VMware is beta testing a database-as-a-service offering running SQL Server 2008 R2 & 2012.

VMware documents sighted by The Register suggest the new service will be called “vCloud Air SQL” and will initially target test and dev scenarios, but also offer a warm failover option for those seeking a disaster recovery option for their on-premises databases.

Virtzilla thinks that the service will also be able to handle non-critical workloads, but will in time grow to handle production apps.

It's already possible to run SQL server on VMware's vCloud Air service, but in self-provisioning mode. VMware now appears to be testing the full as-a-service caper to add to its cloudy service catalog.

Beta testers were sought for the service in early April, but those willing to ride the crash test dummy have been warned that any databases they deploy will not survive the service's transition to general availability.

The slide below outlines more of the beta's – and presumably the eventual service's - features.

Some of the features of the database-as-a-service service VMware is beta testing. Go large here

VMware's also asking its service provider customers to test a new version 8.0 of vCloud Director that adds vSphere 6.0 and NSX 6.1 compatibility, Virtual Data Center templates for self service enablement of OnDemand infrastructure and OAuth as an authentication option. ®