Techforum

What is Azure SQL Database ?

2012-08-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Microsoft SQL Azure Database is a cloud-based relational database service that is built on SQL Server technologies and runs in Microsoft data centers on hardware that is owned, hosted, and maintained by Microsoft. SQL Azure Database does not support all of the features and data types found in SQL Server

Similarities and Differences

1. Similar SQL Server on your premises, SQL Azure Database exposes a tabular data stream (TDS) interface for Transact-SQL-based database access.

2.SQL Azure Database supports many SQL Server 2008 data types; it does not support data types that have been deprecated from SQL Server 2008.

3. Because SQL Azure Database is a service, administration in SQL Azure Database is slightly different. SQL Azure Database abstracts the logical administration from the physical administration; Microsoft administers the physical hardware such as hard drives, servers, and storage. This approach helps SQL Azure Database provide a large-scale multi-tenant database service that offers enterprise-class availability, scalability, security, and self-healing.

4. Using SQL Azure Database, DBAs manage schema creation, statistics management, index tuning, query optimization, and security administration (logins, users, roles, and so on).

5. Analysis Services, Replication, and Service Broker are not currently provided as services on the Windows Azure platform.

6. SQL Azure Database automatically replicates all data to provide high availably.

7. SQL Azure Database also manages load balancing and, in case of a server failure, transparent fail-over.
SQL Azure Architecture
Microsoft SQL Azure Database is hosted on servers running SQL Server technologies in Microsoft data centers. From an architectural perspective, there are four distinct layers of abstraction that work together to provide a relational database for your application to use: the client layer, the services layer, the platform layer, and the infrastructure layer.

The Client Layer
The client layer resides closest to your application, and is used by your application to communicate directly with SQL Azure. The client layer can reside on-premise in your datacenter or be hosted in Windows Azure. Because SQL Azure provides the same tabular data stream (TDS) interface as SQL Server, you can use familiar tools and libraries to build client applications for data that is in the cloud.
There are many options available to your application for communicating with SQL Azure. For more information about tools and driver support, see Tools and Utilities Support (SQL Azure Database) and Guidelines and Limitations (SQL Azure Database).
The Services Layer
The services layer functions as a gateway between the client layer and the platform layer, where the data resides. The services layer provides three functions: provisioning, billing and metering, and connection routing.
The services layer provisions the databases that you specify with your Windows Azure platform account. The billing and metering aspect of the services layer enables multi-tenant support by providing monitoring and billing for database usage based on individual Windows Azure platform accounts. SQL Azure is built on a scalable platform involving numerous physical servers; this layer handles all the connections routing between your application and the physical servers where your data resides.

The Platform Layer
The platform layer includes the physical servers and services that support the services layer. The platform layer consists of many instances of SQL Server, each of which is managed by the SQL Azure fabric.
The SQL Azure fabric is a distributed computing system composed of tightly integrated networks, servers, and storage. It enables automatic failover, load balancing, and automatic replication between physical servers.
Management services monitor the health of individual servers and enable automated installation of service upgrades and software patches.

Infrastructure Layer
The infrastructure layer represents the IT administration of the physical hardware and operating systems that support the services layer.

Cloud App Model in SharePoint 2013

2012-08-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

Cloud App Model has made it possible to build new dimensional apps that combine web technologies and cloud services. It can be hosted on cloud; it enables faster deployment, up gradation facility and easy maintainability option. Now developer have the ability to publish and sell apps through a new Office Store, or distribute IT approved apps through an internal App Catalog. Doing this Microsoft offer a “Cloud App Model” that incorporates Web standards that indicate developers will code in HTML, client-side ASPX, CSS and JavaScript.

What is Napa?
“Napa” is a toolset come with new SharePoint and office release that has made a path to start building apps for the new Cloud App Model. We wanted to provide a lightweight, in-browser experience, so that you could quickly build SharePoint or Office web app in the same browser where they would run. Napa is web based nothing need to install to start development. For more feature it possiable to start Visual Studio 2012 IDE.
Napa Coding Features includes:

a. Indenting

b. bracket matching

c. text-based auto complete

d. instance highlighting

e. syntax colorization

f. edit app manifest

g. properties via a lightweight visual designer

It is possible to build mail apps for Office, content apps for Excel and functionality to Excel documents, and task pane apps for Office and Word documents in a task pane adjacent to the document. It’s new opportunity for software development companies to market their apps via Microsoft’s new Office Store, or distribute them within organizations via an internal app catalog.

