Windows Azure Platform Status
Jan 20th
If you need to find out if Windows Azure, SQL Azure or AppFabric is in good shape – check out http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/support/status/servicedashboard.aspx.
Note: I’m posting this so I remember the link too 
THIS POSTING IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES, AND CONFERS NO RIGHTS
Cycle versus Car, 2010
Jan 15th
Last year I bought a Surey Longhaul Trucker, road a few rides including the STP. This year the challenge is to ride my bike to work, more than the car. If you note the sidebar, you can see the current score David versus Lame Excuse For Not Biking to Work (LEFNBTW). High Wind, Ice, Snow and Blood are the current non-lame excuses for taking that car – rain is not. See you on the trail…
Upgrade your Windows Azure CTP Account Right Now
Jan 5th
You can now update your CTP accounts for Azure to paid commercial subscriptions.
You should do this right now!
Why:
- You will still be free until the end of Jan
- You will be able to see your usage charge
- You will avoid any unnecessary hick-ups when CTP accounts are made READ ONLY on Feb 1st.
Find out more by visiting the Windows Azure Blog, see the offers page on offer page, or follow the links from the developer portal.
THIS POSTING IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES, AND CONFERS NO RIGHTS
Windows Azure Lessons Learned Series
Jan 5th
Ben Riga has been working with the Windows Azure Evangelism team over the last few months leading up to PDC. Ben was charged with working with several of our partners to get them ready for PDC ‘09. Ben also took the opportunity to chat with some of our partners about adopting Azure and the experiences they had. The results are now on Channel 9 and are worth checking out:
Kelly Blue Book – great story of migrating apps to the cloud. KBB are looking to use Windows Azure to handle spikes and failover.
Thuzi’s Outback Steakhouse Facebook App – the app behind the free Bloomin’ Onion is built on Windows Azure to handle spikes
Quark Software – are using Windows Azure to build a multi-tenant service.
Embarcadero – have integrated SQL Azure into their cross-DBMS product.
Invensys – are using the AppFabric Service Bus to connect devices for the power industry.
GoGrid – see how GoGrid are using Windows Azure to allow hybrid hosting/cloud services for development and testing.
There are many more to come over the next few weeks – check out http://channel9.msdn.com/tags/Azure-Lessons-Learned/ for updates.
THIS POSTING IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES, AND CONFERS NO RIGHTS
New Training kit for the Holidays
Dec 23rd
I’m pleased to announce we have the latest Windows Azure Training Kit available for download. If you want to get started on the Windows Azure platform, the training kit is a great resource check out the videos and hands on labs to get you going.
If you want to do your own presentations for your company or user group, you will also find some presentations and demo/walkthroughs that you can use straight from the “box” or customize to suit your needs.
If you want to give us feedback – you can email the team direct at azcfeed at microsoft.com.
December Training Kit Contents
Hands On Labs
- Introduction to Windows Azure
- Exploring Windows Azure Storage
- Deploying and Monitoring Applications in Windows Azure
- Windows Azure: Worker Role Communication
- Federated Authentication in a Windows Azure Web Role Application
- Building ASP.NET Web Form Applications with Windows Azure
- Introduction to SQL Azure
- Migrating Databases to SQL Azure
- SQL Azure: Tips and Tricks
- Intro to Dallas
- Introduction to the .NET Service Bus
- Introduction to the .NET Access Control Service
- Service Remoting with Service Bus
- Eventing with the Service Bus
Presentations and Videos
- Windows Azure Platform Overview (C9 – VIDEO)
- What is Windows Azure? (C9 – VIDEO)
- Windows Azure Storage Overview (C9 – VIDEO)
- Deploying Applications on Windows Azure (C9 – VIDEO)
- Windows Azure Compute (C9 – VIDEO)
- Introduction to Windows Azure (PPTX)
- Building Services with Windows Azure (PPTX)
- What is SQL Azure? (C9 – VIDEO)
- Introduction to SQL Azure (PPTX)
- Building Applications using SQL Azure (PPTX)
- Scaling out with SQL Azure
- What is Microsoft Codename “Dallas”? (C9 – VIDEO)
- Introduction to Microsoft Codename “Dallas” (PPTX)
- What is the Access Control Service (C9 – VIDEO)
- Introduction to the Service Bus (C9 – VIDEO)
Demos
- Deploying Windows Azure Services
- Hello Windows Azure
- Windows Azure Guestbook Demo
- Windows Azure Logging and Configuration Demo
- Windows Azure using Blobs Demo
- Windows Azure Worker Role Demo
- Windows Azure Using Queues Demo
- Windows Azure Using Tables Demo
- Preparing your SQL Azure Account
- Connecting to SQL Azure
- Managing Logins and Security in SQL Azure
- Creating Objects in SQL Azure
- Migrating a Database Schema to SQL Azure
- Moving Data Into and Out Of SQL Azure using SSIS
- Building a Simple SQL Azure App
- Scaling Out SQL Azure with Database Sharding
- AppFabric Service Bus Direct Connection Demo
- AppFabric Service Bus webHttpRelayBinding
- AppFabric Service Bus Publish and Subscribe
- AppFabric Service Bus Service Registry
- AppFabric Service Bus NetOneWayRelayBinding
THIS POSTING IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITH NO WARRANTIES, AND CONFERS NO RIGHTS