Azure SQL Managed Instance / Migration from on-premises SQL Server instance to Azure SQL Managed Instance

Posted by Barac in Azure, SQL Server on Oct 9th, 2019 | 0 comments

Database migration from on premises SQL Server instance (SQL Server 2017) to Azure SQL Managed Instance.

With series of posts I will try to describe whole database migration process from on premise SQL Server to the cloud.

First step will be to determine whether Azure SQL Managed Instance is compatible with the database requirements of business application.

Step 1. Assess managed instance compatibility

I used Data Migration Assistant (DMA) to detect potential compatibility issues impacting database functionality on Azure SQL managed Instance.

I was looking for any compatibility issues such as breaking changes, behavior changes or deprecated features. As well checking new features in the Azure SQL Managed Instance platform that the database can benefit from after migration.

Note
Although there is an option to migrate schema and data using DMA I would not recommend this for the bigger databases.

More details about DMA with usage example you can see on the following post.

Azure SQL Managed Instance / Migration / Data Migration Assistant (DMA) / Assess on-premises SQL Server instance

Step 2. Database Experimentation Assistant (DEA)

Database Experimentation Assistant (DEA) is an experimentation solution for SQL Server upgrades.

I used DEA to evaluate a targeted version of SQL Server for a specific workload in my case Azure SQL Managed Instance.

I created workload from source SQL Server Instance using Extended Events XEL trace, then I replay that workload against the targeted Azure SQL Managed Instance, then I analyzed those two traces and created report.

More details about DEA with usage example you can see on the following post.

Azure SQL Managed Instance / Migration / Database Experimentation Assistant (DEA) / Evaluate your workload before you migrate your database to Azure SQL Managed Instance

Step 3. Azure Database Migration Service (DMS)

Azure Database Migration Service is designed as a seamless, end-to-end solution for moving on-premises SQL Server databases to the cloud.