Azure SQL Database Documentation

Connecting to Azure SQL Database

This document provides comprehensive guidance on how to establish connections to your Azure SQL Database instance. Whether you're using graphical tools or programmatic approaches, understanding the connection process is crucial for managing and interacting with your data.

Prerequisites

Before you can connect, ensure you have the following:

• An active Azure subscription.
• An Azure SQL Database instance provisioned and running.
• The server name, database name, and login credentials (username and password) for your Azure SQL Database.
• Network access to your Azure SQL Database. This might involve configuring firewall rules.

Connection Methods

Azure SQL Database supports various methods for connecting to your data:

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

SSMS is a powerful, free graphical tool for managing SQL Server databases. It's a popular choice for database administrators and developers.

1. Open SSMS.
2. In the "Connect to Server" dialog box, enter your Azure SQL Database server name in the "Server name" field.
3. Select SQL Server Authentication or Azure Active Directory - Universal with MFA (recommended for enhanced security).
4. Enter your Login and Password.
5. Click Connect.

Azure Data Studio

Azure Data Studio is a modern, cross-platform database tool that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It's extensible with a rich marketplace of extensions.

1. Launch Azure Data Studio.
2. Click the New Connection icon.
3. In the "Connection details" pane:
   • Connection type: Select "Microsoft SQL Server".
   • Server: Enter your Azure SQL Database server name.
   • Authentication type: Choose your preferred authentication method (e.g., SQL Login, Azure Active Directory).
   • User name: Enter your login name.
   • Password: Enter your password.
4. Click Connect.

Programmatic Connection

You can connect to Azure SQL Database from your applications using various programming languages and their respective database drivers or SDKs.

Example using C# with Entity Framework Core:

using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;

public class AppDbContext : DbContext
{
    public DbSet<YourEntity> YourEntities { get; set; }

    protected override void OnConfiguring(DbContextOptionsBuilder optionsBuilder)
    {
        // Replace with your actual connection string
        optionsBuilder.UseSqlServer("Server=tcp:your_server_name.database.windows.net,1433;Initial Catalog=your_database_name;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=your_username;Password=your_password;MultipleActiveResultSets=False;Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=False;Connection Timeout=30;");
    }
}

// Example usage:
// using (var context = new AppDbContext())
// {
//     var data = context.YourEntities.ToList();
//     // ... process data
// }
            

Connection Strings

A connection string is a string that contains all the necessary information to connect to a database. For Azure SQL Database, a typical connection string looks like this:

Server=tcp:your_server_name.database.windows.net,1433;Initial Catalog=your_database_name;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=your_username;Password=your_password;MultipleActiveResultSets=False;Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=False;Connection Timeout=30;

Remember to replace your_server_name, your_database_name, your_username, and your_password with your actual credentials.

Firewall Rules

Azure SQL Database has a firewall that prevents external applications and services from connecting to the server. You need to configure firewall rules to allow access.

• Navigate to your Azure SQL Database server in the Azure portal.
• Under "Security," select Networking.
• Configure "Firewall rules" to allow access from your client IP address or specific Azure services.

Troubleshooting

Common connection issues and their solutions:

• Firewall Blocking: Verify that your IP address is allowed in the server's firewall rules.
• Incorrect Credentials: Double-check your server name, database name, username, and password.
• Network Connectivity: Ensure there are no network issues preventing access to the Azure SQL Database endpoint.
• SSL/TLS Errors: Make sure your client is configured to use encryption (Encrypt=True in the connection string) and that the server's certificate is trusted.