14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has already provided adopters of its Cloud offerings with the necessary tools to synchronize SQL Azure with SQL Server. Now the Redmond company is also offering Windows Azure customers a guide focused on detailing the best practices on synchronizing its Cloud database service with the on-premise variant of the data platform. Sync Framework for SQL Azure is available for download from the Redmond company, free of charge, and can be used by Windows Azure customers leveraging the Microsoft Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure in order to connect SQL Azure with SQL Server.
The Microsoft Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure is, as the label implies, based on the Microsoft Sync Framework data synchronization platform. In this particular case the tool can be put to good use in order to synchronize data across the two SQL platforms. Of course, Microsoft made the best out of Sync Framework’s ability to build custom providers.
“Providers enable any data sources to participate in the Sync Framework synchronization process, allowing peer-to-peer synchronization to occur. To include support for SQL Azure, the Microsoft Sync team released the Microsoft Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure, which includes a provider for SQL Azure and a Data Sync tool for SQL Azure,” the software giant stated.
“The SqlAzureSyncProvider is an optimized SQL Azure provider that handles some of the complexities involved in handling transactions with SQL Azure by using Table-valued parameters to reduce round trips to the server and also by using an intelligent “back-off-algorithm” to scale down the batch size of BCP during synchronization when it hits the throttling levels.”
By turning to the Data Sync tool, Windows Azure customers will be able to take advantage of a wizard which streamlines the process of connecting SQL Server and SQL Azure. At the same time, the tool offers comprehensive automation capabilities for the synchronization process. Users will be guided through the necessary steps in setting up Synchronization, will get details on the scopes in Sync Framework, and guidelines for efficient Scoping.
“SQL Azure Database is a cloud database service from Microsoft. SQL Azure provides Web-facing database functionality as a utility service. Cloud-based database solutions such as SQL Azure can provide many benefits, including rapid provisioning, cost-effective scalability, high availability, and reduced management overhead,” the company added.
Microsoft Sync Framework Power Pack for SQL Azure November CTP (32-bit) is available for download here.
Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) is available for download here.
Microsoft Sync Framework 2.0 Redistributable Package is available for download here.
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