SharePoint 2013 Top New Features

2012-08-11T15:30:00.001-07:00

1. Add third party apps

SharePoint 2013 has much easier facility to add third party apps. Dreamweaver, Microsoft Expression Web, or some other HTML editor can be used as branding tools.

2. WEB 2.0 api

WEB 2.0 api is introduced for Data access between SharePoint and outside apps like ASP.NET, PHP, Java etc.

3. Claims-based

SharePoint 2013 is claims-based by default for making secure and safety data but the service applications architecture as before.

4. Work flow

In SharePoint 2013 the Work flow engine based on Windows Workflow Foundation 4.x.But at the same time previous engine is exist for backward compatibility. Windows Workflow Foundation 4.x. can run outside the hosted in AppFabric, on Windows Azure or on-premises. Now it has capable to for complex activity like looping or working with web service.

5. OData

OData Support is introduced in Business connectivity service.Open Data protocol (OData) lets you access a data source, such as a database, by browsing to a specially constructed URL

6. Event receiver model

In SharePoint 2013 new event receiver model has introduced to enhance WCF service for making communication between SharePoint and outside apps.

7. UI Style

The new UI of SP2013 is based on the metro-style principles (content, no chrome) but it still works on non HTML5 browsers.

8. Searching Engine

There are improvements in in SharePoint searching engine and few new component is introduced like content processing, analytics processing.

9. Shredded Storage

Using Shredded storage duplicates file can be remove and reduce the amount of content sent across the wire

10. Sync of My Site:

Now user has option to synchronize their My Site document library content with a local drive to enable offline access to documents.

11. Mobile browser experience

Lightweight browser experience gives you the option to access and navigate document libraries, Web Parts, lists and wikis. Now this is available to Mobile Internet Explorer version 9.0 or later versions for Windows Phone 7.5, Safari version 4.0 or later versions for iPhone 4.0, and the Android browser for Android 4.0.Classic view.

12. UI Design

In SP2013 metro-style is based UI is introduced and it works on non HTML5 browsers.

13. Cloud apps Model

By using new cloud app model you can take advantage of OAuth to allow for secure communication between SharePoint and remote hosted apps and services.

14. Social Enterprise

In SharePoint 2013 the most exciting changes relate to social capabilities. Those of new features are extensive: micro blogs, activity feeds, community sites, Following, Likes and Reputations are the standouts.

Sub Component of Requirement Development

2012-08-10T15:24:00.001-07:00

Sub Component of Requirement Development

Elicitation:
involves the actions we go through to understand users and discover their needs.

Good Practices :-
1.Define requirements development process
2.Define vision and scope
3.Identify user classes
4.Select product champions
5.Establish focus groups
6.Identify use cases
7.Identify system events and responses
8.Hold facilitated elicitation workshops
9.Observe users performing their jobs
10.Examine problem reports
11.Reuse requirements

Analysis:
involves creating multiple views of the requirements, such as prototypes, graphical analysis models, and tests. Other aspects of requirements analysis include negotiating priorities, searcing for missing requirements, evaluating technical feasibility and risk.

Good Practices :-
1.Draw context diagram
2.Create prototypes
3.Analyze feasibility

4.Prioritize requirements
5.Model the requirements
6.Create a data dictionary
7.Allocate requirements to subsystems
8.Apply Quality Function Deployment

Specification:
involves recording the various types of requirements information in forms that will facilitate communication among the project stakeholders.

Good Practices :-
1.Adopt SRS template
2.Identify sources of requirements
3.Uniquely label each requirement
4.Record business rules
5.Specify quality attributes

Validation:
ensures that requirements are correct, will satisfy customer needs, and have all the characteristics of high-quality requirements.

Good Practices :-

Validation might lead the analyst to rewrite some requirements specifications, to reassess the initial analysis, or to correct and refine the set of documented requirements.

