Problem:

Each time I try to use a dacpac to deploy to my Azure Sql Database it times out with the following error:

Publishing to database ''mydatabase_dev' on server 'mydatabase.database.windows.net'.

Initializing deployment (Start)

Initializing deployment (Failed)

SqlPackage.exe : *** An error occurred during deployment plan generation. Deployment cannot continue.

At line:1 char:1

+ & 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\120\DAC\bin\SqlPackage.exe' /Acti ...

+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    + CategoryInfo          : NotSpecified: (*** An error oc...annot continue.:String) [], RemoteException

    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NativeCommandError

Failed to import target model mydatabase_dev. Detailed message Unable to reconnect to database: Timeout expired.  The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.

Unable to reconnect to database: Timeout expired.  The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.

Timeout expired.  The timeout period elapsed prior to completion of the operation or the server is not responding.

The wait operation timed out

Solution:

Select a Service Tier of Standard or higher.

Explanation:

When I compared this database to others that I have successfully deployed to I noticed this database was using the BASIC Service Tier. On all the databases where I have been able to deploy I had the STANDARD Service Tier selected.  Once I upgraded my database to Standard I was able to deploy successfully.

The post below sounds like there might be resolution coming in an update “Improved reliability when targeting Basic and Standard Performance Tiers in Microsoft Azure SQL Databases.”

http://tinyurl.com/SqlV12Preview

Until then just don't select basic as your service tier.