Azure Create SQL Database: A Step-by-Step Guide

Azure Create SQL Database is a powerful tool for building scalable and secure databases.

To create a SQL database on Azure, you need to sign in to the Azure portal.

Once signed in, navigate to the SQL databases section.

Here, you can click on the "New" button to start the database creation process.

The database creation process involves several steps, including selecting a pricing tier and choosing a server location.

A server location is crucial as it affects the database's performance and latency.

You can choose from various server locations, including the US, Europe, and Asia.

After selecting the server location, you can choose a pricing tier that suits your needs.

The pricing tier determines the number of database storage and compute resources available.

The free tier is a good option for small databases or development purposes.

However, if you need more storage or compute resources, you may need to upgrade to a paid tier.

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To get started with creating an Azure SQL Database, you'll need to sign up for an Azure subscription. This will give you access to the Azure portal, where you can manage your resources.

You'll then need to select or create a new resource group, which is like a folder that helps you organize and manage your resources. For example, you can create separate resource groups for development, quality assurance, and production.

To create a resource group, simply log into the Azure portal and follow the prompts.

Take a look at this: Create Resource Group Azure

You can create a database on-premise, but that means you'll be responsible for maintaining the operating system and database server, which can be a headache.

Having a database in the cloud, like Azure SQL Database, gives you the freedom to focus on your work without worrying about maintenance.

If you want to travel from one place to another, you have the option to drive your own car or hire a car that will leave you to maintain it.

Using the cloud is similar, you can choose to create a database on-premise or use a cloud service like Azure SQL Database.

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You can create a database on-premise, but that means you'll be responsible for disaster recovery and High Availability, which can be challenging.

Logging into the Azure portal from portal.azure.com shows you the available services from Azure.

You need to choose an Azure subscription and select or create a new resource group to organize and manage your resources.

Resource groups are like folders that help you keep your resources organized, for example, you can place resources for development, quality assurance, and production separately.

You can also place resources project-wise to maintain your budget.

To get started, you'll need to meet a few prerequisites.

First, you'll need an active Azure subscription. If you don't have one, you can create a free account. This will give you access to all the tools and features you'll need to complete the quickstart.

Next, you'll need to choose your preferred method of interacting with Azure. You can use the Azure portal, Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, or even Transact-SQL. Each of these options has its own strengths and weaknesses, so choose the one that best fits your needs.

Here are the options in a handy list:

If you're using the Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell, make sure you have the latest version installed. You can also complete the quickstart in the Azure portal if you prefer.

If you don't have an Azure subscription, don't worry! You can create a free account and get started right away.

To get started with Azure SQL Database, you'll need an active Azure subscription. If you don't have one, you can create a free account.

You'll also need the latest version of either Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI, or you can complete the process in the Azure portal. An existing logical server in Azure is required if you want to create a Hyperscale database with Transact-SQL.

Here are the tools you'll need:

To create a single database, you can use the Azure portal, a PowerShell script, or an Azure CLI script. You can choose to create a Hyperscale database with the az sql db create command.

Carefully consider the setting for backup-storage-redundancy when creating a Hyperscale database. You can choose locally redundant, zone-redundant, or geo-redundant storage.

The selected storage redundancy option will be used for the lifetime of the database for both data storage redundancy and backup storage redundancy.

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Creating a database in Azure SQL Database is a straightforward process. You can create a new database using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or Azure PowerShell.

To create a database using the Azure portal, you'll need to provide a database name, server name, and resource group. The database name should be unique and follow the required naming conventions.

Database creation can be done in a few clicks, and you can choose from various pricing tiers to suit your needs. The General Purpose and Business Critical tiers are the most commonly used options.

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If you're new to databases, start by defining the purpose and scope of your database. This will help you determine what data you need to store and how it will be used.

A database is a collection of organized data that can be easily accessed and updated. It's essentially a digital filing system that helps you manage and retrieve information efficiently.

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To begin, decide on a data model that suits your needs. This could be a relational database, where data is stored in tables with defined relationships, or a NoSQL database, which is more flexible and scalable.

For your first database, consider using a relational database management system like MySQL or PostgreSQL. These systems are widely used and offer robust features for managing structured data.

Remember, a good database design is crucial for efficient data storage and retrieval. Take the time to plan and design your database carefully, and you'll be off to a great start.

Additional reading: Create Schema Azure Data Studio

To create a resource group, you'll use the az group create command. This command is used to create a logical container in Azure where resources are deployed and managed.

