azure-sql-managed-instance

name	azure-sql-managed-instance
description	Expert knowledge for Azure SQL Managed Instance development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when using MI Link, geo-replication/HA, Entra/Kerberos auth, Extended Events, or IaC (Bicep/ARM/Terraform), and other Azure SQL Managed Instance related development tasks. Not for Azure SQL Database (use azure-sql-database), SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-sql-virtual-machines), Azure Database Migration service (use azure-database-migration). Use when this capability is needed.
metadata	{"author":"atc-net"}

Azure SQL Managed Instance Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure SQL Managed Instance. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

How to Use This Skill

IMPORTANT for Agent: This file may be large. Use the Category Index below to locate relevant sections, then use read_file with specific line ranges (e.g., L136-L144) to read the sections needed for the user's question This skill requires network access to fetch documentation content. Use mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch to retrieve full articles.

• Fallback: Use the built-in WebFetch tool if the Microsoft Learn MCP server is not available.

Category Index

Category	Lines	Description
Troubleshooting	L31-L47	Diagnosing and fixing Azure SQL Managed Instance issues: performance, connectivity, capacity, memory, transaction logs, geo‑replication, MI Link, and Entra Kerberos auth.
Best Practices	L49-L69	Guidance on performance tuning, monitoring, HA/DR, failover/geo-replication, maintenance, alerts, and app design best practices for Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Decision Making	L71-L84	Guidance for choosing Azure SQL Managed Instance vs other Azure SQL options, tiers, pools, networking, HA/DR options, ML differences, and planning Db2/Oracle migrations.
Architecture & Design Patterns	L86-L89	Connectivity architecture, networking models, and connection options for Azure SQL Database, including gateways, endpoints, firewalls, and integration with VNets and private access.
Limits & Quotas	L91-L99	Limits, quotas, and performance caps for Azure SQL MI: DTUs, free tier limits, memory/OLTP usage, resource ceilings, monitoring behavior, and how to request quota increases.
Security	L101-L153	Entra/Windows auth, identities, access control, auditing, encryption (TDE, CMK), threat protection, TLS, and security best practices for Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Configuration	L155-L205	Configuring and monitoring SQL Managed Instance: networking, connectivity, backups/restore, maintenance windows/updates, alerts, metrics/logs, Intelligent Insights, and Extended Events.
Integrations & Coding Patterns	L207-L230	Connecting apps and tools to SQL Managed Instance (.NET, Java, Python, etc.), automation, data import, DTC, XEvents, MI Link, backups, tracing, and Spark integration.
Deployment	L232-L252	Deploying and managing Azure SQL Managed Instance: provisioning (Bicep/ARM/Terraform), networking, region/subnet moves, start/stop, DR/replication, migrations, and feature availability.

Troubleshooting

Topic	URL
Resolve Azure SQL capacity deployment and scaling errors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/capacity-errors-troubleshoot?view=azuresql
Fix slow database import and export in Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/database-import-export-hang?view=azuresql
Troubleshoot Azure SQL performance using Intelligent Insights	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/intelligent-insights-troubleshoot-performance?view=azuresql
Handle transient connectivity errors in Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/troubleshoot-common-connectivity-issues?view=azuresql
Troubleshoot common connection issues for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/troubleshoot-common-errors-issues?view=azuresql
Troubleshoot geo-replication and redo lag in Azure SQL Database	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/troubleshoot-geo-replication-redo?view=azuresql
Investigate and fix memory issues in Azure SQL Database	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/troubleshoot-memory-errors-issues?view=azuresql
Troubleshoot transaction log full errors in Azure SQL Database	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/troubleshoot-transaction-log-errors-issues?view=azuresql-db
Resolve known issues in Azure SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/doc-changes-updates-known-issues?view=azuresql

Best Practices

Topic	URL
Analyze Azure SQL monitoring data with KQL and T-SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database-watcher-analyze?view=azuresql
Application development considerations for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/develop-overview?view=azuresql
Performance tuning guidance for Azure SQL applications	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/performance-guidance?view=azuresql
Plan for Azure SQL planned maintenance events	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/planned-maintenance?view=azuresql
Configure and use read scale-out replicas in Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/read-scale-out?view=azuresql
Identify and resolve Azure SQL query performance issues	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/identify-query-performance-issues?view=azuresql
Set up alerts and notifications for Azure SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/alerts-create?view=azuresql
Run disaster recovery drills for SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/disaster-recovery-drills?view=azuresql
Design Azure SQL Managed Instance disaster recovery	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/disaster-recovery-guidance?view=azuresql
Use failover groups for geo-replication in SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/failover-group-sql-mi?view=azuresql