Why Requirement Analysis and it's types?

2012-08-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Why Requirement Analysis and it's types?

To develop quality software – on time and on budget – that meets customers’ real needs. Project success depends on good RAM.The earlier in the cycle the defect is corrected
-Cost
-Delay
+Profit
+Customer satisfaction
Cuddling customer confidence

Business Requirement
Business requirements represent a kind of "why" information. It represent the high level of objectives of the organization or customer who requests the system. Business requirement why the organization is implementing the system. Vision and Scope statement record the business requirement.

User Requirement
requirements constitute one type of "what" information.User requirements describe what the user will be able to do with the product, such as goals or tasks that users must be able to perform. Use cases, scenarios, user stories, and event response tables are some ways to represent user requirements.

Functional Requirement
Functional requirement specify the software functionality that the developer must build into the product to enable the user to accomplish their business requirement . Functional requirements represent one kind of "what" information. The traditional "shall" statements that describe what the system "shall do" or what the system "shall let the user do.“

System Requirement
Describe the top level requirement for a product that contain multiple subsystem that is a system. A system can be all software or it can be both software and hardware.

What Is Requirement ?

2012-08-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

What Is Requirement ?

A capability that the system must deliver
A capability needed by the user to solve a problem to achieve an objective

What requirement Are Not ?

project planning information
design or implementation details or
testing information

Why Requirement Analysis ?
The earlier in the cycle the defect is corrected
Cost
Delay
Profit
Customer satisfaction
Customer confidence

Type of Requirement

Business Requirement :

Business requirements represent a kind of "why" information. It represent the high level of objectives of the organization or customer who requests the system. Business requirement why the organization is implementing the system. Vision and Scope statement record the business requirement.

User Requirement :
requirements constitute one type of "what" information. User requirements describe what the user will be able to do with the product, such as goals or tasks that users must be able to perform. Use cases, scenarios, user stories, and event response tables are some ways to represent user requirements.

Functional Requirement

Functional requirement specify the software functionality that the developer must build into the product to enable the user to accomplish their business requirement . Functional requirements represent one kind of "what" information. The traditional "shall" statements that describe what the system "shall do" or what the system "shall let the user do.“

System Requirement
Describe the top level requirement for a product that contain multiple subsystem that is a system. A system can be all software or it can be both software and hardware.

2012-08-09T06:26:00.001-07:00

Installation SharePoint 2013 Step by Step

Prerequsit

Wnidows Server 2008 R2 64bit with service pack or Wnidows Server 2012
SQL Server 2008R2 or SQL Server 2012
Windows Identity Foundation v1.1
Microsoft Information Protection and Control Client
Microsoft WCF Data Services
Windows Management Framework 3.0
Application Server Role
Web Server (IIS) Role
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0
Update for the .NET Framework 4 (KB2468871)
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Native Client
Windows Identity Foundation (KB974405)
Microsoft Sync Framework Runtime v1.0 (x64)
Windows Server AppFabric
Download Location:

http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/en-us/preview/default.aspx

Steps :

1. Download and unzip the files ISO file the SPS 2013 setup

2. Way to install Prerequsit: Run the setup file and you will get a link 'Install Software Prerequisites '.Or you can click on Prerequsit icon within ISO file

3. Server will be restarted at the time of prerequisites installation . After intallation

you will view below screen and click Finish.

4. After prerequisites installation start the setup file again and Click on the 'install SharePoint Server' .

4. After that 'Enter your Product Key ' option will appear and click on Continue.

5. Now click on the check box to Accept Terms of agreement and click continue to move on the next screen

6. Installation server type will be appear to you ,now have to chose one between installing either Completely or Stand-Alone. Select one of the types and click on Install Now.

7. Once the installation is complete, you can choose to run the Configuration Wizard as shown below. Now you Configuration Wizard screen will appaear, click Close to continue.

8. Now welcome screen will be appear click next to continue

9. After that an warning message may be viewable that make you update that at time of configuration listed service will restart or not.

10. If you already have any server farm then click 'Connect to an existing server farm' or click on 'Create a new server farm'

11.Specify your configuration database settings and enter the DOMAIN\sp_farm account credentials.

