How to move SQL Server 2008 to the cloud?

Question

I have a large (~40gb) SQL Server 2008 database that I would like to move to the cloud. The database uses a lot of SQL Server 2008 specific (and non-specific) features (SQLCLR, xml, indexes, partitions, etc). Thus, my preference would be to use the exact database, but in the cloud.

What are my options? The new SQL Azure only allows small databases, and a subset of TSQL. I want to whole thing. I would still like to connect to it using Management Studio.

Answer 1

If you want "the whole thing" and want to be able to connect to your SQL-Azure store with SSMS, you'll have to wait until SQL Server 2008 R2 (a.k.a. SQL Server 2010) is out - sometime in 2010.

The SQL Server 2008 R2 November CTP has just had such an announcement - the SSMS for that version will be supporting SQL Azure.