14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has refreshed a collection of resources that it’s offering free of charge to customers looking to start using Windows Azure and associated services. Those interested in learning more about the software giant’s Cloud platform need to head over to the Microsoft Download Center and get the February Update for the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit.
Various components of the company’s Cloud offerings are covered by the learning resources, including Windows Azure, SQL Azure, and the Windows Azure AppFabric.
What the kit brings to the table is a collection of technical content which will make it easier for customers to get started using Windows Azure.
As its Cloud platform evolves from one month to another, Microsoft is careful to always provide updates to the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit.
However, the latest refresh is designed to reflect not only changes to Windows Azure, but also to the operating system customers might be running such as Windows 7.
On February 22nd, 2011, Microsoft launched Windows 7 Service Pack 1 RTM to all customers worldwide. Windows Azure Platform Training Kit - February Update comes to make sure that those running Windows 7 SP1 RTM will be able to continue leveraging the technical content without any issues.
In this regard, the software giant revealed that it has introduced a number of fixes related to the demos and labs included in the kit.
In addition, “the setup scripts for all hands-on labs and demo scripts have also been updated so that the content can easily be used on a machine running Windows 7 SP1,” the company stated.
Microsoft also highlighted a number of additional changes to the kit, including:
“•[Updated] Hands-on Lab - Building Windows Azure Apps with the Caching service
•[Updated] Hands-on Lab – Using the Access Control Service to Federate with Multiple Business Identity Providers
•[Updated] Hands-on Lab – Introduction to the AppFabric Access Control Service V2
•[Updated] Hands-on Lab - Introduction to the Windows Azure AppFabric Service Bus Futures
•[Updated] Hands-on Lab - Advanced Web and Worker Roles – fixed PHP installer script
•[Updated] Demo Script – Rafiki PDC Keynote Demo.” Windows Azure Platform Training Kit - February Update is available for download here.
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM Build 7601.17514.101119-1850 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) RTM are available for download here.