Hello all:
I'm a seasoned software developer but still learning as I go with Azure, so I appreciate any advice regarding the following:
I have a client which is a *very* small shop. There is a legacy VB6 client application which LONG TERM (not in the immediate future) will be moved to a browser based solution. The immediate goal is to move a set of MS Access databases to a SQL Server 2012 Express with Advanced Features instance. SQL Server 2012 Express is a good fit for this particular client and "up-scaling" might occur in the future, but we are really in the walk before you run phase.
1) Given a small database (I know SQL SERVER 2012 express will suffice for the immediate future) what are my *best* options? When looking at "Virtual Machines", I see SQL SERVER Web and Professional, but no mention of express. I don't think Azure Cloud Services really apply to what we are trying to do. I believe we want a SQL Server Virtual Machine
2) As a caveat to this, the reason we are considering SQL Server 2012 with Advanced Features is also because it comes with SSRS. I know this is a "light" version of SSRS and it can only render reports from a local database. Can we host SQL SERVER 2012 Express SSRS on the same virtual machine? Are we required to have a second one? Can a SQL Server Virtual Machine have IIS running? Are there extra costs? Is this not the right way to go?
3) I mentioned there is a legacy VB 6 application. Until this can be migrated to a browser based solution, this VB 6 application needs to be able to connect to whatever hosted database server is selected. We understand completely that connecting to a database through the DMZ, on a remote network in this fashion is NOT best practice. With that being said, I assume we would be able to restrict access to a particular port and IP address/range? I don't think installing this VB 6 application on a terminal server in the Cloud (for lack of better terms) and granting all users access is going to be an affordable option.
End of the day, I'm trying to figure out the best way to approach this. The client is considering purchasing a new server and just hosting all of this in-house if I/we can't come up with a practical, affordable solution.
I appreciate any and all feedback you guys have (and be as detailed as you wish :) )