SQL Server Deployment in Azure Cloud

Cost benefits, flexibility and Scale are the hall marks of cloud deployment. Microsoft SQL Server runs without a hitch in the cloud.

SQL Servers can be deployed to a private cloud, hybrid cloud or a public cloud.

In the public cloud SQL Server can be run in different ways:

• Windows Azure SQL Database - this is a cloud-based to build relational database applications that scale out to millions of users
• Windows Azure Virtual Machine- this is just like a on-premises SQL Server

Features of running on Windows Azure VMs
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Running SQL Server in a Windows Azure VM is no different from running SQL Server in a on-premises VM. The businesses have complete control over the server and they can install applications and run almost any work load. This mode of running SQL Server is fully supported by Microsoft.
Businesses can create a cloud server using prebuilt virtual machine images from the Microsoft Windows Azure Gallery.

After creating and starting the server they can migrate the database server using any of the well documented methods such Attach/detach, or backup and restore, etc..
Another method is to upload the entire on-premises virtual machine and upload it to Windows Azure.
Sign in to Windows Azure.
Get on to Windows Azure .

Click on the subscription you want use this time.

Click on Virtual Machines.

Presently there are no virtual machines.
Click +NEW at the very bottom to display this pane.

Click on FROM GALLERY
The following are the images available (Scroll to review the complete list on the portal) either on Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2008 R2:

 

SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 WEB
SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 Standard
SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 Enterprise
SQL Server 2012 SP2 WEB
SQL Server 2012 SP2 Standard
SQL Server 2012 SP2 Enterprise
SQL Server 2012 SP1 WEB
SQL Server 2012 SP1 Standard
SQL Server 2012 SP1 for Data Warehousing
SQL Server 2012 SP1 Enterprise
SQL Server 2014 RTM WEB
SQL Server 2014 RTM Standard
SQL Server 2014 RTM Enterprise
SQL Server 2014 RTM Data warehousing

You can choose one appropriate for your needs.
--to be continued

Read more here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/azure/jj823132.aspx

SQL Server 2014 goes RTM

SQL Server 2014 RTM, billed as 'Microsoft Cloud First Platform' will be RTM on April 1, 2014
The main feature is the in-memory OLTP processing which will turbo- charge transaction processing making it as much as 30 times faster. In order to use this feature you need memroy-optimized databases and tables declared as memory optimized. These memory-optimized tables are stored in file groups.

In-memory transaction processing appears to be not new, but peer pressure from products already in the market makes it important to highlight this feature in this offering as it is fully integrated with the present version.

The other prominent feature is the enhancements to Microsoft Azure in particular the enhancements leading to integration between on premises and cloud based environments. SQL Server 2014 instances can be backed up to Windows Azure Storage which can then be deployed as Windows Azure VM by just invoking a wizard. This  can then be designated as a high availability node for SQL Server 2014.

Of course to reap all this benefit you need to purchase SQL Server 2014. I know people using SQL Server 2000 even now, I assume it is still supported.

For more information read these articles:
http://www.infoworld.com/t/dbms/sql-server-2014-supercharged-in-memory-tables-azure-connectivity-238639?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_pm_2014-03-18

http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-sql-server-2014-crowns-redmonds-data-platform-7000027444/