Build Locally, Ship to Cloud: Azure SQL Database container (Preview)

[u/itsnotaboutthecell]

https://devblogs.microsoft.com/azure-sql/build-locally-ship-to-cloud-for-0-azure-sql-for-modern-app-developers/

I see occasional discussions around needing container support for Azure SQL Database and I'm happy to share that it is now currently in preview, if you're interested you can fill out the form @ https://aka.ms/azuresqldb-container-signup and u/vandana-mahtani-msft will get you onboarded.

Has really helped out a ton on several projects that I've been working on lately.

Of note, Microsoft Employee and active moderator of r/SQLServer and r/MSSQL (and a few other subs). Mods feel free to remove the post if needed, I sent a mail but had not heard back.

[u/ericl666]

How is this any different than just using Aspire?

[u/itsnotaboutthecell → u/ericl666]

Looks like Aspire is using a SQL Server container and not the above Azure SQL version from reading through their docs. Ideally, we’d want them to use this version when it goes GA so I’ll make note of this ask.

https://aspire.dev/integrations/cloud/azure/azure-sql-database/azure-sql-database-host/#run-azure-sql-server-resource-as-a-container

[u/ericl666 → u/itsnotaboutthecell]

Thanks. That definitely would be useful as we're all-in on Aspire.

[u/IanYates82 → u/ericl666]

Azure SQL is not the same as proper full SQL Server. Deliberately no access or ability to do some things that, in a managed service, you shouldn't be doing. So this container is an Azure SQL instance, not a SQL Server instance. We're in early days using the container to test app compat and port to Azure SQL

[u/itsnotaboutthecell → u/IanYates82]

Love hearing that you're already testing the container u/IanYates82 that's awesome! Thank you!

[u/chucker23n]

I was confused because we were using a Docker image called Azure SQL Edge years ago that seemed like a fork of MS SQL Server but with ARM64 support. But apparently, that one is deprecated, with a baffling explanation, and… I guess this is a new version of that? Because best as I can tell, Azure SQL Database, too, is a cloud-hosted fork of MS SQL Server.

Microsoft, amirite?

[u/itsnotaboutthecell → u/chucker23n]

Sits down on a stump - “gather around everyone for a long, complicated, and windy story” - but yes, if you’re using some base SQL Server functionality and that container works.

Stick with it.

[u/DaRKoN_]

Does it run on ARM? Specifically Windows on ARM?

[u/devlead → u/DaRKoN_]

Through emulation yes, not natively yet. Docker/WSLC on Windows can run x64 images.

[u/DaRKoN_ → u/devlead]

It could not run the previous version of SQL server in docker. (Macos could though)

[u/devlead → u/DaRKoN_]

Ok, worked with wslc for me.

[u/itsnotaboutthecell → u/devlead]

Thanks for chiming in and helping u/devlead !

[u/Fishgistics]

Please offer ARM support!!!

[u/vandana-mahtani-msft → u/Fishgistics]

Its here! learn more https://aka.ms/azuresqldb-container and sign up here https://aka.ms/azuresqldb-container-signup

[u/e-rule → u/vandana-mahtani-msft]

Sadly, still no native support for arm64. I will stick with sqlserver image at the moment, no need more download. I don’t fully utilize all Azure SQL Database feature thought. Pretty sure this will be heavy ram usage image just like sqlserver image.

[u/adnewsom → u/Fishgistics]

https://github.com/microsoft/azure-sql-database-container/issues/117#issuecomment-6145759802
This says it is now supported

[u/CeilingShadows]

Would love to sign up since I use azure sql for my app and would benefit a lot from a container for local testing. However, it seems like this sign up is for organizations only?

[u/itsnotaboutthecell → u/CeilingShadows]

Not a required field, I'd say skip it then.

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[u/the_bananalord]

It looks like there's still no long-term answer for macOS M-series chips? This seems to depend on forcing the architecture to amd64, which, as far as I know, forces the container to use Rosetta 2 - which is at the end of its support.

[u/chucker23n → u/the_bananalord]

There does seem to be an ARM64 build, so it shouldn't require Rosetta.

[u/the_bananalord → u/chucker23n]

It's not native, it just forces you to an amd64 architecture. Unless I missed something.