Search results matching tags 'cloud computing' and 'Learning Plan'

SQL Azure Use Case: Shared Storage Application

BuckWoody — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:33:50 GMT

This is one in a series of posts on when and where to use a distributed architecture design in your organization's computing needs. You can find the main post here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/buckwoody/archive/2011/01/18/windows-azure-and-sql-azure-use-cases.aspx

Description:

On-premise data will be a part of computing for quite some time – perhaps permanently. Bandwidth requirements, security, or even financial considerations for large data sets often dictate that relational (on non-relational) systems will be maintained locally in many organizations, especially in enterprise computing.

But distributed data systems are useful in many situations. Organizations may wish to store a portion of data off-site, either for sharing the data with other applications (including web-based applications) or as a supplement to a High-Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) strategy.

Implementation:

SQL Azure can be used to add an additional option to an HADR strategy by copying off portions (or all) of an on-premise database system.

In this arrangement, on-premise systems remain as they are. Data is replicated using many technologies, such as SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), scripts, or Microsoft’s Sync Framework to a SQL Azure database. This data can be kept “cold”, meaning that a manual process is required to bring the data back, or as a “warm” standby using connection string management in the application.

Recently we architected a solution where a company kept a rolling two-week window of data replicated to SQL Azure using the Sync Framework. The application, a compiled EXE running on user’s systems, had a “switch connections” button, that allowed the users to take a laptop to another location, select that option, and continue working from anywhere they had Internet connectivity. This required forethought and planning, and did not replace their primary HADR systems, but it did allow them to continue operations in the case of a severe outage at multiple sites. Since they are an emergency services provider, this gave them the highest redundancy.

Another option is to amalgamate data from disparate sources.

In this arrangement, two or more data services (one of which is SQL Azure) are accessed by a single program. The program queries each system independently, and using LINQ a single query can work across all of the data, assuming there is some sort of natural or artificial “key” that can join the data sets together. The user programs simply view this single data set as a single data source, unaware of the underlying data sets. This allows great flexibility and agility in the downstream program. The upstream data sources can change as long as the elements are kept consistent.

There are performance and security implications to amalgamated data systems, but if architected carefully they provide multiple benefits. A few of of these are that other systems can access the individual data sources, reporting is simplified and standardized, and multiple copies of data are eliminated.

Resources:

You can read more about the Sync Framework and SQL Azure here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sync-framework-sql-server-to-sql-azure-synchronization.aspx

If you are new to LINQ, you can find more resources on it here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb308959.aspx

Windows Azure Learning Plan - Compute

BuckWoody — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 15:00:00 GMT

This is one in a series of posts on a Windows Azure Learning Plan. You can find the main post here. This one deals with the "compute" function of Windows Azure, which includes Configuration Files, the Web Role, the Worker Role, and the VM Role.

Videos, tutorials, overviews and offers for both .NET and PHP programming for Windows Azure are here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/cloud/developer/default.aspx?lang=all

A step-by-step programming guide for Windows Azure is here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/ff380142

The Application Lifecycle Management guide is here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/buckwoody/archive/2012/02/07/application-lifecycle-management-overview-for-windows-azure.aspx.

Configuration Files	Configuration Files define the environment for a Windows Azure application, similar to an ASP.NET application. This section explains how to work with these.
General Introduction and Overview	http://blogs.itmentors.com/bill/2009/11/04/configuration-files-and-windows-azure/
Service Definition File Schema	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee758711.aspx
Service Configuration File Schema	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee758710.aspx
Windows Azure Web Role	The Web Role runs code (such as ASP pages) that require a User Interface.
Web Role "Boot Camp" Video	https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032470854&CountryCode=US
Web Role Deployment Checklist	http://blogs.infragistics.com/blogs/anton_staykov/archive/2010/06/30/windows-azure-web-role-deployment-checklist.aspx
Using a Web Role as a Worker Role for Small Applications	http://www.31a2ba2a-b718-11dc-8314-0800200c9a66.com/2010/12/how-to-combine-worker-and-web-role-in.html
Windows Azure Worker Role	The Worker Role is used for code that does not require a direct User Interface.
Worker Role "Boot Camp" Video	https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032470871&CountryCode=US
Worker Role versus Web Roles	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg433012.aspx
Deploying other applications (like Java) in a Windows Azure Worker Role	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mariok/archive/2011/01/05/deploying-java-applications-in-azure.aspx
Windows Azure VM Role	The Windows Azure VM Role is an Operating System-level mechanism for code deployment.
VM Role Overview and Details	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg465398.aspx
The proper use of the VM Role	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/buckwoody/archive/2010/12/28/the-proper-use-of-the-vm-role-in-windows-azure.aspx

