Azure Arc: SQL Server Database Visibility Beyond Azure Cloud
In the ever-evolving landscape of hybrid cloud environments, Azure Arc has become a cornerstone for managing resources across on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge environments. One of the standout capabilities of Azure Arc is its ability to bring non-Azure resources under the management umbrella of Azure, enabling centralized governance and insights.
Azure Arc is a set of technologies from Microsoft Azure that extends Azure management and services to any infrastructure. It allows you to manage, govern, and secure servers, Kubernetes clusters, and applications across on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge environments from a single control plane.
When you use SQL Server with Azure Arc, you get the benefit of centralized management and security capabilities across your hybrid and multi-cloud environments. This means you can run SQL Server databases on-premises or in other cloud environments and still manage them using Azure services like Azure Policy, Azure Security Center, and Azure Monitor.
The Challenge: Lack of VM Inventory in SQL Server Database Management
For a long time, managing SQL Server databases in Azure has been straightforward through Azure's native offerings, such as SQL Server Virtual Machines (VMs) and Azure SQL Database. However, a key challenge for administrators was the lack of comprehensive visibility into the entire VM inventory that is running SQL Server instances.
Traditionally, SQL Server Virtual Machines Extension and the Database Inventory capability within Azure SQL databases have not provided insight into the underlying virtual machines (VMs) hosting these databases. This gap left administrators with limited visibility into the complete inventory of SQL Server databases, especially when they were running on VMs outside of Azure (i.e., on-premises or in other clouds).
Enter Azure Arc: Unlocking VM Inventory for SQL Server Databases
Azure Arc, which allows organizations to extend Azure services to on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge environments, addresses this gap by enabling greater visibility into SQL Server databases that are connected to Azure. Through Azure Arc, administrators can now view the VM inventory that is hosting SQL Server databases in a much more integrated manner.
Unlike the SQL Server Virtual Machines extension or Database Inventory, which provide insights into databases at a higher level, Azure Arc connects on-premises or multi-cloud SQL Server instances to Azure. This gives administrators the ability to manage and monitor SQL Server databases hosted on machines that are not directly part of the Azure cloud, thus extending Azure's visibility capabilities.
Leveraging Azure Resource Graph Explorer for SQL DB Inventory
To further enhance SQL Server database visibility, we can use Azure Resource Graph Explorer. This tool enables querying Azure resources using a powerful query language to gain deeper insights into the configuration, deployment, and usage of resources. In particular, it allows us to query Azure resources across multiple subscriptions and regions, providing a comprehensive view of the entire Azure environment.
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By leveraging Azure Resource Graph Explorer, I have created a query to provide a detailed inventory of SQL Server databases hosted through Azure Arc. This query allows administrators to not only monitor SQL Server databases but also gain insights into the underlying virtual machines, whether they are running on-premises, in Azure, or in other cloud environments.
The Query: SQL DB Inventory Using Azure Arc Services
The query I have developed using Azure Resource Graph Explorer enables us to collect information about the SQL Server databases managed by Azure Arc. It connects to resources through Azure Arc's extended management layer and provides visibility of SQL Server databases and associated VMs in real-time.
Here is an example of the query that can be used:
Resources
| where type =~ 'Microsoft.AzureArcData/sqlServerInstances/databases'
| project
SqlServerInstanceName = tostring(split(id, '/')[8]),
Name = name,
State = properties.state,
DatabaseCreationDate = properties.databaseCreationDate,
CompatibilityLevel = properties.compatibilityLevel,
IsEncrypted = properties.databaseOptions.isEncrypted,
SpaceAvailableMB = properties.spaceAvailableMB,
CollationName = properties.collationName,
IsAutoShrinkOn = properties.databaseOptions.isAutoShrinkOn,
RecoveryMode = properties.recoveryMode,
IsReadOnly = properties.isReadOnly,
SizeMB = properties.sizeMB,
id
This query pulls details from the Azure Arc-connected resources, allowing administrators to track various important attributes of each SQL Server database, including:
This query serves as an important tool for organizations leveraging Azure Arc to bring their SQL Server workloads under Azure's unified management.
Conclusion: A New Era of SQL Server Database Management with Azure Arc
Azure Arc provides a powerful mechanism for organizations to extend Azure's capabilities to their on-premises and multi-cloud SQL Server instances, giving them the ability to centrally manage and monitor their resources. With the visibility of the entire VM inventory now available through Azure Arc, it bridges the gap between Azure-native solutions and external environments, improving data management and operational efficiency.
Using Azure Resource Graph Explorer, administrators can now seamlessly query and analyze the SQL Server database inventory that’s connected via Azure Arc. This capability gives organizations more control, insights, and governance over their SQL Server databases, wherever they are located.
Azure Arc is helping make hybrid and multi-cloud management more seamless, and with these new capabilities, organizations can truly unlock the potential of their SQL Server workloads in ways that were previously unavailable.