Advanced Data Solutions : Get Azure recommendation in Azure SQL Migration extension

In the February 2022 release of Azure Data Studio, we have added new features to the Azure SQL Migration extension that will further enhance your overall experience in migrating SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Managed Instance and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines. See release notes for Azure Data Studio for details on other updates in Azure Data Studio.

1. Get Azure recommendations for right-sized Azure SQL Managed Instance SKU or SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines SKU

We announced support for identifying target Azure SQL SKU using Database Migration Assistant (DMA) last year. DMA uses a console application with commands to collect performance data from your source SQL Server instance and recommend the right-sized SKU to migrate your SQL Server databases to Azure. With this February 2022 release of Azure Data Studio, we are bringing the same functionality to the Azure SQL Migration extension in Azure Data Studio with an easy-to-use wizard.

Starting today, you can identify the right-sized Azure SQL Managed Instance or SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines to migrate your SQL Server databases using the migration wizard in the Azure SQL Migration extension. To recommend the right-sized SKU in Azure for your SQL Server databases, the Azure SQL Migration extension collects live performance data from your SQL Server instance, stores the data locally on your machine and analyzes it to provide you with the right recommendation that meets your database(s)' performance needs with the lowest price option. The Azure SQL Migration extension also supports assessment and SKU recommendation for your source SQL Server running on Linux.

Below is a snippet from the migration wizard that shows the assessment results and the Azure recommendation for your chosen SQL Server databases. You can also view details on the source SQL Server instance's performance characteristics and the explanation behind the recommendation provided.

Learn more about this process and the Azure recommendation feature here.

2. Migration wizard does not require Azure account to run database assessment or to get Azure recommendations

We heard your feedback that you might not have an Azure account while you are assessing databases for Azure readiness. In this release, we removed the requirement to provide your Azure account in the first step of the migration wizard. Now you can perform a SQL Server database assessment and get SKU recommendations without entering your Azure account. When you are ready to migrate to Azure, you will be prompted to enter your Azure account so we can migrate your databases to your chosen Azure target.

We welcome and appreciate your feedback to deliver features to help ease your migration projects. Reach out to us using the feedback button in the Azure SQL Migration extension so we can address your migration challenges and needs.