Windows Azure Data Storage

Chapter 9

SQL Data Sync

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understand the technology that underpins SQL Data Sync
• Configuring SQL Data Sync to work between SQL Azure databases
• Installing the SQL Sync Agent and configuration synchronization with on-premises databases

In the previous chapter, the tools and techniques that are available to perform data backup and recovery activities for the various Windows Azure components were covered. This included a discussion of how to create backups of SQL Azure databases. One component was intentionally left out of this discussion and its exclusion might have surprised some. This component is SQL Data Sync. The fact that it now has a chapter all to itself might assuage some of your concerns. However, while that might seem to fit into the category of backup solutions, it truly doesn’t belong there. On the other hand, there are many situations where it is quite useful. Both sides of this viewpoint will be covered throughout this chapter.

SQL DATA SYNC

SQL Data Sync is actually a tool that is built using a number of different (and readily available) .NET components. First of all, it is a set of web and worker roles that have been deployed into Azure. Second, it makes extensive use of the Sync Framework that originally became available with .NET Framework 3.5.

The purpose of the SQL Data Sync service is foreshadowed by its name (always a helpful trait for a product). It allows you to configure a synchronization process between two SQL data sources. Then, over time, ...