which version of SQL server is currnetly deployed in Azure SQL?

Tony Nicholls 26 Reputation points
2022-07-16T21:25:16.95+00:00

So when my SQL Server Management Studio connects to my local database I see the version as: 15.0.2080.9 (SQL 2019)

When I connect to Azure SQL I see: 12.0.2000.8

When I look up this version I see that it corresponds to a SQL 2014 build?

I though that SQL Azure was supposed to be on the latest stable SQL build?

So a bit confused here - can somebody explain this to me?

Azure SQL Database
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  1. Dillon Silzer 54,731 Reputation points
    2022-07-16T21:48:28.307+00:00

    SQL Server 2019 current version is 15.0.4223.1

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb4518398-sql-server-2019-build-versions-782ed548-1cd8-b5c3-a566-8b4f9e20293a

    Current version of Azure SQL is V12

    https://github.com/uglide/azure-content/blob/master/articles/sql-database/sql-database-v12-whats-new.md

    Further, Azure SQL is "evergreen"

    More companies are choosing Azure for their SQL workloads, and it is easy to see why. Azure SQL Database is evergreen, meaning it does not need to be patched or upgraded, and it has a strong track record of innovation and reliability for mission-critical workloads. But, in addition to delivering unparalleled innovation, it is also important to provide customers with the best price-performance. Here, once again, SQL Database comes out on top.

    See more information about what evergreen means at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/blog/azure-sql-database-continuous-innovation-and-limitless-scale-at-an-unbeatable-price/

    Azure SQL is DaaS (Database-as-a-Service) where you don't need to patch the server vs. SQL Server 2019 typically runs on your server or on a Cloud IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) VM where you are in charge of managing your server.

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    If this is helpful, please mark as correct answer.

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  2. Alberto Morillo 32,896 Reputation points MVP
    2022-07-17T04:00:34.347+00:00

    Azure SQL Database has its version number that is not related to SQL Server version numbers. However it runs the latest features and updates that run the latest version of SQL Server. Read below excerpt from this docmentation.

    Azure SQL Database is always running on the latest stable version of the SQL Server database engine and patched OS with 99.99% availability

    i would say Azure SQL has updates and features on preview that are not yet available on SQL Server latest version. So Azure SQL is always ahead of SQL Server latest version. So if you Azure SQL is running on version 12 and your SQL Server 2019 is running version v15 that does not mean Azure SQL is outdated. Is is the other way around, Azure SQL is always ahead of the latest SQL Server version/cumulative update available.

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  3. Oury Ba-MSFT 16,636 Reputation points Microsoft Employee
    2022-07-18T22:13:33.61+00:00

    Hi @Tony Nicholls Thank you for posting your question on Microsoft Q&A and for using Azure services.

    In addition to @Dillon Silzer and @Alberto Morillo ' answers. Azure SQL always run on the lates version of SQL Server database engine. You can find the version by running the sql query suggested here.

    Hope that helps

    Regards,
    Oury