50466 Windows Azure Solutions with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 - Classroom

50466 Windows Azure Solutions with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

About this Course

This class is an introduction to cloud computing and specifically Microsoft's public cloud offering in Windows Azure.  Windows Azure has been described by Microsoft as an operating system for "the cloud".  In this class, you explore this new cloud operating system and learn how to write, deploy and monitor .NET applications in Azure.

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Audience Profile

This class is designed for .NET developers with Web application experience that are exploring developing new applications or porting existing applications to Windows Azure.

At Course Completion

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Understand cloud computing in its various forms and how Windows Azure fits in the cloud computing space.
• Learn why organizations want to run applications in the Azure cloud.
• Understand the architecture of Azure.
• Explore the Azure SDK and DevFabric development environment.
• See how to develop applications for Azure and how that varies from "normal" .NET application development.
• Write and deploy a ASP.NET Web application (Web Role) to Azure.
• Explore Azure storage capability.
• Learn how to create and deploy background computatinal applications (Worker Role) in Azure.
• Explore SQL Azure capability.

Course Outline

Module 1: Cloud Computing

Lessons

• Define cloud computing.
• Learn the benefits of cloud computing.
• Understand the different types of cloud computing services.
• Explore where computing clouds might exist.
• Hear about potential concerns with cloud computing.
• Learn where cloud computing can and cannot be applied.
• Place Windows Azure in light of general cloud computing.
• Know how Windows Azure compares to other cloud environments.

Lab : Windows Azure Account Setup (Optional)

Module 2: Windows Azure Architecture

Lessons

• See a simple Windows Azure application.
• Learn about the Microsoft data centers.
• Explore the hardware, servers and virtualization (the Fabric) that host cloud applications and data.
• Understand the role of the Fabric Controller in managing the Windows Azure cloud.
• Know the general architecture and components of the Windows Azure Platform.
• Understand the tools used to create and deploy Windows Azure services and data stores.

Lab : Introduction to Windows Azure

Module 3: Windows Azure Web Roles

Lessons

• Explore the purpose of Windows Azure Web roles.
• Understand how to create Web roles in a cloud service project.
• See how to configure a Web role.
• Learn how to test Web roles run in the Dev Fabric.
• Start exploring the Windows Azure API.

Lab : Building a Web Role

Module 4: Local Storage

Lessons

• Examine Windows Azure local storage.
• See how local storage differs from normal server file systems.
• Learn how to configure local storage.
• Understand the limitations of local storage and where/when to use it.
• Explore the API to access local storage.
• Learn about Windows Azure Drive (formerly X-Drive).

Lab : Using Local Storage

Module 5: Windows Azure Storage and Queues

Lessons

• Understand the purpose of Windows Azure Storage.
• Learn how to create a Windows Azure Storage account.
• Explore Windows Azure Storage costs.
• Understand Dev Storage, how to use it, and how it is different from Windows Azure Storage.
• See how to access Windows Azure Storage using both the REST API and the Storage Client Library.
• Examine Windows Azure Storage Queues.
• Learn how to get messages in and out of Windows Azure Queues.

Lab : Learning Windows Azure Storage and Queues

Module 6: Blob Storage

Lessons

• Understand the rationale for using blob storage.
• Explore how to access blob storage with both the Storage Client and REST API.
• Examine blob storage containers and how they are used to organize and control access to blobs.
• Learn about the different types of blobs: block and page blobs.

Lab : Using Blob Storage

Module 7: Table Storage

Lessons

• Explore Windows Azure Storage's structural data service.
• Understand the reason for table storage.
• Examine the differences between table storage and traditional relational databases (as exhibited by SQL Azure).
• Learn how to access table storage with both the Storage Client and REST API.
• Understand entities as they relate to table storage.
• Examine how to save and retrieve entities in table storage.
• See how to use table storage for session management in Windows Azure Web applications.

Lab : Using Table Storage

Module 8: Worker Roles

Lessons

• Explore the purpose of Windows Azure worker roles.
• Understand how to create worker roles in a cloud service project.
• See how to configure a worker role.
• Learn how to test worker roles run in the Dev Fabric.
• Learn how to use Windows Azure Storage queues and messages to communicate with worker roles.
• Explore how to setup worker role endpoints.
• Learn how to communicate with worker role internal and input endpoints.

Lab : Building a Worker Role

Module 9: SQL Azure

Lessons

• Learn what SQL Azure is and why you want to use it.
• Understand SQL Azure in comparison to SQL Server and Windows Azure table storage.
• Learn how to provision a SQL Azure server and databases.
• Examine costs associated with SQL Azure.
• See how to use familiar tools and APIs to work in SQL Azure.
• Explore how to create and manage database objects in SQL Azure.
• Know how to limit SQL Azure access.
• Understand options for performing database backups.
• See how to migrate data to SQL Azure.

Module 10: Diagnostics and Logging

Lessons

• Learn how to accomplish debugging and logging in Windows Azure.
• Examine Windows Azure Diagnostic Service.
• Understand the role of the MonAgentHost process in the diagnostic service.
• Learn how to configure the diagnostic service.
• See how to transfer diagnostic data to Windows Azure Storage.

Lab : Using Table Storage