Essential SQL Azure Training

Essential SQL Azure provides hands-on training for SQL Azure developers. Learn to write code for maximum database performance, re-usability, and application modularity. Discover how to handle the transient nature of the cloud. Learn how to use SQL Azure with Entity Framework.

You'll get answers to these questions:

• How can I improve and evaluate the performance of my queries?
• How can I take advantage of query plans to optimize database performance?
• What's the best way to secure my data?
• How do I replicate databases between datacenters?
• How do I write reports with SQL Server Reporting Services in the cloud?
• What is sharding and how can I use it?
• What is OData and how can I use it with SQL Azure?

Come and learn how to utilize SQL Server to the max!

DevelopMentor's Essential courses provide two days of instructor-led training for the experienced developer. Gain deep understanding of your development platform. Acquire skills you need to be productive today. Build a solid foundation for more advanced topics.

• Understand the architecture of SQL Azure
• Understand how SQL Server Azure handles database connections and disaster recovery
• Read query plans
• Assign indexes
• Use SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) in the cloud
• Understand sharding and federations to build scalable, elastic applications
• Understand replicating data using data sync between SQL Azure in the cloud and SQL Server on-premise

Day 1

Architecture

The internal architecture of SQL Azure is somewhat different to SQL Server. SQL Azure introduces the concept of a logical server. In this module we take a closer look at the internals and what impact they have for us as developers. We also look at the tooling available to us in SQL Azure.

Data Migration

On premise SQL Server Administrators have used SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and Bulk Copy Program (BCP) for a long time. We can use these tools in SQL Azure, with a few caveats. We also have a new tool; the SQL Azure Migration Wizard. In this module we'll look at how developers can use these three tools to push data in and out of the cloud.

LINQ and Entity Framework

Entity Framework has become the standard Object Relational Mapper (ORM) for .NET developers. Using in the cloud, however, requires us to change how we would typically use it. We will introduce EF and then explore using it in an environment where latency is higher than 100ms and the connections can drop. We also talk about ways to reduce the amount of data Entity Framework retrieves.

Performance Tuning

Performance Tuning on SQL Azure can be tricky. SQL Azure doesn't give access to Profiler, extended events, or PSSDIAG. We do have query plans, indexes, some DMVs, and client monitoring utilities. We'll look at making the best of what we have and ways we can improve SQL Azure performance.

Day 2

SSRS

SQL Server Reporting Services has been in the SQL Server on premise product since SQL 2000. Now, it has been introduced as a cloud offering and it is very different. We will review the features that are most important for us as developers.

Sharding & Federations

Shards allow you to use more databases when load increases and then combine shards into a single database when load drops. This is SQL Azure's very elegant way of scaling out. When you have more shards, you have more physical servers responding to data requests. This is an amazing feature that can save you money while improving performance. Federations are the SQL Azure implementation of sharding. We will spend a lot of time learning how to do sharding right.

OData

OData is an open standard for creating and retrieving data. SQL Azure and OData are a natural fit for one another. You can use OData to grant access to your data to other applications and developers without worrying about firewalls, new servers, or administration. We'll look at ways we can expose data with OData and how we can sell data streams subscriptions.

Data Sync Services

SQL Azure Data Sync allows you to move data between data centers and on-premise SQL Servers. This allows you to keep data close to your users and make that data redundant and fault tolerant. It also allows you to keep data close to your onsite users, while making it accessible to world-wide users. Data Sync Services can also be a lifesaver when setting up a local development environment. It can be a great way of keeping data in sync when network connections are transient. This module will cover the ins and outs of all of these scenarios.

Upcoming Dates & Locations