Using SQL PolyBase Outside of Azure - Yes, It Works

Can I use SQL PolyBase without Azure? The answer is yes! While PolyBase is often associated with Azure due to its integration, you can indeed use SQL Server PolyBase in on-premises environments, offering a powerful solution for querying data from external sources.

Key Points About Using PolyBase Outside of Azure

Local Installation: You can install SQL Server on-premises and enable PolyBase. This requires installing the PolyBase feature during the SQL Server setup. This makes it a flexible and powerful tool for enterprises managing their data on their own infrastructure.

Data Sources

With PolyBase, you can connect to various external data sources, including Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS), Azure Blob Storage, and other relational databases like Oracle and Teradata. However, you need the necessary drivers and configurations to ensure seamless connectivity.

Use Cases

PolyBase is highly useful for scenarios where you need to combine data from different sources, perform analytics, or run queries across heterogeneous data environments. Whether you are dealing with unstructured data from Hadoop clusters or structured data from relational databases, PolyBase can handle it effectively.

Configuration

After installing SQL Server with PolyBase, proper configuration is required to connect to your external data sources. This includes setting up external data sources, external tables, and the necessary authentication. This step is crucial for ensuring that PolyBase can access and query the data correctly.

Performance

Performance can vary based on the configuration and the nature of your external data sources. Optimizing queries and ensuring that your network and storage are properly configured can significantly improve performance.

Limitations and misconceptions

Only with SQL server 2016 onward: While it is true that PolyBase is a technology available from SQL Server 2016 onward, it does offer robust functionality for on-premises environments. This means that if you are using a version of SQL Server that is 2016 or later, you can leverage PolyBase's full potential without needing the cloud.

Queries and Importing Data

You can perform all the querying you need using T-SQL, which is a well-established language for SQL Server. Additionally, you can import and store unstructured data right in your SQL server database directly from sources like Hadoop clusters or other external systems.

Azure Data Lake

If you want to import and store data from Azure Data Lake, you can do so in Azure SQL Data Warehouse. However, creating external tables in SQL Server to connect to the data source is a common practice, allowing you to treat external data as if it were part of your local database.

External sources have long been the means to access external data and read it from within your own database as though it were native tables. However, many databases have started offering write functionality as well, providing a more comprehensive data management solution.

In summary, while PolyBase is often associated with Azure, it is fully functional in on-premises SQL Server environments. Embracing PolyBase can greatly enhance your data querying and management capabilities, regardless of whether you are using on-premises or cloud-based solutions.