Microsoft plans to release a 'General Purpose' version of its Azure Arc-enabled SQL Managed Instance (MI) at the 'general availability' (GA) commercial-release stage, 'starting July 30, 2021.' ...

That connectivity is the driving force behind a host of new SQL Server capabilities in the 2022 release, including enhancements related to Azure Synapse Link, Microsoft Purview, and the new “link ...

Users also get the Query Store hints that database developers can already use to tell in Azure SQL DB and Managed SQL Instances to help speed up queries without rewriting them.

In addition, the company claims the improved Azure integration also includes managed disaster recovery (DR) to Azure SQL Managed Instance, along with "near real-time analytics".

The ability to run Azure SQL Managed Instance -- a cloud version of SQL Server -- on non-Azure clouds, and even on-premises, will be generally available and production-ready on July 30th, 2021.

Although Azure SQL Edge can operate with a direct connection to Azure SQL instances in the cloud, it’s designed to function as a stand-alone database on disconnected, low-power systems.