Microsoft Windows Azure: Explore the 'cloud' operating system

Azure, the "cloud" operating system that Microsoft introduced in late October at the PDC 2008 conference still carries many mysteries. What is Azure? How will it work? The following information will partly answer the Windows Azure operating system.

What is Windows Azure and Azure Services Platform?

Internet will be the main method for users to access data in cloud computing platforms - Artwork: Internet

- Windows Azure , code name Red Dog, is the foundation for developing applications in the "cloud" (*). In other words, Windows Azure is the basis for the Azure Services Platform (Azure Services Platform), developed by Microsoft to bring to the community of application developers the opportunity to build and provide online services. Offline on Windows infrastructure platform.

Windows Azure completely separates applications running on Microsoft virtualization application operating system layers. This allows administrators to not upgrade each PC independently when the application is edited.

According to Microsoft, computing technology has come to the 5th generation, a generation where applications are no longer limited to computers. The Internet will be the main way for customers to interact with businesses. But the architecture of business operations was previously designed to be unique to employees and partners. Windows Azure changes this by providing businesses with flexibility, a "customer access" platform for deploying applications and services.

Typical operating model of a cloud computing system.Photo: HowStuffWorks

Windows Azure was developed in two years by the chief architect of Microsoft's Ray Ozzie software. Previously, Microsoft had implemented a project that started in 2001 under the name Hailstorm at the PDC 2001 conference such as .NET My Services, expanded online services and merged to identify with Passport but was dismissed, few attention.

Windows Azure development and Azure Services Platform are also Microsoft's response to Amazon. Microsoft does not deny Amazon is a pioneer in cloud computing with the EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) service platform and Simple Storage. Microsoft also acknowledges that the cloud computing technology will also have to "rely on" the Amazon platform. However, Microsoft will focus on developing stronger for Azure than Amazon's Web services.

- Azure Services Platform is a complete solution for businesses. Microsoft will store applications built from third parties as well as Microsoft's own Web services such as Office Live, Windows Live, Exchange Online, CRM Online . Incorporate .NET Services (for creating programmers), SQL Services (for databases and news reports), Live Services (for interacting with user devices) into SharePoint services and CRM (for enterprise content).

Azure Services Platform

- The difference between Azure and Azure Services Platform: Windows Azure is an operating system, and Azure Services Platform is a combination of Azure, the layer of infrastructure services and online application layer.

What is Fabric Controller?

Fabric Controller is the key "spice" of Windows Azure, taking care of the 'lifecycle' management of all deployed online services. This tool helps to organize and centralize management in data centers according to the model of sharing hardware resources. This allows Azure to automatically update the application without having to update it directly on individual PCs.

Windows Azure with users and programmers

Developers can build new applications or edit existing applications for Windows Azure with existing tools like Visual Studio, ASP.Net, .NET Framework and update some new technologies that Microsoft will be popular in the near future. .NET Services and SQL Services will provide new "cloud-oriented" capabilities and Azure Tool for Visual Studio, providing templates as a building platform (Azure SDK). In addition, the new "Oslo" tool from Microsoft will help with style distribution applications including a new programming language called "M." Azure will also support third-party tools and languages ​​like Eclipse, Ruby, PHP and Python, as well as standards and ports like SOAP, REST or XML.

Illustration of application development for Windows Azure.Source: Windows Azure website

Users do not need to worry about the operating architecture behind "cloud" based applications. Windows Azure will bring many functions for Web applications, allowing businesses to quickly deploy and update services at lower costs.

When is Azure released and what is the price?

According to the Windows Azure website, prices will be based on resource consumption (CPU, bandwidth, storage, transactions). It is expected that this Internet operating system will be released in the second half of 2009. The technology engineering community will be established in the nearest time, developers can register here.

Users can refer to information about Windows Azure, Azure Services Platform, .NET Services, SQL Services . at the Microsoft website.

(*) Cloud computing (cloud-computing): is the term used to refer to applications running on the web browser, but computing is done on a remote data server, connect to the browser via the global Internet. In the simplest way, "cloud computing application" is the online application on the Internet. The browser is where the application exists and operates and the data is stored and processed at the application provider server.

Source: Windows Azure website, BetaNews, PCWorld