Decision Making

Topic	URL
Use Azure SQL decision tree to choose service	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/azure-sql-decision-tree?view=azuresql
Compare Azure SQL Database vs Managed Instance features	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/features-comparison?view=azuresql
Configure license-free standby replica for SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/failover-group-standby-replica-how-to-configure?view=azuresql
Decide when to use SQL Managed Instance pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/instance-pools-overview?view=azuresql
Choose between Log Replay Service and Managed Instance link	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/log-replay-service-compare-mi-link?view=azuresql
Compare ML Services in SQL Managed Instance vs SQL Server	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/machine-learning-services-differences?view=azuresql
Choose vCore service tiers for SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/service-tiers-managed-instance-vcore?view=azuresql
Adopt Next-gen General Purpose tier for SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/service-tiers-next-gen-general-purpose-use?view=azuresql
Determine subnet size and IP range for Azure SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/vnet-subnet-determine-size?view=azuresql

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic	URL
Understand connectivity architecture for Azure SQL Database	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connectivity-architecture?view=azuresql

Limits & Quotas

Topic	URL
Review database watcher FAQ for Azure SQL monitoring behavior	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database-watcher-faq?view=azuresql
Understand DTU benchmark characteristics for Azure SQL Database	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/dtu-benchmark?view=azuresql
Request quota increases for Azure SQL resources	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/quota-increase-request?view=azuresql
Understand free-tier limits for Azure SQL Managed Instance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/free-offer?view=azuresql
Adopt In-memory OLTP and understand memory limits in SQL MI	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/in-memory-oltp-configure?view=azuresql
Review Azure SQL Managed Instance resource limits	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/resource-limits?view=azuresql

Security

Topic	URL
Configure Microsoft Entra authentication for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-aad-configure?view=azuresql
Assign Directory Readers role for Azure SQL identities	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-aad-directory-readers-role-tutorial?view=azuresql
Configure Directory Readers and permissions for Azure SQL identities	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-aad-directory-readers-role?view=azuresql
Create and use Microsoft Entra guest admins for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-aad-guest-users?view=azuresql
Use Microsoft Entra authentication with Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-aad-overview?view=azuresql
Use Entra service principals with Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-aad-service-principal?view=azuresql
Create and use Microsoft Entra logins in Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-azure-ad-logins-tutorial?view=azuresql
Use Microsoft Entra server principals in Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-azure-ad-logins?view=azuresql
Create Azure SQL server with Entra-only authentication	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-azure-ad-only-authentication-create-server?view=azuresql

Configuration

Topic	URL
Configure alerts on Azure SQL monitoring data with database watcher	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database-watcher-alerts?view=azuresql
Understand database watcher datasets and collected metrics	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database-watcher-data?view=azuresql
Create and configure database watcher for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database-watcher-manage?view=azuresql
Monitor Azure SQL workloads using database watcher	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database-watcher-overview?view=azuresql
Create a database watcher with Entra auth and private connectivity	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database-watcher-quickstart?view=azuresql
Configure Intelligent Insights performance monitoring for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/intelligent-insights-overview?view=azuresql
Use Intelligent Insights diagnostics logs for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/intelligent-insights-use-diagnostics-log?view=azuresql
Configure long-term backup retention for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/long-term-backup-retention-configure?view=azuresql
Configure metrics and diagnostic log streaming for Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/metrics-diagnostic-telemetry-logging-streaming-export-configure?view=azuresql
Reference monitoring metrics and logs for Azure SQL Database

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic	URL
Connect to Azure SQL from .NET on all OSes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-dotnet-core?view=azuresql
Use Visual Studio .NET to query Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-dotnet-visual-studio?view=azuresql
Connect to Azure SQL using Go and go-mssqldb	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-go?view=azuresql
Connect Java applications to Azure SQL with JDBC	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-java?view=azuresql
Use Node.js to connect and query Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-nodejs?view=azuresql
Use PHP to connect and query Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-php?view=azuresql
Connect and query Azure SQL using Python	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-python?view=azuresql
Use Ruby to connect and query Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connect-query-ruby?view=azuresql
Configure and use Spark connector with Azure SQL	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/spark-connector?view=azuresql
Create Azure SQL XEvent sessions with event_file	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/xevent-code-event-file?view=azuresql

Deployment

Topic	URL
Export Azure SQL databases to BACPAC files	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/database-export?view=azuresql
Import BACPAC files to create Azure SQL databases	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/database-import?view=azuresql
Check Azure SQL Database feature availability by region	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/region-availability?view=azuresql
Deploy Azure SQL Managed Instance using Bicep	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/create-bicep-quickstart?view=azuresql
Deploy Azure SQL Managed Instance via ARM template	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/create-template-quickstart?view=azuresql
Provision Azure SQL Managed Instance with Terraform	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/instance-create-terraform?view=azuresql
Stop and start Azure SQL Managed Instance to control costs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/instance-stop-start-how-to?view=azuresql
Configure disaster recovery to Azure SQL Managed Instance using Managed Instance link	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/managed-instance-link-disaster-recovery?view=azuresql
Migrate SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance using Managed Instance link	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/managed-instance-link-migrate?view=azuresql

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Source: atc-net/atc-agentic-toolkit — distributed by TomeVault.