Azure SQL Database Bacpac Local Restore

Question

I've created a BACPAC backup of my Azure SQL Database using the "Export" option within the Azure Management Console.

Having downloaded this to my machine I'm a little stuck on how I can restore this to a local SQL Server instance. I came across the DacImportExportCli tool but couldn't find an example of a local restore.

Also if anyone has written a script that does this (so it can be scheduled) that would be awesome.

Answer 1

This can be done simply through SQL Server Management Studio 2012

1. Right click on the Connection > Databases node and select "Import Data-tier application..."
2. Select "Next" on the introduction step.
3. 
4. Browse, or connect to a storage account where backups are kept.

Answer 2

I needed to export a SQL Azure database and then import it into a local SQL 2008 R2 server (Note I am also using Visual Studio 2010). Microsoft certainly went out of their way to make this a painful task, however, I was able to do it by doing the following:

1. Goto this link http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/jj650014 and install the SQL Server Data Tools for Visual Studio 2010

2. This will install on your local drive. In my case here is where it put it: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DAC\bin

3. Browse to this via the command line or powershell

4. You are going to want to execute the SqlPackage.exe

5. Open up this link to see a list of all the parameter options for SqlPackage.exe (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh550080(v=vs.103).aspx)

6. Here is my command line that I needed to execute to import a .bacpac file into my local SQL 2008 R2 server:

   .\SqlPackage.exe /a:Import /sf:C:\mydatabasefile.bacpac /tdn:NorthWind /tsn:BINGBONG

/tdn is the name of the database you want your bacpac file to restore to. /tsn is the name of your SQL server.

You can see all these parameter descriptions on the link from #5.

Answer 3

You can restore the BACPAC by using the client side tools. Videos are here:

http://dacguy.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/importexport-services/

The tools are available here:

http://sqldacexamples.codeplex.com/documentation

Answer 4

Seems my prayers were answered. Redgate launched their SQL Azure Backup tool for FREE today - http://www.red-gate.com/products/dba/sql-azure-backup/download

Answer 5

If you're using SSMS 2012, it is as easy as right-clicking on the Databases folder under a server in the Object Explorer and choosing "Import Data-tier Application...".

There is one bump in the road to watch out for: as of Mar 26 2013 (when I needed to find out how to do this myself), when you export a .bacpac from Azure, it will be downloaded as a .zip file, not a .bacpac file, and the file dialog that is opened by the Browse button in the import wizard will only show either *.bacpac or . in the file filters, implying that .zip is not supported. However, if you change the filter to ., select your downloaded .zip, and click Next, the wizard will proceed normally.

Answer 6

Here's a script to restore a bunch of bacpac files at once: Bulk Restore bacpac files local

cd [FOLDERPATH]
$goodlist = dir
cd 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\110\DAC\bin'
foreach($i in $goodlist){ $name = $i.Name; $namer = $i.Name.Substring(0, $i.Name.length - 7); .\SqlPackage.exe /a:Import /sf:[FOLDERPATH]\$name /tdn:$namer /tsn:[SERVERNAME] }