14 DAY TRIAL // An updated version of the training kit for Microsoft’s Cloud platform is now available for download free of charge, just as it was the case with previous versions of the resource.
Customers need to head over to the Microsoft Download Center and grab the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit January 2011 Update in order to access new content provided by the Redmond company.
“A newly updated version of the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit is now available for download. This January update provides new and updated demo scripts, as well as a new Windows Phone 7 hands-on lab (HOL) for the Windows Azure platform.
“Other new features include several new demo scripts and an improved mechanism for installing Visual Studio code snippets,” revealed a member of the Windows Azure team.
Wade Wegner, Technical Evangelist focused on the Windows Azure Platform, highlighted some of the specific changes introduced in the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit January 2011 Update.
“The January update provides new and updated demo scripts and a new Windows Phone 7 hands-on labs for the Windows Azure Platform.
“These new demo scripts demonstrate how to use Windows Azure Connect, Web and Worker Role Enhancements, Windows Azure Virtual Machine Roles, and the "Rafiki" application (a keynote demo at PDC10).
“Additionally, this kit includes an improved mechanism for installing Visual Studio code snippets,” Wegner said.
Customers that are not familiar with the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit & Training Course, need to know that the resource packages a variety of technical content.
Microsoft is offering those that embrace Windows Azure hands-on labs, presentations, and demos focused not only on the Windows Azure OS but also on SQL Azure and the Windows Azure AppFabric.
“Some of the specific changes with the January update of the training kit include:
•[New demo script] Windows Azure Connect
•[New demo script] Web and Worker Role Enhancements
•[New demo script] Windows Azure Virtual Machine Roles
•[New demo script] “Rafiki” application
•[New lab] Windows Phone 7 and The Cloud
•[New lab] Use Access Control Service to Federate with Multiple Business Identity Providers
•[Updated] All Identity HOLs have been refreshed
•[Improved] Visual Studio code snippets installation
•[Fixes] Several bug fixes in demos and labs,” Wegner added.
According to Microsoft, here are the system requirements for the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit - January 2011 release: .NET Framework 4.0, Visual Studio 2010, ASP.NET MVC 2.0, Windows Powershell, Internet Information Server 7, Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 1.3, Windows Azure platform AppFabric SDK V1.0 - October Update, Windows Azure platform AppFabric SDK V2.0 CTP - October Update, SQL Server Express 2008 (or later), SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2 Express Edition, Windows Identity Foundation Runtime and Windows Identity Foundation SDK.
Windows Azure Platform Training Kit January 2011 Update is available for download here.