Monday, November 9, 2009

Tools and Utilities Support

Many of the existing SQL Server tools & utilities can be used with SQL Azure as well. In this post we will provide an overview and in future posts we will take a closer look into these tools & utilities.

SQLCMD
The sqlcmd utility lets you enter TSQL statements, system procedures, and script files at the command prompt, in Query Editor in sqlcmd mode, in a Windows script file, or in an operating system (cmd.exe) job step of a SQL Server Agent job.

SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio combines graphical tools with a number of rich script editors to provide access to SQL Server to developers and administrators. The SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP version of SQL Server Management Studio can be used to access, configure, manage and administer SQL Azure. However previous versions of SQL Server Management Studio are not supported.

Scripts Wizard
You can use the Generate and Publish Scripts Wizard to transfer a database from a local computer to SQL Azure. The Generate and Publish Scripts Wizard creates Transact-SQL scripts for your local database and the wizard uses them to publish database objects to SQL Azure. There is a new engine-type parameter for SQL Azure. When you are scripting a database and the destination is SQL Azure, set the engine parameter to SQL Azure so that the Generate and Publish Scripts Wizard creates Transact-SQL that is compatible with SQL Azure.

SQL Server Integration Services - SSIS
You can transfer data to SQL Azure by using SQL Server 2008 Integration Services (SSIS). As of the SQL Azure October CTP and the SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP, there have been enhancements made to enable bulk copy support.

BCP
You can transfer data to SQL Azure by using the bulk copy utility (BCP.exe). The bcp utility bulk copies data between an instance of Microsoft SQL Server and a data file in a user-specified format. The bcp utility can be used to import large numbers of new rows into SQL Server tables or to export data out of tables into data files.

SQL Server Analysis Services - SSAS
On-premise SQL Server Analysis Services can consume data that is stored in SQL Azure, however SQL Server Analysis Services itself is not supported.

SQL Server Reporting Services - SSRS
On-premise SQL Server Reporting Services can consume data that is stored in SQL Azure, however SQL Server Reporting Services is not supported.

SQL Server Management Objects - SMO
A partial set of SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) are supported by SQL Azure. If you use one that is not supported, SQL Server will throw an exception.

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