An Azure resource group is a logical container that holds your Azure resources. It's like a folder where you can keep all your resources organized.

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You can create a resource group using the az group create command, and it's a good idea to name it something descriptive, like myResourceGroup. This will help you keep track of your resources.

The az group create command allows you to specify the location of your resource group, such as the eastus Azure region. This is important because it determines where your resources will be deployed and managed.

In the example, a resource group named myResourceGroup is created in the eastus Azure region. This is a common practice to keep resources organized and easily manageable.

Configuring the database is a crucial step in creating a SQL database on Azure.

There are two main types of database configurations: DTU and v-core based.

DTU stands for Database Transaction Unit, which defines the resources your database has.

The DTU configuration has three options: Basic, Standard, and Premium.

The Basic configuration is suitable for less demanding workloads.

The Standard configuration is ideal for average performance requirements.

The Premium configuration is designed for IO-intensive workloads.

Understanding the different configurations will help you choose the right one for your database needs.

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To create a database in Azure SQL Database, you'll need the right permissions in place. CREATE DATABASE permissions are necessary for Transact-SQL, and these permissions can be held by the server admin login, Microsoft Entra admin of the server, or a member of the dbmanager database role in master.

Azure RBAC permissions are needed for creating databases via the Azure portal, PowerShell, Azure CLI, or REST API. Specifically, you'll need the Contributor, SQL DB Contributor, or SQL Server Contributor Azure RBAC role.

You can create a resource group, server, and single database using Azure PowerShell, but you'll still need the right permissions to do so.

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To create a database, you need specific permissions, which vary depending on the method used.

You'll need CREATE DATABASE permissions to create a database via Transact-SQL.

To achieve this, you must be either the server admin login, the Microsoft Entra admin of the server, or a member of the dbmanager database role in master.

For creating databases via the Azure portal, PowerShell, Azure CLI, or REST API, Azure RBAC permissions are necessary.

Specifically, you'll need the Contributor, SQL DB Contributor, or SQL Server Contributor Azure RBAC role.

You can also create a resource group, server, and single database using Azure PowerShell with the right permissions.

To create a server firewall rule, use the az sql server firewall-rule create command or the New-AzSqlServerFirewallRule cmdlet.

You can also create a firewall rule with the New-AzSqlServerFirewallRule cmdlet.

The az sql server firewall-rule create command and New-AzSqlServerFirewallRule cmdlet allow you to create a server firewall rule.

For Hyperscale databases, consider the setting for BackupStorageRedundancy when creating a new database.

To create a Hyperscale database, you must specify the storage redundancy option, which can be locally redundant, zone-redundant, or geo-redundant.

The selected storage redundancy option will be used for the lifetime of the database for both data storage redundancy and backup storage redundancy.

Allowed values for the BackupStorageRedundancy parameter are Local, Zone, and Geo, unless explicitly specified, databases will be configured to use geo-redundant backup storage.

The New-AzSqlServerFirewallRule cmdlet can be used to create a server firewall rule.

You can choose the desired storage redundancy option when creating a Hyperscale database.

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You can use your popular SSMS to connect to the newly created Database in Azure. To do this, you need to enable your IP address so you can connect to the created database.

Once connected, it's similar to a standard database in On-Premise.

Connecting from SSMS is a breeze. You can use your popular SSMS to connect to the newly created Database in Azure.

To start, you need to enable your IP address so that you can connect to the created database. This is a crucial step that allows you to access your database from your SSMS.

Once you've enabled your IP address, you can connect to the database using your SSMS. It's something similar to connecting to a standard database in On-Premise.

After you've successfully created your Azure SQL Database or Hyperscale database, it's time to return to the Azure portal to manage your database.

You'll need to record the generated resource group and server names, so you can manage these resources later.

To access your database, make sure to note down the server name, which can be found under the Compute + storage section of the Azure portal. For example, the server name is dinesha.database.windows.net.

You can also use the Azure CLI code blocks to create a server-level IP firewall rule for access to the server.

If you're using a Hyperscale database, you can add one or more High Availability (HA) replicas to your database using the Compute and storage pane for the database in the Azure portal, the Set-AzSqlDatabase PowerShell command, or the az sql db update Azure CLI command.

The storage redundancy option for your Hyperscale database can only be specified during the database creation process and will be used for the lifetime of the database for both data storage redundancy and backup storage redundancy.

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