Updated Windows Azure Training Kit Available

Customers already testing Microsoft’s upcoming Cloud operating system, or testers interested in giving the platform a spin in the final stages before finalization can now download an updated version of the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit. The August update of the Training Kit for Windows Azure is available for download from the Redmond company and comes to the table with a range of technical resources designed to offer a deep insight into the workings of the Cloud OS.

“The Windows Azure Platform Training Kit includes a comprehensive set of technical content including hands-on labs, presentations, and demos that are designed to help you learn how to use the Windows Azure platform including: Windows Azure, SQL Azure and .NET Services,” Microsoft revealed.

At this point in time, Windows Azure continues to be available to customers for testing as a Community Technology Preview. Microsoft plans to launch the Cloud platform in November 2009, at the company’s Professional Developer Conference. After the official release, the company will also go live with the pricing model for Windows Azure.

This means that starting in November 2009 customers will have to pay for using Windows Azure. This is not the case now. The CTP of Azure platform can be tested for free. And of course, the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit - August Update is a great place to start in order to get a comprehensive view of the Cloud operating system.

“After downloading the training kit, run the self-extracting executable to extract all of the training kit files to your local machine. After the content is extracted, the starting page for the training kit will be displayed in your default browser. You can then browse through the individual hands-on labs, demos, and presentations,” Microsoft noted.

The software giant indicated that the training kit offers:


Presentations
Azure Platform Overview
What is Windows Azure?
Windows Azure Storage Overview
Introduction to Windows Azure
Building Services using Windows Azure
Introduction to SQL Azure
Building Applications using SQL Azure
Scaling Out with SQL Azure
Introduction to .NET Services
Building Applications Using the .NET Service Bus


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
.NET Services Service Bus Direct Connection Demo
.NET Services Service Bus webHttpRelayBinding
.NET Services Service Bus Publish and Subscribe
.NET Services Service Registry
.NET Services Service Bus NetOneWayRelayBinding


Hands On Labs
Building Windows Azure Services
Windows Azure Native Code
Windows Azure and PHP
Getting Started with Windows Azure Storage
Using Windows Azure Tables
Building ASP.NET MVC Applications with Windows Azure
Building ASP.NET Web Form Applications with Windows Azure
Migrating Applications to Windows Azure
Introduction to SQL Azure
Migrating Databases to SQL Azure
Building Your First SQL Azure App
Introduction to the .NET Service Bus
Building Hybrid Applications


Samples and Tools
Windows Azure MMC
PhluffyFotos
Bid Now
Contoso Cycles