I've been experimenting with the Sql Azure Data Sync wizard as a means of getting data from our production database onto Sql Azure, and maintaining the DB in a "slave" mode until we fully "cut-over" to Azure.
I pointed the wizard at my local instance, and pointed it at my sql azure server (which I confirmed by testing connections etc). I selected my tables, and ordered them correctly. However, moments after clicking the "Process" button, I get the
error: "Timeout Expired. The timeout period elapsed prioro to completion of the operation of the server is not responding". There is no other error message that I can detect.
I understand that this is a CTP, and I guess I would expect some caveats with the tool, but this does not seem like a complicated scenario - can anyone help?
I also have some other feedback about the wizard: On the "SQL Azure Database" page, it asks for server name, database name, admin user and password. The dialog gives me the impression that a database with the specified name must already exist
on the server, so I created my DB. However if the DB exists when the "Process" button is pressed later, then the wizard fails. Really, it should be a little more robust if this case happens. Likewise, if the schema and tables exist in azure
then that is recoverable error (in particular if the tables are empty). - IE I would like to be able to _add_ data syncing objects to an already existing (sqlazure, sqlserver) pair of databases.
As it is at the moment, the tool not ready for production use. Do you have any idea when an RTM version may be available or even if this CTP is being actively developed? (ie, should I be investing my time with an alternative tool - for example the
Sql Azure Migration Wizard on CodePlex)
Cheers
Pete
