Azure dataplatform also provides Azure SQL database as a relational database as a service PAAS which is fully managed by Microsoft.This helps the developers to build their apps very quickly and removes the overhead of database administration.

There are few methods to migrate an on premise SQL database to Azure SQL Database and in this article we will have a look at migrating them with two options.

1) Using BACPAC export and import.

2) Data Migration Assistant.

Using BACPAC export and import:

With BACPAC export and import firstly we need to export the SQL database from the on premise SQL instance as a data tier application.

To export – Open SQL Management Studio – Right Click on the desired database and click on tasks – select export data tier application.

Now we need to save them in bacpac format.

The exported bacpac file will be successful.

Now this bacpac file needs to be imported to the Azure SQL database. Now we need to connect to the Azure SQL database to from SQL Management Studio.

Once after it is connected right click on the database folder and select import data tier application.

Select the exported bacpac file from the local disk and select the new database name that needs to be mentioned. Here we need to choose the Edition of Microsoft Azure , size of the database and the service type for this database in Microsoft Azure.

Having selected the required option select import and the import operation will start.

After a successful import we can see the status to be green and result successful.

Now we can see the migrated database in the Azure SQL database which have been successfully imported. Now we need to provide the username and the connection strings to the application owner to access their data which is present on the Azure SQL database.

Data Migration Assistant:

We can use the SQL migration assistant with source and target end points and migrate the data to SQL PAAS Azure easily.

Below are the readiness to be prepared for migrating the SQL data from on premise to Azure :

• Download and install SQL data migration assistant.
• We need to enable TCPIP on source.
• Port 1433 must be accessible.
• SQL browser service must be started.
• Enable SQL remote connection must be enabled.

Once the Data Migration Assistant is installed open  and click on new

Here we have two options assessment or migration. Assessment helps us to identify the readiness required for this migration and will let us know if any connection or prerequisites missing. Here we can click on assessment.

Now we can select the authentication type and click on next

Select the desired DB’s that needs to be migrated to Azure.

Now we have the option to click on start assessment

 

  Check the assessment report once it is completed.  

To Migrate – rerun the agent and choose the option migrate and specify the source server details.

Once after its authenticated successfully now we have an option to choose the database that needs to be migrated.   

Now we need to specify the target Azure SQL PAAS Db details and the credentials.

Once after its been authenticated successfully , we can see the schema objects from the source database which we would like to migrate to Azure SQL database.

For the schema to migrate successfully we need to deploy the schema which will help us to migrate the schema initially.

Later once the schema is populated successfully now we have an option to migrate the data.Click on migrate data.

Choose the list of tables that needs to be migrated.

Once the table have initiated the migration  we can see the progress.

On a successful migration we get the below message.

The result of the online migration is that the data is successfully migrated to the cloud.

Thanks & Regards

Sathish Veerapandian