Microsoft has announced the first CTP of a SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) for MySQL v1.0, which automates aspects of the migration process to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 & 2008 including SQL Azure Database.
"The primary goal is to lower the cost, lower the risk, and lower the effort of customers taking MySQL databases and moving them over on SQL Server," Joel Shalaby, senior product manager for SQL Server at Microsoft Corp., tells 5 Minute Briefing.
SQL Server Migration Assistant for MySQL is the newest migration toolkit from Microsoft. Others are targeted at Oracle, Sybase, Access, and an analyzer for PowerBuilder. The toolkits were designed to tackle the complex manual process customers deal with when migrating databases. In using the SQL Server Migration Assistants, customers and partners reduce the manual effort; as a result the time, cost and risks associated with migrating are significantly reduced. According to Microsoft, a recent SSMA survey showed that 94% of SSMA downloaders would recommend the tool to others.
The timing of the CTP for SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) for MySQL v1.0, Shalaby says, is based on customer demand. "This was really about growing the toolset of the family, and it was part of a plan that we have had since about this time last year."
Since the SQL Server Migration Assistants for Oracle became available in June of 2005, Microsoft says it has seen more than a 250,000 downloads across all of the SSMAs, with Motorola, Simon & Schuster, Sony Ericsson and Artesia among the customers that have downloaded and used the SQL Server Migration Assistant toolkits.
SQL Server Migration Assistant for MySQL v1.0 will be generally available in the summer of 2010 as a free toolkit. The CTP is available now for download and preview here.
More information about Microsoft SQL can be found at the Data Platform Insider blog.