  • Task 3 – Calculate SQL Azure Database costs
• Summary

What is SQL Azure?

Just what is SQL Azure? Join Zach in this brief video for an introduction to SQL Azure exploring what makes SQL Azure just like SQL Server and what makes it different and ready for the cloud.

Do you have questions, concerns, comments? Post them below and we will try to address them.