Microsoft Azure – SQL Server on Azure VM

SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines allows running full versions of SQL Server in the cloud without managing on-premises hardware. Also, pay as you go model in azure, and SQL Server virtual machines (VMs) also make licensing expenses easier.

Virtual machines in Azure run in a variety of locations throughout the world. You may create a SQL Server VM with the proper version, edition, and operating system using the virtual machine image gallery as azure provides a choice of machine sizes to choose from. As a result, virtual machines are a viable alternative for a wide range of SQL Server applications.

The Benefits of SQL Server on an Azure Virtual Machine: 

• Automated updates: SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines can use Automated Patching to automatically apply necessary windows and SQL Server updates during a scheduled\planned maintenance window.
• Automated backups: SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines supports Automated Backup, which creates backups of your database to blob storage on a regular basis. This method can also be used manually. For SQL Server operating in Azure VMs, Azure also provides an enterprise-class backup solution. 
• High availability: To use high availability, SQL Server Availability Groups could be configured. Multiple SQL Server instances on Azure Virtual Machines in a virtual network could be involved. You can manually configure your high-availability solution or utilize templates in the Azure site to automate the process. 
• Performance: Azure virtual machines come in a variety of sizes to accommodate varied workload demands. SQL Server VMs also offers automated storage configuration that is tailored to your specific performance needs.

Steps To Create SQL Server on Azure VM: 

Step 1: Log in to the Microsoft Azure Portal using the account associated with your Azure subscription. Search for Azure SQL in the search bar. Select the Azure SQL as shown below:

Step 2: In Azure SQL, select Create.

Step 3: In the Select SQL deployment option blade, click on the drop-down under SQL virtual machines. Select SQL and Windows versions according to requirement. Then click on Create.

Step 4: In the Basic tab, select the following details as required :

• Subscription: Your subscription name
• Resource group: Your resource group (if exists) or Create a New
• Virtual machine name: geekazuresqlvm (for example) 
• Region: region for your resource group
• Availability Options: Availability Zone
• Image: Free SQL Server License: SQL 2019 Developer on Windows Server 2019 – Gen1 (for example)

Step 5: Size Standard D2s_v3 (2 vCPUs, 8 GiB RAM).  select “See all sizes” to see the options.

• Administrator account username: geeksa (for example)
• Administrator account password: according to the standard protocol
• Select inbound ports: RDP (3389)

Step 6: Now click Next, In Disks, Select OS disk type and Encryption type:

Step 7: Click Next and go to Networking, select below configurations:

• Virtual Network: Your Virtual Network or Create new
• Subnet: Your subnet or create new
• Public IP: create new
• Select Port: RDP (3389)

And Click Next

Step 8: In Management, select boot settings and click Next.

In Advanced, check configuration and Click Next SQL Server Settings: 

Select the below SQL settings:

• SQL connectivity
• Port
• SQL Authentication
• Login 
• Password

• Storage Configuration ( Data drive location, disk type) 

• Patching status 
• Backup status 

Click Next.

Add Tags if required, Select the Review + create button. Then select Create. Wait until the deployment is complete. This will take approximately 5-10 minutes to deploy the SQL VM.  After the deployment is complete, Go to All resources.