Azure-docs: Managed Instance Questions

[cbailiss]

Managed instances are an interesting and useful development.
(1) Is is possible to pause a manage instance, as with Azure SQL Data Warehouse (DW)?
Azure SQL DW allows the DW to be paused, during which time only storage charges accumulate. One of the weaknesses of Azure SQL DB is that pausing a DB is not possible - which goes against one of the ideals of the cloud (only pay for what you need).
By pausing, I means I can stop it instantly (within a few seconds) and resume it instantly. I don't want to have to export/backup my data every time that I need to pause.
(2) Are there plans to introduce additional sizes for the manage instances before/at GA? 8 cores is too large for some purposes and 24 too small for others.

---

Document details

⚠ Do not edit this section. It is required for docs.microsoft.com ➟ GitHub issue linking.

• ID: 28ca1f7f-5a34-0f23-10ce-3ff24c76db97
• Version Independent ID: 5c4a22c4-78fc-911d-9fa0-8dfab1653b6e
• Content: Azure SQL Database Managed Instance Overview
• Content Source: articles/sql-database/sql-database-managed-instance.md
• Service: sql-database
• GitHub Login: @bonova
• Microsoft Alias: bonova

[mimckitt]

@cbailiss Thanks for the feedback! We are currently investigating and will update you shortly.

[Mike-Ubezzi-MSFT]

@cbailiss You are correct in that only Azure SQL Data Warehouse can be paused. Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Elastic Pools cannot be paused. You have an option with SQL Server installed inside an Azure Windows Virtual Machine (Single Instance), where the SQL Server runs as a Windows Service and can be stopped/started and the Windows VM can be stopped/started as needed to reduce total cost. This might be an option for you, and it might help you with the second question you are asking in regards to # of cores, as you have the ability to select the VCPUs, IOPS, RAM, etc.
As for changes to the pricing model for Managed Azure SQL Server and Elastic Pools, I do not know of any changes to how pricing might change in the future. A good place to investigate Azure pricing can be found here, where you can find a pricing calculator for Azure: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/

Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Thank you,
Mike

[Mike-Ubezzi-MSFT]

@cbailiss Additionally, you may provide product feedback here in regards to your second question about pricing. This information goes directly to the product owners.

Regards,
Mike

[cbailiss]

Thank you for the reply. However, my questions relate specifically to the recently announced "SQL Database Managed Instance"
i.e. as described on this page:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-database-managed-instance
Your answer does not cover this (i.e. you mention Azure SQL DB and Azure SQL Elastic Pools which are different to "Managed Instances"). You also mention an Azure Windows VM which is presumably SQL IaaS and based on the following Azure service (so also not what I was asking about):
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/services/virtual-machines/
Please could I ask you to answer the questions again (especially the first question), this time specifically about "SQL Database Managed Instances".

[CarlRabeler]

@cbailiss SQL Database Managed Instance is part of SQL Database, as are single databases and elastic pools. SQL Database does not currently support pausing.

[cbailiss]

Thanks. It is not clear from the documentation that Managed Instances are part of Azure SQL database. E.g. in the usage scenario table near the top of this page (URL below), (1) Managed Instance, (2) Azure SQL Database and (3) SQL IaaS are listed as three separate items, which suggests Managed Instances are different to Azure SQL Database.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/azure/sql-database/sql-database-managed-instance

[CarlRabeler]

@cbailiss updateed topic to add clarity

[Mike-Ubezzi-MSFT]

@cbailiss Updates to the Azure SQL Database Managed Instance Overview documentation have been made. I am going to move this issue tracker to closed but, if you should have any additional questions or comments please do not hesitate to reopen so as to continue the dialog.
Kind regards,
Mike

[hpatel01]

Managed instance - Is it planned to have database, managed instance or SQL Agent on managed instance to be offline or pause? More than reducing the cost its much needed feature to quiesce the database activity during code upgrades, patches etc. It contradicts with the cross database, support for linked server query feature if it can not be paused for the database updates.