Azure SQL VM Resource Provider

• Azure SQL VM resource provider enables central management for customer-installed SQL Server VMs.
• The provider automates patching and other features to reduce administrative effort with some restrictions.
• Licensing management provides flexibility to control cost and reduce redeployment requirements.
• Registering VMs requires administrative permissions that could expose sensitive data to Microsoft.

Azure SQL VM resource provider includes options to manage Azure VMs with customer-installed SQL Server using resource management features provided for SQL Server VMs created from Azure Marketplace templates. The provider can help automate some SQL Server–specific processes and will most likely interest customers with a mix of customer-installed and template-based SQL Server VMs.

SQL Server VM Creation and Management Comparison

Azure VMs are persistent VMs, running Windows or Linux, offered as a subscription in Azure. SQL Server Azure VMs are created via the following methods:

Preconfigured templates are available in the Azure Marketplace that provide VMs with several SQL Server versions and editions. Deploying a template preinstalled with SQL Server automatically creates a SQL virtual machine resource via the Azure Resource Manager, a software framework that drives deployment and management of Azure resources. The SQL virtual machine resource provides access to SQL Server information, such as version, edition, and license type, and to capabilities like automated patching, edition changes, and security controls that are unique to SQL Server. Administrators can access settings and features through the Azure SQL virtual machine portal, PowerShell cmdlets, and the Azure CLI. (For more details, see the illustration “Azure SQL VM Management Portal.”)