#Azure Action – Weekly Newsletter – 18th February 2011

Local Overview

• Join the Microsoft Australia Cloud Power Forum 
• Local Windows Azure Discovery Packs ready for rollout (2 days training, 1 day consulting, 1 PoC & 6 months Azure!!!)

• Ping me, your local Microsoft contact or partner for more information….

Readiness & Resources:

Reading:

• Windows Azure

  • Windows Azure Blob MD5 Overview

  • The Future of WCF Services and Windows Azure

  • Using Windows Azure AppFabric Cache (CTP)

  • ArcGIS geospatial viewer – Very cool

• SQL Azure
  • Top 5 things to know about sql azure for developers (presentation)
  • Liam Cavanagh on SQL Azure Data Sync

Watch:

• ZDNet Video: eBay's Chief Security Information Officer talks private cloud (using Windows Azure)

Case Study

• Learning Content Provider Enhances Content Delivery

Tools:

• Download the Microsoft JDBC Driver 3.0 for SQL Server and SQL Azure

Architecture:

• The Saga pattern on Azure with NServiceBus

Guidance:

Walkthrough:

• Custom Azure NLog Integration with Azure Diagnostics SDK 1.3 using NuGet

Design

• Choosing between SQL Azure and Azure Storage

In the news:

General news:

• Cloud Computing From "Agile Cloud Integration" to "Zero Latency"
• Big Data, Big Demand: Navigating the Cloud Storage Landscape

Microsoft

• Why Nokia, Microsoft Tie-Up is Good For Developers

Windows Azure

• Figlo powered by Microsoft Azure cloud

Figlo design software to manage personal finances, that allows the advisor to offer client centric advice

Events:

Local:

• CloudCamp Sydney 2011, Feb 25, 2011 – See you there?

• IDC Cloud for Business Conference on the 3rd of March where Microsoft will be a Platinum Sponsor. Venue: Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney

• Cloud Computing Forum – Run by Orion VM (Sheng Yeo) First Friday in March (see website)

Likely to be seen around our cities:

Community:

Like Azure?

Become a fan: www.facebook.com/windowsazure (Azure Facebook Toolkit)

Want answers? See the forums

Edited but not yet published: CloudCast - an audio series featuring myself, Rab Thynne, Tom Hollander and Michael Rosic

Coming in March: Azure Meetups!

Questions:

Quick question from last week:

Q: What's the difference between SQL Azure Web and Business editions?

A: There is no functional difference…. The only difference is size/choice and cost. Even when you select a version you can switch edition afterwards

Web Edition scales from 1GB to 5GB, whereas Business Edition scales from 10GB to 50GB in 10GB increments