Do More with .NET on the new Windows Azure Platform

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Windows Azure

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Inside the Platform:

Windows Azure

  • Windows Azure is the cloud services operating system that serves as the development, service hosting, and service management environment for the Windows Azure Platform. Windows Azure provides developers with on-demand compute and storage to host, scale, and manage Internet or cloud applications. and services on the Internet in Microsoft data centers.
  • Windows Azure supports a consistent development experience through its integration with Visual Studio. In the early stages of CTP, .NET managed applications built using Visual Studio will be supported. Windows Azure is an open platform that will support both Microsoft and non-Microsoft languages and environments. Windows Azure welcomes third-party tools and languages such as Eclipse, Ruby, PHP, and Python.

Windows Azure AppFabric

  • The Microsoft Windows Azure platform is an Internet-scale cloud services platform hosted in Microsoft data centers. The platform includes the Windows Azure operating system, SQL Azure and AppFabric.
  • Windows Azure platform AppFabric provides secure connectivity as a service to help developers bridge cloud, on-premises, and hosted deployments. AppFabric comprises Service Bus and Access Control, which can be used to build distributed and federated applications as well as services that work across network and organizational boundaries. From simple eventing scenarios to complex protocol tunneling, AppFabric Service Bus gives developers the flexibility to choose how their applications communicate, addressing the challenges presented by firewalls, NATs, dynamic IP, and disparate identity systems. AppFabric Access Control enables simple, secure authorization for RESTful web services that federate with a variety of identiy providers.

SQL Azure

  • Microsoft SQL Azure extends the capabilities of Microsoft SQL Server into the cloud as a Web-based, distributed relational database. It provides Web services that enable relational queries, search, and data synchronization with mobile users, remote offices and business partners. It can store and retrieve structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.

6 Weeks of Windows Azure

UK Windows Azure Self-paced Interactive Learning Course starting May 10th
Register now for 6 weeks of FREE training on the Windows Azure Platform without even needing to leave your home or workplace.


MSDN UK Case StudiesCase Studies

People are doing some interesting things with Windows Azure in the UK including the likes of easyJet. Find out why they and other large companies decided to choose Windows Azure.

See how other organisations around the world are using the Windows Azure Platform.

Trials and DownloadsTrials and Downloads

It is easy to get started with the Windows Azure Platform, just follow the links below

BooksBooks

 

Cloud Computing with the Windows Azure Platform
Roger Jennings offers you an overview of cloud computing and shares his approach for hands-on programming of Windows Azure Storage Services.

Azure in Action by Chris Hay

 

An Introduction to Windows Azure by David Chappell

MSDN Flash newsletter Azure special edition

MSDN BlogsBlogs

Our teams are busy blogging so that they can bring you all latest news, insights, features and product releases before anyone else has a chance to post it.

See recent posts from:

Learn - Windows Azure platform training resourcesLearn

If you’re new to developing using the Windows Azure Platform there’s a whole host of training resources to get you going. These helpful how to’s tell you everything you need to know, from how Windows Azure integrates with Visual Studio, to how Windows Azure supports both Microsoft and non-Microsoft languages and environments.

Windows Azure Platform Developer CentreDiscuss

UK Windows Azure Platform Online Community
The place to hang out if you are UK based and interested in the Windows Azure Platform for Cloud Computing.

Got an opinion, a project you’d like to discuss, or simply want to ask a question about an aspect of Windows Azure? Visit the Windows Azure Platform Developer Centre and start a thread.

Windows AzureWatch

The Windows Azure Business Model with David Chappell
David Chappell discusses Windows Azure, its importance and role in the partner ecosystem, and other cloud players, such as Google, Amazon, Salesforce.com, VMware and more.

Step by step video intro to provisioning, deploying and customising Windows Azure applications by Adrian Jakeman, QA Limited