12 Specify the Farm Passphrase which was first introduced in SharePoint 2010. This passphrase is important and will be required for future installs of SharePoint 2013 when configured in the same farm.

13 Here I like to specify an alternate more memorable port number.

14. Now Click on next

15. Now this is were I ran into an issue. The configuration process began and it failed at step 3

Now this error indicate SQL Server instance does not have the required ”max degree of parrallelism” setting of 1. We need to run the following script on our SQL 2012 server.

  sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
  GO
  RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;
  GO
  sp_configure 'max degree of parallelism', 1;
  GO
  RECONFIGURE WITH OVERRIDE;
  GO

It's an important issue that SQL under databases that the SharePoint_Config database had been created. We need to delete the SharePoint_Config DB otherwise we would have to specify a new name when re-running the SharePoint Configuration Wizard.

After deleting the SharePoint_Config DB, re-run the SharePoint configuration Wizard.

16. This time is should go right through to the end without any errors and you will finally be greeted with the below successful screen.

17. Central Administration will launch automatically and you will be greeted with the Initial Farm Configuration page.

18. Now you can have option to start the wizard to configure the service applications or click cancel. For configuring the service applications separately in future articles click cancle .

19. Finally now we go to Central Administration :

Microsoft Virtualization Technologies

2012-08-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and System Center - provide SharePoint architects with a flexible toolset that can be used to reduce hardware and energy costs, increase the performance of SharePoint farms, and provide a level of design and management flexibility that is not possible with traditional physical deployment approaches.

http://
sharepoint.microsoft.com/en-us/product/Related-Technologies/Pages/virtualize-sharepoint.aspx

Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 on Windows 2012 Server

2012-08-03T15:37:00.001-07:00

Prerequisite

1. OS:

Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2,

Windows Vista Service Pack 2.

2. .NET 3.5 SP1 is a requirement

3. Install.NET 3.5 SP1 before

4. Enable .NET Framework 3.5 (If OS Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1)

5. Processor:

32-bit systems –Intel or compatible 1GHz or more

64-bit systems – 1.4 GHz or more

6. Memory requirements : 1 GB or More

7. Hard Disk Space : 2.2 GB of available

For detail see: Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2012

Download Link: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Evaluation

Procedure:

Follow the below steps:

1. Insert SQL Server 2012 installation media into your DVD drive/virtual disc drive. Installation process prompted with AutoPlay dialog as shown in the image below:

Now SQL Server 2012 install will start displaying the background processesas
following dialog.

2. After that SQL Server Installation Center will be visible. Then click on “Installation” from left site and “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation” from right.

3. Once you click, you should see “Setup Support Rules” screen. Click OK when the setup support rules have succeeded. Enter your product key and click Next

4. Then “Product Key” Screen will be appearing. Select Evaluation or enter Product Key. And Click on Next Button.Accept SQL Server 2012 license terms and conditions Click Next.

5. In the next screen, SQL Server 2012 install wizard will ask you to install setup files needed. Click on ‘Install’ button.

6. Once the setup files are installed then install complete screen will appear.

7. Selected ‘SQL Server Feature Installation’ and click Next to continue

8. Look on ‘Feature Selection’ screen. I recommend you to click on‘Select All’. At this point, the wizard will again check your system for any blocking issues After successful completion click ‘Next’

9. Whenever you are going to install first time select default instance .Click ‘Next’ to continue.

10. System inform about check required disk space and view details summary. Click Next.

11. SQL Server 2012 provides option to set specific or independent service accounts for running various SQL Server services.

12. Leave default selections as-is Click Next to continue.

13. Now you can select either windows authentication mode or mixed mode. Windows authentication mode lets you add only windows users while mixed mode lets you create users with a unique login and password.

14. You may select default option. Click Next to continue.

15. Add Current User as an administrator account. Then Click Next

16.Leave the Controller Name blank and Click Next to continue (see image below).

