Episode #222
Introduction
Episode 222 is our last episode in 2024. We will go on a short holiday break and plan to be back in the second week of January. So like in the last 4 years (#22 (2020), #73 (2021) #124 (2022), #173 (2023)) we are very honored to have Jürgen Thomas back on our show to wrap up 2024 with us.
Find all the links mentioned here: https://www.saponazurepodcast.de/episode222
Reach out to us for any feedback / questions:
- Robert Boban: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rboban/
- Goran Condric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorancondric/
- Holger Bruchelt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holger-bruchelt/
#Microsoft #SAP #Azure #SAPonAzure #Wrapup #2024 #Infrastructure
Summary created by AI
Introduction and Team Overview:
- Holger, and Goran introduced the final episode of their SAP on Azure Video podcast for 2024, mentioning a short holiday break and a return in January. They welcomed Juergen Thomas, who has been with Microsoft for nearly 29 years, to discuss the year’s highlights.
- Growth of SAP on Azure:
- Juergen discussed the significant growth of SAP on Azure over the years, highlighting the expansion of his team from six people in 2014 to a much larger team today. He emphasized the improvements in Azure infrastructure, including faster storage and more powerful VMs.
- Advancements in VM Technology:
- Juergen detailed the advancements in VM technology, including the introduction of larger VMs with more memory and CPU power. He mentioned the successful deployment of 16-socket hardware and the development of the M series version three families on the new Intel Sapphire Rapids platform.
- Customer Success and Reliability:
- Juergen and Holger discussed the success of customer deployments, including the 32 terabyte VMs and a 200 terabyte Oracle migration. They emphasized the importance of reliability and the continuous investments in quality, telemetry, and testing to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Introduction of SQL Server in Rise:
- Goran and Juergen talked about the introduction of SQL Server systems hosting in Rise, making it easier for customers to transition to managed services without immediately moving to S4 HANA. This approach aims to reduce the complexity and anxiety of the transition for customers.
- Storage and Live Migration Improvements:
- Juergen highlighted the advancements in storage solutions, including the success of Premium Storage V2 and the use of Azure NetApp files for HANA data. He also mentioned the significant progress in live migration, with millions of VMs being live migrated to apply BIOS updates without customer disruption.
- Continuous Improvement and Future Plans:
- Juergen and Holger concluded the discussion by emphasizing the continuous efforts to improve Azure’s infrastructure and customer experience. They mentioned the ongoing investments in reliability, performance, and new technologies, ensuring that the improvements will continue into 2025.
- 0:00 Intro
- 1:23 Introducing Jürgen Thomas
- 2:37 Growth and Development of Azure for SAP
- 4:59 Advancements in VM and Storage Technology
- 9:47 Customer Success and Challenges
- 12:46 Safe Deployment Process and Testing
- 14:51 Partnership with Hardware Vendors
- 23:52 Introduction of New VM Families
- 26:39 Regional Expansion and Availability Zones
- 29:00 SQL Server Support in RISE with SAP
- 43:06 Customer Experience and Continuous Improvement
- 47:16 Closing Remarks