Streamline On-Prem SQL Server with Azure DevOps CI/CD

In today's fast-paced development environment, efficient and reliable deployment processes are crucial. In my latest video tutorial, I walk you through the steps to deploy database changes from a Visual Studio project to an on-premises SQL Server using Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines in Azure DevOps (formerly Visual Studio Team Services, VSTS). Watch the full video here.

Watch the full video tutorial to see these steps in action and learn how to set up your own CI/CD pipeline for database deployments: Watch the video here!.

Key Steps in the Deployment Process

1. Creating a Visual Studio Database SSDT Project

Start by setting up your SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) project in Visual Studio. SSDT allows you to manage your database schema and changes effectively within your development environment.

2. Checking in Code to Git

Utilize version control with Git to manage your database codebase. This ensures that all changes are tracked, and collaboration is streamlined.

3. Building Pipeline to Generate DACPAC File

Set up a build pipeline in Azure DevOps to automatically generate a Data-tier Application Component Package (DACPAC) file. This file encapsulates the database schema and can be used for deploying changes, ensuring consistency and reliability.

4. Creating Deployment Groups

Establish deployment groups in Azure DevOps to manage the target servers for your database deployments. Deployment groups help in controlling and targeting specific servers for database updates.

5. Creating Release Pipeline

Construct a release pipeline in Azure DevOps to orchestrate the deployment process. This pipeline automates the deployment of your database changes alongside your application code, making the process seamless and repeatable.

6. Verifying Database Creation in SQL Server

Finally, ensure that your database changes have been successfully deployed to your on-premises SQL Server. Verify the database's existence and integrity to confirm that the deployment was successful.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can streamline your database deployment process and ensure smooth, consistent updates to your on-premises SQL Server using Azure DevOps. This approach not only improves efficiency but also reduces the risk of errors during deployment.