Windows Azure Learning Plan - Architecture

BuckWoody — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:24:00 GMT

This is one in a series of posts on a Windows Azure Learning Plan. You can find the main post here. This one deals with what an Architect needs to know about Windows Azure.

General Architectural Guidance	Overview and general information about Azure - what it is, how it works, and where you can learn more.
Cloud Computing, A Crash Course for Architects (Video)	http://www.msteched.com/2010/Europe/ARC202
Patterns and Practices for Cloud Development	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff898430.aspx
Design Patterns, Anti-Patterns and Windows Azure	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ignitionshowcase/archive/2010/11/27/design-patterns-anti-patterns-and-windows-azure.aspx
Application Patterns for the Cloud	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/kashif/archive/2010/08/07/application-patterns-for-the-cloud.aspx
Architecting Applications for High Scalability (Video)	http://www.msteched.com/2010/Europe/ARC309
Windows Azure Internals by Mark Russanovich (Video and PPT available)	http://player.microsoftpdc.com/Session/18a38105-520f-486a-9e04-d956736e506d
Cloud Application Architecture Patterns (Video)	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/bobfamiliar/archive/2010/10/19/cloud-application-architecture-patterns-by-david-platt.aspx
Video Tourof the Microsoft Datacenters	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOxA1l1pQIw&feature=player_embedded
Key Differences Between Public and Private Clouds	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/kadriu/archive/2010/10/24/key-differences-between-public-and-private-clouds.aspx
Microsoft Application Platform at a Glance	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jmeier/archive/2010/10/30/microsoft-application-platform-at-a-glance.aspx
Designing for Cloud Optimized Architecture	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/dachou/archive/2011/01/23/designing-for-cloud-optimized-architecture.aspx
Example Application for Windows Azure	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff966482.aspx
Implementation Guidance	Practical applications for the architect to consider
5 Enterprise steps for adopting a Platform as a Service	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/davidmcg/archive/2010/12/02/5-enterprise-steps-for-adopting-a-platform-as-a-service.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0
Performance-Based Scaling in Windows Azure	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/gg232759.aspx
Windows Azure Guidance for the Development Process	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/eugeniop/archive/2010/04/01/windows-azure-guidance-development-process.aspx
Microsoft Developer Guidance Maps	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jmeier/archive/2010/10/04/developer-guidance-ia-at-a-glance.aspx
How to Build a Hybrid On-Premise/In Cloud Application	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ignitionshowcase/archive/2010/11/09/how-to-build-a-hybrid-on-premise-in-cloud-application.aspx
Practical Windows Azure Design Patterns	http://azuredesignpatterns.com/
Slides and Links for Windows Azure Platform Best Practices	http://geekswithblogs.net/iupdateable/archive/2010/09/29/slides-and-links-for-windows-azure-platform-best-practices-for.aspx
AppFabric Architecture and Deployment Topologies guide	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/appfabriccat/archive/2010/09/10/appfabric-architecture-and-deployment-topologies-guide-now-available-via-microsoft-download-center.aspx
Windows Azure Platform Appliance	http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/appliance/
Integrating Cloud Technologies into Your Organization	Interoperability with Open Source and other applications; business and cost decisions
Interoperability Labs at Microsoft	http://www.interoperabilitybridges.com/
Windows Azure Service Level Agreements	http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/sla/

Windows Azure Learning Plan - SQL Azure

BuckWoody — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:28:00 GMT

This is one in a series of posts on a Windows Azure Learning Plan. You can find the main post here. This one deals with SQL Azure.

