Using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio to connect SQL Azure databases

In this article you will learn how to connect SQL Azure database from SQL Server Management Studio.

Introduction

I am hosting some of my client’s websites on unlimitedgb.com, manashosting.com etc their services are good with one disadvantage that I feel (on shared database hosting) they don’t allow connecting databases from SQL Server Management Studio. So, it gets difficult for me to update database in limited time frame.

But with SQL Azure database services, it’s very-very easy. Now, let’s walk through the steps to setup a database on Azure portal and will connect it from Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.

Step 1: Login to Windows Azure and Custom Create a Database

Let’s begin with creating a new database on Windows Azure portal.

In above image I picked ‘Custom Create’, and then made following selections:

Picked database name ‘DuckDuckGo’ and Collation as default. You can create a New SQL database server if you would like and this will let you define login name, password and region to setup database server. I will pick my earlier database server and I know the username and password. If you forgot, go and get publish profile that contains these credentials. When you done hit complete icon at the bottom (in above image). I’m assuming you have username and password now.

Step 2: Add firewall rules for your IP address

When you done with above, you will see that database is up and running.

Click on database name to navigate to its management page (portal).

Two things to do here (in above image): first, add firewall rules for your IP address [1] and second, note down the server name given at the bottom [3].

Now, you have following things server name, username, password and also database name.

If you want to connect this database from your on Desktop Visual Studio IDE you can click on ‘View SQL Database connection strings [2]’ to see the various connection string samples.

Step 3: Connecting SQL Azure database using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and enter server name, login (username) and password and hit connect.

Now, you will have list of databases created on that server. Here is my list:

Now, do whatever you like with your databases.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.