What are the two purchasing models supported by SQL Database?

The two purchasing models supported by SQL Database, which are DTUs (Database Transaction Units) and vCore (Virtual Core), are focused on how customers can provision and manage their resources in Azure SQL Database.

DTUs represent a blended measure of CPU, memory, and I/O, allowing users to select a fixed resource allocation based on the expected workload of their database. This model simplifies performance management by providing a straightforward way to understand and plan database capacity.

On the other hand, the vCore model offers more flexibility and transparency regarding the underlying hardware. It allows users to choose the number of virtual cores, the amount of memory, and the type of storage, catering to users who want to configure their database resources according to specific performance requirements.

This distinction reflects different approaches to resource allocation in a cloud environment, allowing customers to pick the model that best suits their operational needs and budget.