What is Azure SQL Edge?

Azure SQL Edge is an optimized relational database engine geared for IoT and IoT Edge deployments. It provides capabilities to create a high-performance data storage and processing layer for IoT applications and solutions. Azure SQL Edge provides capabilities to stream, process, and analyze relational and nonrelational data such as JSON, graph and time-series data, which makes it the right choice for various modern IoT applications.

Azure SQL Edge is built on the latest versions of the SQL Server Database Engine, which provides industry-leading performance, security and query processing capabilities. Since Azure SQL Edge is built on the same engine as SQL Server and Azure SQL, it provides the same Transact-SQL (T-SQL) programming surface area that makes development of applications or solutions easier and faster, and makes application portability between IoT Edge devices, data centers and the cloud straight forward.

Deployment Models

Azure SQL Edge supports two deployment modes.

• Connected deployment through Azure IoT Edge: Azure SQL Edge is available as a module for Azure IoT Edge. For more information, see Deploy Azure SQL Edge.

• Disconnected deployment: Azure SQL Edge container images can be pulled from Docker hub and deployed either as a standalone container or on a Kubernetes cluster. For more information, see Deploy Azure SQL Edge with Docker and Deploy an Azure SQL Edge container in Kubernetes.

Editions of SQL Edge

SQL Edge is available with two different editions or software plans. These editions have identical feature sets and only differ in terms of their usage rights and the amount of CPU/memory they support.

Price and availability

Azure SQL Edge is generally available. For more information on the pricing and availability in specific regions, see Azure SQL Edge.

Streaming capabilities

Azure SQL Edge provides built in streaming capabilities for real-time analytics and complex event-processing. The streaming capability is built using the same constructs as Azure Stream Analytics and similar capabilities as Azure Stream Analytics on IoT Edge.

The streaming engine for Azure SQL Edge is designed for low-latency, resiliency, efficient use of bandwidth and compliance.

For more information on data streaming in SQL Edge, see Data Streaming.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities

Azure SQL Edge provides built-in machine learning and analytics capabilities by integrating the open format ONNX (Open Neural Network Exchange) runtime, which allows exchange of deep learning and neural network models between different frameworks. For more information on ONNX, see here. ONNX runtime provides the flexibility to develop models in a language or tools of your choice, which can then be converted to the ONNX format for execution within SQL Edge. For more information, see Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence with ONNX in SQL Edge.

Work with Azure SQL Edge

Azure SQL Edge makes developing and maintaining applications easier and more productive. Users can use all the familiar tools and skills to build great apps and solutions for their IoT Edge needs. You can develop in SQL Edge using the following tools:

• The Azure portal - A web-based application for managing all Azure services.
• SQL Server Management Studio - A free, downloadable client application for managing any SQL infrastructure, from SQL Server to SQL Database.
• SQL Server Data Tools in Visual Studio - A free, downloadable client application for developing SQL Server relational databases, SQL databases, Integration Services packages, Analysis Services data models, and Reporting Services reports.
• Azure Data Studio - A free, downloadable, cross platform database tool for data professional using the Azure family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Visual Studio Code - A free, downloadable, open-source code editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports extensions, including the mssql extension for querying Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics.

Related content

• Deploy SQL Edge through Azure portal
• Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence with SQL Edge
• Building an end-to-end IoT solution with SQL Edge