How do I copy SQL Azure database to my local development server?

Question

Does anyone know how I can copy a SQL Azure database to my development machine? I\'d like to stop paying to have a development database in the cloud, but it\'s the best way

Answer 1

I think it is a lot easier now.

1. Launch SQL Management Studio
2. Right Click on "Databases" and select "Import Data-tier application..."
3. The wizard will take you through the process of connecting to your Azure account, creating a BACPAC file and creating your database.

Additionally, I use Sql Backup and FTP (https://sqlbackupandftp.com/) to do daily backups to a secure FTP server. I simply pull a recent BACPAC file from there and it import it in the same dialog, which is faster and easier to create a local database.

Answer 2

You can also check out SQL Azure Data Sync in the Windows Azure Management Portal. It allows you to retrieve and restore an entire database, including schema and data between SQL Azure and SQL Server.

Answer 3

The trick for me was to start replicating PKs/FKs/constraints on empty DB, then temporarily disable constraints while importing data (see https://stackoverflow.com/a/161410).

More precisely:

1. Create empty target DB manually;
2. Right-click source DB > Tasks > Generate Scripts;
3. Run script file on empty target DB (now DB has correct PKs/FKs/constraints, but no data);
4. Disable all constraints;
5. Import data (Right-click target DB > Tasks > Import Data);
6. Re-enable constraints.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

You can try with the tool "SQL Database Migration Wizard". This tool provide option to import and export data from azure sql.

Please check more details here.

https://sqlazuremw.codeplex.com/

Answer 5

If anyone has a problem to import a Bacpac of a DB that uses Azure SQL Sync, Sandrino Di Mattia developed a great simple application to solve this.

1. Export a Bacpac of your DB
2. Dowload Di Mattia's binary
3. With this console app repair the downloaded Bacpac
4. Lauch SSMS
5. Right Click on "Databases" and select "Import Data-tier Application"
6. Select the repaired Bacpac.

Answer 6

I always use Import/Export Feature which seems to be the easiest one among all.

Step 1:

Get the backup from the azure instance as follows, Select the database → Right click → Tasks → Export Data Tier Application.

Step 2: Give a specific name for the backup file and save it in your desired location

Step 3: That's it you have taken a backup of the database from sql instance to your local. Lets restore it to the local. Copy the backed up database to your C drive. Now open the PowerShell with administrator rights and navigate to C drive

Step 4: Lets download the powershell script to remove the master keyRemoveMasterKey.ps1 have the script on the same drive in this case its C.

Step 5 : Run the script as follows, .\RemoveMasterKey.ps1 -bacpacPath "C:\identity.bacpac"

That's it, now you can restore it on MSSQL 2017 in your local environment.

Step 6: Connect to your local server, and click Databases → Import-Data-Tier-Application

Step 7 : Give a name for your database to restore.

Now you will see everything in green!

Read my blog with diagrams.