There are a series of videos here you can use for a complete overview:

Overview and Training	Overview and general information about SQL Azure - what it is, how it works, and where you can learn more.
Content Index	http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-azure-content-index.aspx
General Guidelines and Limitations	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee336245.aspx
General SQL Azure Information	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/peterlau/archive/2012/02/28/get-started-with-sql-azure-resources.aspx
Samples and Learning	Sources for online and other SQL Azure Training
Free Online Training	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlazure/archive/2010/05/06/10007449.aspx
60-minute Overview (webcast)	https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032458620&CountryCode=US
Architecture	SQL Azure Internals and Architectures for Scale Out and other use-cases.
SQL Azure Architecture	http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/inside-sql-azure.aspx
Scale-out Architectures	http://tinyurl.com/247zm33
Sharding (larger DB sizes)	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlazure/archive/2010/12/23/10108670.aspx
Federation Concepts	http://tinyurl.com/34eew2w
Use-Cases	http://blogical.se/blogs/jahlen/archive/2010/11/23/sql-azure-why-use-it-and-what-makes-it-different-from-sql-server.aspx
SQL Azure Security Model (video)	http://www.msdev.com/Directory/Description.aspx?EventId=1491
Administration	Standard Administrative Tasks and Tools
Tools Options	http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/overview-of-tools-to-use-with-sql-azure.aspx
SQL Azure Migration Wizard	http://sqlazuremw.codeplex.com/
Managing Databases and Login Security	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee336235.aspx
General Security for SQL Azure	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff394108.aspx
Backup and Recovery	http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-azure-backup-and-restore-strategy.aspx
More Backup and Recovery Options	http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/current-options-for-backing-up-data-with-sql-azure.aspx
Syncing Large Databases to SQL Azure	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sync/archive/2010/09/24/how-to-sync-large-sql-server-databases-to-sql-azure.aspx
Programming	Programming Patterns and Architectures for SQL Azure systems.
How to Build and Manage a Business Database on SQL Azure	http://tinyurl.com/25q5v6g
Connection Management	http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-azure-connection-management-in-sql-azure.aspx
Transact-SQL Supported by SQL Azure	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee336250.aspx
SQLCAT Team Papers on SQL Azure	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlcat/archive/2010/05/28/sql-azure-customer-best-practices.aspx

Windows Azure Learning Plan - Security

BuckWoody — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:32:00 GMT

This is one in a series of posts on a Windows Azure Learning Plan. You can find the main post here. This one deals with Security for Windows Azure.

General Security Information	Overview and general information about Windows Azure Security - what it is, how it works, and where you can learn more.
Security RFI Responses	http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26647
General Security Whitepaper – answers most questions	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/usisvde/archive/2010/08/10/security-white-paper-on-windows-azure-answers-many-faq.aspx
Overview of Azure Security	http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Microsoft-Azure-Security-Cloud.html
Azure Security Resources	http://reddevnews.com/articles/2010/08/19/microsoft-releases-windows-azure-security-resources.aspx
Cloud Computing Security Considerations	http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=68fedf9c-1c27-4642-aa5b-0a34472303ea&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MicrosoftDownloadCenter+%28Microsoft+Download+Center
Video Series on Azure Security	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/usisvde/archive/2011/01/18/msdev-presents-video-series-on-windows-azure-security.aspx
Physical Security for Microsoft’s Online Computing	Information on the Infrastructure and Locations for Azure Physical Security.
The Global Foundation Services Group at Microsoft handles physical security	http://www.globalfoundationservices.com/security/index.html
Microsoft’s Security Response Center	http://www.microsoft.com/security/msrc/
Software Security for Microsoft’s Online Computing	Steps we take as a company to develop secure software
Windows Azure is developed using the Trustworthy Computing Initiative	http://www.microsoft.com/about/twc/en/us/default.aspx and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms995349.aspx
Identity and Access in the Cloud	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/technology_titbits_by_rajesh_makhija/archive/2010/10/29/identity-and-access-in-the-cloud.aspx
Security Steps you should take	While Microsoft takes great pains to secure the infrastructure, platform and code for Windows Azure, you have a responsibility to write secure code. These pointers can help you do that.
Securing your cloud architecture, step-by-step	http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/gg296364.aspx
Security Guidelines for Windows Azure	http://redmondmag.com/articles/2010/06/15/microsoft-issues-security-guidelines-for-windows-azure.aspx
Best Practices for Windows Azure Security	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/vbertocci/archive/2010/06/14/security-best-practices-for-developing-windows-azure-applications.aspx
Cloud Security Guidelines from NIST	http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsDrafts.html#SP-800-146
Understanding Encryption (great overview and tutorial)	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/plankytronixx/archive/2010/10/23/crypto-primer-understanding-encryption-public-private-key-signatures-and-certificates.aspx
Securing your Connection Strings (SQL Azure)	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlazure/archive/2010/09/07/10058942.aspx
Getting started with Windows Identity Foundation (WIF) quickly	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/alikl/archive/2010/10/26/windows-identity-foundation-wif-fast-track.aspx

