14 DAY TRIAL // 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