Is it possible to have a WCF service that is running on Windows Azure communicate with a local / on-premises SQL Server database?
Alternative options we're considering are:
Push the 4 SQL Server databases that the WCF service needs to gather and process data from up to a Azure VM
Create 4 SQL Azure "clones" of the local / on-prem SQL Server databases and use the data sync feature to keep the Azure clones in sync with the local data.
Ideally, we'd like to be able to expose the on-premises database (via the VPN) to the service and hit each of the databases directly.
Yes, you can make outbound connections from any Azure hosted service, whether running in web sites, cloud services or virtual machines. If you need traffic going through a VPN, you'll need to use cloud services or virtual machines, since web sites can't be added to a virtual network.
Actually, an easier solution would be to host your WCF service internally and expose the service via an Azure Service Bus Relay. The service bus relay supports multiple authentication types for securing the service and no VPN is required. There is a good walk-thru here - .NET On-Premises/Cloud Hybrid Application Using Service Bus Relay. We have successfully used this technique to expose several services to third-party vendors.
you can set up Site-to-site VPN as shown in this resource - Step-By-Step: Create a Site-to-Site VPN between your network and Azure
I would think of SQL Data Sync for scheduler times and that too for small amounts of data (at least not in millions)
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We have a WinForms desktop app that connects to a remote server to pull some data. The remote server hosts a web service on a standard IIS website that queries a SQL Server database installed on the same machine. Today, if the remote server is under maintenance or not available our end-user cannot retrieve the necessary data.
Now I am requested to make this feature fault-tolerant. Here are my questions:
Should I ask for another remote server that runs the same web service and move the DB to a third remote server? So the two web services can connect to the same DB?
Should I consider moving the web service logic to the WinForms desktop app and connect directly to a remote DB paying a first-class 99.99% availability service?
Do AWS or Azure provide a ready-to-use solution that fulfills my requirements?
Is there any other option I didn't consider?
I have 2-3 source systems which are on-prem databases. I am planning to use Logic Apps to connect to these source systems. As per the Azure documentation we need to install a On-Prem Gateway on a local computer.
I am skeptical of this methodology as it demands dedicated system, so not sure if this works in actual production scenario.
Please can you suggest what is the right way to do it.
Here is how to connect to on-premise data sources:
If the services are accessible over the internet then you call service endpoint over HTTP or HTTPS from azure logic apps. This article will help you with details steps to be followed: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/connectors/connectors-native-http
If it is not accessible over the internet then this article will help with step by step process: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/logic-apps/logic-apps-gateway-connection
Before you can access data sources on premises from your logic apps, you need to create an Azure resource after you install the on-premises data gateway on a local computer. Your logic apps then use this Azure gateway resource in the triggers and actions provided by the on-premises connectors that are available for Azure Logic Apps.
Also check this for reference.
You may also want to consider the costs.
I am trying to make a web page that is going to make an API call to query data in our existing remote SQL Server. When I am testing it now, my code can access the database using windows authentication, but when I deploy this web page on Azure, will my code be able to still access the remote SQL Server using windows authentication? If not, what do I need to do in order for my web page to query the data in the existing remote SQL Server?
Hybrid Connections is both a service in Azure and a feature in Azure App Service. As a service, it has uses and capabilities beyond those that are used in App Service. To learn more about Hybrid Connections and their usage outside App Service, see Azure Relay Hybrid Connections.
Within App Service, Hybrid Connections can be used to access application resources in other networks. It provides access from your app to an application endpoint. It does not enable an alternate capability to access your application. As used in App Service, each Hybrid Connection correlates to a single TCP host and port combination. This means that the Hybrid Connection endpoint can be on any operating system and any application, provided you are accessing a TCP listening port. The Hybrid Connections feature does not know or care what the application protocol is, or what you are accessing. It is simply providing network access.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/app-service-hybrid-connections
When having some on-premises data sources that one wants to access from Azure, is the "best practice" to create a data gateway, or is this becoming an outdated approach? I ask because I notice it relies on the "Gateway Cloud Service" which as I understand it is on its way out.
The actual requirement for me is only to be able to do a query from a functions app to the on-premises sql server. I'm not even sure this is possible through the data gateway.
Any and all feedback appreciated.
Take a look at hybrid connections: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/app-service-hybrid-connections
They are designed for what you want to do:
Basically, a tunnel is created between the SQL endpoint in your on-premise environment and a target endpoint for your Azure Function in the Azure environment. It uses HTTPS traffic, so it is easy on the on-premise firewall. To create the SQL endpoint, you'll need to install an agent called the 'Hybrid Connection Manager', which will act as a proxy between the Azure endpoint and the SQL server.
After the endpoints are established, you can connect to the Azure endpoint with your function, and it will be tunneled to the on-premise SQL (using the HCM).
Bear in mind that this will only work with SQL accounts, not with AD accounts. Also, the Azure Function must be hosted by a dedicated App Service Plan, not the consumption plan (alas).
my goal is to run an azure web site that accesses data from our local company database.
I followed a tutorial on the web to setup an azure virtual network and connect it via site-to-site vpn to our local company network. In the azure portal I can see that the connection is actually working and that data is received and transmitted.
What do I have to do make the azure web site connect to the database? Is it enough to enter a connection string in the web config?
Is it meant to work this way, or is the site-to-site vpn only set up to access azure virtual machines from the company network.
Let me know if I should provide more details on the connection overall.
Thanks for you help in advance.
Best regards,
Frank.
Azure Web Sites do not support the Azure Virtual Network (as of 8/22/2013);
http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/manage/services/web-sites/choose-web-app-service/
You will need to create a cloud service deployment instead if you would like to use Virtual Network and access the on-premises database. Once that is done and your firewall is properly configured, it is like you say just a connection string.
I am currently looking into connecting Azure Web Sites to an on-prem SQL database using the Azure Service Bus:
http://www.bradygaster.com/post/windowsazurewebsites-onprem-servicebus
http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/cloud-services-dotnet-hybrid-app-using-service-bus-relay/