Windows Azure Learning Plan

BuckWoody — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:23:00 GMT

Note: On June 7th, Microsoft dramatically enhanced the Windows Azure Platform. I'm leaving this resource here, but an updated version is now here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/buckwoody/archive/2012/06/13/windows-azure-write-run-or-use-software.aspx

- Buck

Because Windows Azure is a platform, like Windows or Linux, there are a lot of things to know about it. Whenever I'm faced with learning such a broad technology I try to work "outside in" - that is, from a general perspective (understanding what it is) to a specific set of knowledge (knowing how to use it).

There are lots of resources for learning Windows Azure, so I thought I would put together a series of posts that lets you focus in on what you want to care about. Because the technology changes a great deal, I'll try and keep this "head" post up to date, and if you see anything I'm missing, feel free to post a comment here. Note that this isn’t all of the information you can find - it's the list I use to help others get up to speed. It's my "window" into Azure.

The first section (this post) is the "general overview" section of links and resources. It covers the "what is this thing" question, and of course each of these links will spawn off to more of them.

General Information	Audience: Everyone Overview and general information about Windows Azure - what it is, how it works, and where you can learn more. Lots of free books: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2011/08/17/microsoft-patterns-amp-practices-books-offer-guidance-on-adopting-windows-azure.aspx
Cloud Computing Paradigms	http://www.informit.com/guides/content.aspx?g=sqlserver&seqNum=384
Video: Lap Around the Windows Azure Platform	http://www.msteched.com/2010/Europe/COS322
Updated List of all "How To" Documents for Azure	http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg432998.aspx
Official Microsoft Site	http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/
Architecture	Audience: Systems and Programming Architects Patterns and practices for Windows Azure, How it works, and internals.
Compute	Audience: Developers Information on Web, Worker, VM and other roles, and how to program them.
Storage	Audience: Developers, Data Professionals Blobs, Tables, Queues, and other storage constructs, and how to program them.
Other Features	Audience: Developers, System Integrators Service Bus, Authentication and Caching, in addition to other constructs in Azure development.
Security	Audience: Developers, Security Analysts General and Specific security considerations, remunerations and remediation.
SQL Azure	Audience: Developers, Data Professionals SQL Server Azure information for architecting and managing applications in the cloud RDBMS.
Windows Azure and SQL Azure Use-Cases	Audience: Architects, Developers, Computing Professionals Use-case patterns for Windows and SQL Azure.

Here is a list of videos on developing software on Windows Azure: (another set here)

Session 01: Windows Azure Overview
Session 02: Introduction to Compute
Session 03: Windows Azure Lifecycle, Part 1
Session 04: Windows Azure Lifecycle, Part 2
Session 05: Windows Azure Storage, Part 1
Session 06: Windows Azure Storage, Part 2
Session 07: Introduction to SQL Azure
Session 08: Windows Azure Diagnostics
Session 09: Windows Azure Security, Part 1
Session 10: Windows Azure Security, Part 2
Session 11: Scalability, Caching & Elasticity, Part 1
Session 12: Scalability, Caching & Elasticity, Part 2, and Q&A

Course materials and code samples

Reference & Credit: http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/btl/b/weblog/archive/2011/01/14/your-weekend-look-cloudy-free-windows-azure-training-just-released.aspx by Frank Gartland