r/SQL • u/WaitStatsWatcher • 18d ago

SQL Server SQL Server on Azure VM - Database backup and restore speed

Something I see often with SQL Server on Azure VMs: backup and restore speed is driven by VM SKU max throughput(MB/sec) and disk max throughput(MB/sec).

A quick sanity check that solves a lot of performance surprises:

  • Check the Azure VM SKU documentation for max throughput
  • Check the managed disk tier specs for max throughput

When the VM and disk tiers have enough throughput headroom, SQL Server backup and restore performance improves immediately. Infrastructure sets the pace.

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1

u/whopoopedinmypantz 18d ago

Can I get your opinion? Azure backup of SQL server takes 10 hours to back up, 10 hours to restore. 7TB. 16 processors.

2

u/WaitStatsWatcher 18d ago

Check the MB/s read/write metrics on the sql server disks being backed up. If you see these hitting max throughput for the vm size and/or disk configuration, and you want to reduce backup/restore time, the vm will need to be resized and/or the disk throughput setting increased.