This presentation introduces SQL Azure Federations as a method for scaling databases in SQL Azure. Federations allow partitioning of large databases across multiple federation members. Key concepts discussed include the federation and member terminology, creating federated tables, and tools for managing federations. The presentation also covers monitoring federation operations and metadata, how billing works for federations, and resources for learning more about SQL Azure federations.

1. Scaling DB with SQL Azure
Federations
Alexander Koval
Codemasters International
Software Architect, MCPD

2. Presentation Summary
• Intended Audience: Developers, Architects
• Intended Time: 60 min
• Objectives:
1. Review Scaling concepts for DB
2. Introduce SQL Azure Federations
3. Managing Azure Federations
4. Billing & Pricing
5. Tools & Libraries

3. Problem Areas
Response Time
DB Transactions
DB Size

4. Scaling the DB layer
Scaling UP Table Partitioning
Master/Slave Scaling OUT (Sharding)
Cluster Computing
App Server #1 DB1
App Server #2 DB1
App Server #3 DB1
App Server #3 DB1

5. What is a SQL Azure Federation?
F Federation
e Member #1
d
e
r Federation
User Database a Member #2
t
i Federation
o Member #3
n

6. Terminology
1. Federation
2. Federation Key (UNIQUEIDENTIFIER, INT, BIGINT, VARBINARY)
CREATE FEDERATION Tenant_Fed (id INT RANGE)
3. Federation Member Federation Members
4. Atomic Unit Federation Root
5. Table Data
• Federation Root Central Federated
• Federation Tables Tables Tables
• Reference Tables Reference
• Central Tables Tables

7. Create Federation Table
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[TenantDocuments](
[ID] [int] NOT NULL,
[TenantID] [int] NOT NULL,
[Title] [varchar](50) NOT NULL,
CONSTRAINT [PK_Account] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED
(
[ID] ASC,
[TenantID] ASC
)WITH (STATISTICS_NORECOMPUTE = OFF, IGNORE_DUP_KEY = OFF)
)
FEDERATED ON (TID = TenantID)
GO

8. DEMO

9. Management of Azure Federations
ALTER FEDERATION Tenant_Fed SPLIT AT (TenantId=10)
My DB
Accounts_Fed
ALTER FEDERATION federation_name
{ SPLIT AT (distribution_name = boundary_value)
| DROP AT ([LOW|HIGH] distribution_name =
boundary_value)
}[;]

10. Management of Azure Federations

11. Monitoring and Metadata
Federation Operation Views
sys.dm_federation_operations
sys.dm_federation_operation_members
sys.dm_federation_operations_errors
sys.dm_federation_operation_error_members
Federation Operation Views Federation Metadata Tables
sys.federation_history sys.federations
sys.federation_member_history sys.federation_members
sys.federation_distribution_history sys.federation_distributions
sys.federation_member_distributions sys.federation_member_distributions
sys.federated_table_columns

12. DEMO

13. Billing Model
Principles:
• DB Charges are prorated to a day.
Example: Cost of 1Gb Web edition is $0.33/day
• All DB that exist in the day are charged
• Only DB that are in ready state are charged
Operations which affect Billing:
• Federation Creation
• Federation Repartitioning Operations
• Modification of Federation Billing properties
ALTER DATABASE database_name {
MODIFY (<edition_options> [, ..n])
}
<edition_options> ::= {
(MAXSIZE = {1|5|10|20|30|40|50|100|150} GB)
| (EDITION = {'web' | 'business'})
} [;]

14. Tools & Libraries for Scaling DB
• Azure Federation Migration Wizard
http://sqlazurefedmw.codeplex.com/
• Enzo SQL Shard
http://enzosqlshard.codeplex.com/
• CloudNinja
http://cloudninja.codeplex.com/
• Multi-tenant SQL Azure Federation Sample
http://shard.codeplex.com/

15. Resources
• DB Sharding
http://www.codefutures.com/database-sharding/
• MSDN: Federations in SQL Azure
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh597452.aspx
• Federation Statements
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh597463.aspx
• Federation Guidelines and Limitations
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/hh597469.aspx
• Blog
http://www.codemastersintl.com/Blogs/Alexander-Koval
• Email
akoval@codemastersintl.com

16. Questions?