As organizations see the beSQL Server and Azure are built for each other. New hybrid scenarios between on-premise SQL Server and Azure mean they don't have to exclude each other but instead you can have the best of both worlds. For example, by taking advantage of services like Azure Blob Storage or Azure VMs we can increase the availability of our services or distribute data in smart ways that benefit our performance and decrease cost. In this demo-heavy session, you will learn the strongest use cases for hybrid scenarios between on-premises and the cloud, and open a new horizon of what you can do with your SQL Server infrastructure. SQL Server and Azure are built for each other. New hybrid scenarios between on-premise SQL Server and Azure mean they don't have to exclude each other but instead you can have the best of both worlds. Key Learning: Integrating SQL Server and Azure Scaling on-poremises SQL Server using Azure Extending on-premises to the cloud Demos: The demo will demonstrate some of the capabilities of SQL Server when integration with Azure, like backups to blob storage (with or without managed backups), low-cost DR, stretch databases, etnefits of the cloud, you may find yourself involved in migration projects which target the move from on-premises SQL Server to the cloud. Are you ready for this?

1. Patterns For Building Hybrid
Scenarios
with SQL Server and Azure
Murilo Miranda

2. @murilocmiranda
Murilo Miranda
Lead Database Consultant @ Pythian
• Site:
http://murilo.pt/
• Twitter:
@murilocmiranda
• LinkedIn:
https://pt.linkedin.com/in/murilomiranda

3. @murilocmiranda
Agenda
Introduction
Hybrid Backup Solutions
Backups to URL
Managed Backups
Azure Backup Vault
High Availability & Disaster Recovery
Low-cost Disaster Recovery
Availability Groups Replica
Cloud Witness
Storage
Strech databases
Hybrid partitioning

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INTRODUCTION

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Introduction
What are “clouds”?
What makes them better than
Regular computers?
Private… Public…?

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Introduction
Cloud is… a DATA CENTER!!

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Introduction
… or even multiple ones.

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Introduction
… with compute + storage connected by a network.

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Introduction
What does make a data center “a cloud”?
All those resources are virtualized
into one giant shared pool of resources.

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Introduction
Clouds are….
SMART AUTOMATED ADAPTIVE

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Introduction
COST
EFICIENCY
COST
EFICIENCY

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Introduction
Private Public
HYBRID
Private
Public

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Introduction
Public Hosted by
Cloud Service Provider
Rent space to
many customers tenants

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Introduction
Public
Tenants only pay for
Services that they use

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Introduction
Public
Services are charged as
Electricity Bill

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Introduction
Private cloud have
Only one tenant
Private

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Introduction
All the goodness of the cloud
Under your control
Private

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Introduction
On-Premises
is a regular datacenterPrivate

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Introduction
You get all the benefits of
Public and Private HYBRID
Private
Public
Help to increase
Scalability
LOW
HIGH
HIGH
CONTROL
SCALABILITY
HYBRID
Private
Public
Public
Private

20. @murilocmiranda

21. @murilocmiranda
HYBRID BACKUP SOLUTIONS

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Hybrid Backup Solutions
Are you doing backups, right?
• Do you test it?
• What is the defined retention?
• Is the storage scalable enough?
• Are you able to meet the SLA?
• What is the best strategy to be used?

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BACKUP TO URL

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Backups to Azure
We can take advantage of Azure Blob Storage to
send backups to the cloud!
• Tapes? Why?
• Worry about disk space? Never more!
• Damaged storage? Azure is redundant.
• And more... you pay as you use!
• 1TB ~ € 60 / month

25. @murilocmiranda
Backups to Azure
Simple steps to follow:
1. Create a container under your Azure Storage account.
2. Create the Credential.
Account Key or Shared Access Signature
3. You are ready!

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MANAGED BACKUPS

27. @murilocmiranda
Managed Backups
• Managed Backups – Also based on Azure Blob Storage
• A way to make backups “smarter”
• It automates and manages SQL Server backups, based on a
retention period.

28. @murilocmiranda
Managed Backups
SQL Server determines the backup schedule
• Based on the transaction workload
• You can still define a schedule.
Retention settings determine how long
the backups are stored in Azure Blob storage
• Minimum: 1 day
• Maximum: 30 day

29. @murilocmiranda
Managed Backups
Full Database Backup
• When Managed Backup is enabled for the first time,
or when a new database is added.
• Log growth since last full backup is =>1 GB.
• Last full backup is > 1 week old
• The log chain is broken.

