How to set up new SQL server database

Hi @RCS

It’s super easy to spin up a little Azure SQL sandbox on your home laptop for SSMS playtime. Here’s a quick roadmap:

Get an Azure subscription

1. If you don’t already have one, grab a free trial at azure.microsoft.com/free.

Create a logical server + single database in the portal

1. In the Azure portal, search for SQL databases and click + Create.
2. On the Basics tab: • Subscription: pick your subscription • Resource group: create a new one (or use an existing) • Database name: something like MyPracticeDB • Server: click Create new, give your server a globally unique name, set an admin login and strong password
3. For Compute + storage, pick a small tier (Basic/Standard or Serverless General Purpose – the free tier even gives you some free credits for vCore seconds and storage)
4. On Networking, choose Public endpoint, toggle Add current client IP to Yes (this whitelists your home IP), leave Allow Azure services off for tighter security
5. Under Additional settings, pick Sample as your Data source so you get an AdventureWorksLT sample loaded automatically
6. Hit Review + create, then Create.

Connect using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

1. Open SSMS on your laptop
2. In the Connect to Server dialog: • Server type: Database Engine • Server name: <your-server-name>.database.windows.net • Authentication: SQL Server Authentication • Login: the admin you set up • Password: the one you chose
3. Click Connect and you’ll see your new database along with the sample tables.

Load your own data

1. Easiest: right-click your database in SSMS > Tasks > Import Data and walk through the wizard (CSV, Excel, etc.)
2. Or use T-SQL bulk commands, e.g.: BULK INSERT dbo.YourTable FROM 'C:\Temp\YourData.csv' WITH (FIELDTERMINATOR = ',', FIRSTROW = 2);
3. If you prefer the command line, the bcp utility works great: bcp dbo.YourTable in C:\Temp\YourData.csv -S -d MyPracticeDB -U yourAdmin -P yourPassword -c -t","

That’s it! You’re up and running with a fully managed Azure SQL database you can query, code against, and load data into using SSMS. Have fun practicing!

References:
https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-sql/database/single-database-create-quickstart#create-a-single-database https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-sql/database/firewall-create-server-level-portal-quickstart#create-a-server-level-ip-based-firewall-rule
https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-ssms
https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-sql/load-from-csv-with-bcp?view=azuresql#3-load-the-data

Is that your private Azure account, or your corporate account? In the latter case, you may not have permissions to create objects like an Azure SQL Server.

If you have your own account, a good (and cheap!) start is to select the Free Azure SQL Database offer, see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/free-offer?view=azuresql for details.

One thing to watch out for, though, is that by default you get a database in the serverless tier. Serverless should fit you well, if your are only practicing from home. With Serverless, the database is autopaused after a certain time of inactivity and rolled out from any server. While rolled out, you only pay for disk storage. "But, wait, you said it was free?" Yes, but it is not unlimitedely free. You get a certain number of vCore cycles you can spend, This has the effect that when you want to access it after some time of inactivity it takes a little time (30-60 seconds) before the database becomes available.

What is a little devilish with Serverless is that if you manage to keep it active - for instance, you have something querying it every five minutes, those free vCores are spent quickly.