Programming Windows Azure: Programming the Microsoft Cloud

by Sriram Krishnan

Overview

Learn the nuts and bolts of cloud computing with Windows Azure, Microsoft's new Internet services platform. Written by a key member of the product development team, this book shows you how to build, deploy, host, and manage applications using Windows Azure's programming model and essential storage services.

Chapters in Programming Windows Azure are organized to reflect the platform's buffet of services. The book's first half focuses on how to write and host application code on Windows Azure, while the second half explains all of the options you have for storing and accessing data on the platform with high scalability and reliability. Lots of code samples and screenshots are available to help you along the way.

• Learn how to build applications using the Windows Azure toolset
• Discover how Windows Azure works under the hood, and learn the how and the why behind several features
• Choose to write application code in .NET or other languages such as C/C++, PHP, or Ruby
• Understand the various options for managing your service
• Get up to speed on Azure's storage services, including blobs, queues, and tables
• Build a secure backup system, and learn about cloud application security, cryptography, and performance

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780596801977
Publisher:	O'Reilly Media, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/24/2010
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Sriram Krishnan works on the Windows Azure program management team. He has been involved with the product since before its public launch and has worked on several of the features covered in this book. Previously,
Sriram has worked on several Microsoft products, ranging from Web 2.0
sites to developer tools. Sriram is a frequent speaker at Microsoft events and blogs at http://www.sriramkrishnan.com.

Table of Contents

Dedication; Preface; How This Book Is Organized; Conventions Used in This Book; Using Code Examples; How to Contact Us; Safari® Books Online; Acknowledgments; Chapter 1: Cloud Computing; 1.1 Understanding Cloud Computing; 1.2 The Windows Azure Platform; 1.3 Windows Azure; 1.4 When Not to Use the Cloud; 1.5 Summary; Chapter 2: Under the Hood; 2.1 Inside the Cloud; 2.2 The Data Centers; 2.3 The Hypervisor; 2.4 The Fabric; 2.5 Summary; Chapter 3: Your First Cloud App; 3.1 Signing Up for Windows Azure; 3.2 The Windows Azure Tool Set; 3.3 Developing Your First Cloud Application; 3.4 Using the Visual Studio Tools; 3.5 Summary; Chapter 4: Service Model; 4.1 Understanding Windows Azure Roles; 4.2 Service Definition and Configuration; 4.3 Introducing the Service Runtime API; 4.4 Accessing Configuration Settings; 4.5 Understanding Endpoints; 4.6 Understanding Inter-Role Communication; 4.7 Subscribing to Changes; 4.8 Looking at Worker Roles in Depth; 4.9 Summary; Chapter 5: Managing Your Service; 5.1 Common Themes Across Windows Azure Services; 5.2 Windows Azure Developer Portal; 5.3 Service Management API; 5.4 Dealing with Upgrades; 5.5 Summary; Chapter 6: Native and Non-.NET Code; 6.1 The Windows Azure Sandbox; 6.2 Peeking Under the Hood with a Command Shell; 6.3 Running Non-.NET Languages; 6.4 Understanding FastCGI and PHP; 6.5 “Gotchas” with Running Native Code; 6.6 Summary; Chapter 7: Storage Fundamentals; 7.1 Accepting the New Storage System; 7.2 Windows Azure Storage Characteristics; 7.3 Windows Azure Storage Services; 7.4 Getting Started with a Storage Account; 7.5 Working with the REST API; 7.6 Building a Storage Client; 7.7 Using the SDK and Development Storage; 7.8 Summary; Chapter 8: Blobs; 8.1 Understanding the Blob Service; 8.2 Usage Considerations; 8.3 Using the Blob Storage API; 8.4 Using the Storage Client Library; 8.5 Using Containers; 8.6 Using Blobs; 8.7 Understanding Block Blobs; 8.8 Understanding Page Blobs; 8.9 Windows Azure XDrive; 8.10 CDN Access and Custom Domain Names; 8.11 Summary; Chapter 9: Queues; 9.1 Understanding the Value of Queues; 9.2 Windows Azure Queue Overview; 9.3 Understanding Queue Operations; 9.4 Understanding Message Operations; 9.5 Summary; Chapter 10: Tables; 10.1 Windows Azure Table Overview; 10.2 ADO.NET Data Services Primer; 10.3 Table Operations; 10.4 Summary; Chapter 11: Common Storage Tasks; 11.1 Exploring Full-Text Search; 11.2 Modeling Data; 11.3 Making Things Fast; 11.4 Utilizing Concurrent Updates; 11.5 Summary; Chapter 12: Building a Secure Backup System; 12.1 Developing a Secure Backup System; 12.2 Understanding Security; 12.3 Protecting Data in Motion; 12.4 Protecting Data at Rest; 12.5 Usage; 12.6 Summary; Chapter 13: SQL Azure; 13.1 Creating and Using a SQL Azure Database; 13.2 Differences Between SQL Azure and SQL Server; 13.3 Tips and Tricks; 13.4 Summary; Colophon;