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Managed Backups
Transaction Log Backup
• There is no log backup
• T-Log used space >= 5 MB
• Last T-Log backup > 2 hours old

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Blob Storage Tools
Azure Storage
Explorer
http://storageexplorer.com/

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Blob Storage Tools
Azure Web Storage Explorer
http://azurestorage.azurewebsites.net/

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D E M O

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HIGH AVAILABILITY & DISASTER RECOVERY

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High Availability & Disaster Recovery
A Disaster Recovery plan is needed, but..
• Can you afford it?
• Is the current SQL Server edition ready for my
RPO and RTO requirements?

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LOW-COST DISASTER RECOVERY

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Database Files in Azure
We can store DB files in Azure!
• SQL Server 2012 SP1 – CU2+
• Supports data and log files.
AzureOn-Premises

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Database Files in Azure
Good for small/non-critical databases
• Performance is improving, but can be a barrier.
• Good option to create a low-cost DR solution!

Do not forget to save a
copy of db level objects in
Azure Storage.

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AVAILABILITY GROUPS REPLICA

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Availability Groups Replica
Availability Group supports replicas in Azure
• Works as a Disaster Recovery or ever Load Balancing
strategy.
• Offload workload (reports, backups, ...).
• Low-cost DR strategy.

41. @murilocmiranda
Availability Groups Replica
A domain is no more a requirement for Availability Groups
• Windows Server 2016 is required.
Three possible variations:
Single-domain Clusters – The regular one
Multi-domain Clusters – The flexible one
AD-detached Clusters – The “Database Mirroring Style” one

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Availability Groups Replica
Your Data Center Azure
DOMAIN
CLUSTER
ActiveDirectory-Detached Cluster
ExpressRoute/VPN
WORKGROUP

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CLOUD WITNESS

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Cloud Witness
Las vegas Chicago
Vote
Vote
Vote
Vote
Vote
We need 3 votes
for the cluster to
keep running

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Cloud Witness
Las vegas Chicago
Vote
Vote
Vote
Vote
Vote
Austin
We need 3 votes
for the cluster to
keep running

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Cloud Witness
Just use a “Cloud Witness”
• New kind of failover cluster witness
• Windows Server 2016
• Leverages Microsoft Azure
• It uses Microsoft Azure Blob Storage
Advantages:
• No need for 3rd separate datacenter.
• Same Storage Account can be used for multiple clusters.
• One blob file per cluster.
• Very low-cost (few read/write operations)

47. @murilocmiranda
Cloud Witness
Las vegas Chicago
Vote
Vote
Vote
Vote
Vote

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Cloud Witness
A new option is now available.

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Cloud Witness
Fill the storage account name and account key...

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Cloud Witness
And that’s all!

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D E M O

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STORAGE

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Storage
My database growth is out of control!
• What to do???
• There’s no more storage available …
• Purge data? Compress..?

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STRECHT DATABASE

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Stretch Database
• Dynamically stretch data to Azure.
• No application changes are required.
• Your data is always available.
• SQL Server moves the data in the background for you.
• The table remains online and ready to query — it’s
completely transparent

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Stretch Database
HotDataColdData

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Stretch Database
Compatible with the latest technologies
• Protect your data in motion with Always Encrypted.
• Row-Level Security is also compatible
Reduced maintenance times on-premises
• Backups on-premises data run faster
• Backup is automatic for stretched data

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Stretch Database
PERFORMANCE LEVEL (DSU) PRICE
100 ~€1,568.54/mo
200 ~€3,137.08/mo
300 ~€4,705.62/mo
400 ~€6,274.16/mo
500 ~€7,842.69/mo
600 ~€9,411.23/mo
1000 ~€15,685.38/mo
1200 ~€18,822.46/mo
1500 ~€23,528.07/mo
2000 ~€31,370.76/mo

59. @murilocmiranda
HYBRID PARTITIONING

60. @murilocmiranda
Hybrid Partitioning
Azure storage is useful for more!
• Build a simple data archival model.
• By partitioning a table and sending older data to Azure.
PRIMARY
FG1
FGAzure
FG2
FGn
Filegroups Files
Local MDF file
Local NDF file
Local NDF file
Local NDF file
NDF file in Azure
On-Prem
Cloud

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Hybrid Partitioning
Data archival model
Partitoned Table
Partition with old data uses the “Azure”
Filegroup

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D E M O

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Thank You!
Murilo Miranda
@murilocmiranda
murilo.miranda@gmail.com