17. Select check box if you would like to send error reports to Microsoft.

18. System verifies your system for any potential blocking issues. Once the operation is completed, click Next to continue

19. In this option system view which configuration file will be used for installation .Click install for installation

20. After clicking on install button system will start to install.

21. Installer will take a while in this step before the installation is complete.

22. After installation completion a screen will appear to make update that the installation was successful. You can launch SQL Management Studio to confirm a successful installation.

Deploy an ASP.NET MVC Mobile Web Application on Windows Azure Web Sites

2012-06-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

You will learn:
• How the ASP.NET MVC 4 templates use the HTML5 viewport attribute and adaptive rendering to improve display on mobile devices.
• How to create mobile-specific views.
• How to create a view switcher that lets users toggle between a mobile view and a desktop view of the application.

• How to deploy the web application to Windows Azure.
Detail on

http://www.windowsazure.com/

5 min Before Deploy Apps to Windows Azure

2012-05-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

Thinks need to be aware before deploy application on Windows Azure:

Application develop in house can’t be deployed on Azure.
Storage structure in Azure is different ,Windows Azure storage can keep non relational data

SQL Azure work on relational data but it is quite differing from SQL Server.

Web role instance is stateless; state is written to Azure Storage or passed back to client as cookie.
Specific user’s requests are not supplied to same web role instance. Web role and worker role are implemented through .NET technology.

Application on Windows Azure

2012-05-10T11:00:00.005-07:00

At the top level Windows Azure provide two services platform to run application and storage facility to store data. In Windows Azure environment application’s each instance running on an individual virtual machine .Virtual machine runs 64 bit Windows 2008 and they provided by Hypervisor which is specially designed for Cloud .But it is not possible deploy own virtual machine image to Azure. Windows Azure provide service platform, using that .NET 3.5 Application using different roles.

Web role instance work on HTTP request and implemented through ASP.NET, WCF or another .NET framework and IIS 7 .There is a load balancer which work on all instance to make efficient request handling. Worker role responsible for batch processing taking input from web roles.Each role is run on different Virtual machine .Each Virtual machine contain Windows Azure agent which allow to connect it with Windows Azure Fabric.

An application may require much computing resource at specific time whenever any batch process is going to run or specific time whenever much user going to access the application .Windows Azure provide the scale up facility .When ever scale up facility require then Windows Azure fabric will then spin up new VMs and start running new instance .

Azure Service Platform

2012-05-09T10:48:00.003-07:00

First we have to identify what is service platform? To run an application on cloud it needs different services to run. In the context of service Microsoft Azure different group of services they provide specific service. Cloud service platform

Windows Azure Service:

Windows Azure service provides windows based environment and storage to run windows based application and store data. Like an application which run in own premises, it require OS, database etc quite like that windows Azure service provide everything running from Microsoft Data center and have to access through internet. Application running from Azure provide service to customer or customer’s customer as a SaaS.

Microsoft .NET Services:

Cloud-based services can be used from on-premises applications or cloud applications. Filling this gap is the goal of .NET Services. In a word it provide distributed infrastructural services to cloud and own premises application. It components are:

1. Access Control

2. Service Bus

3. Workflow

Microsoft SQL Services:

SQL Service provide option as like SQL Server data service except few option like administration ,replication etc.

Service does not expose a traditional relational interface. It provides a hierarchical data model that doesn’t require a pre-defined schema.Each data item stored in this service is kept as a property with its own name, type, and value.

Live Services:

Microsoft provides an expanding group of Internet applications, including the Windows Live family and others. These applications let people send instant messages, store their contact information, search, get directions, and do other useful things. The Live Framework also allows synchronizing this data across desktops and devices, finding and downloading applications, and more

Risks And Benefits in Cloud Computing

2012-05-03T10:55:00.002-07:00

RISKS

Vendor lock-in There are a small number of platform-as-a-service vendors today, and most

have interests rooted in building a binding relationship through a comprehensive offering.

Vendors such as Microsoft have been doing this for decades, and if the vendor remains viablea and relevant and responds to the user community, it’s generally a benefit for both parties.

Technical Immaturity Every cloud framework has its own interface methods, services, and

costs. The unfolding nature of the platform-as-a-service approach puts everything at risk—costs

could change overnight, services could be dropped, and quality of service could worsen.

Standards bodies are just beginning to look at the market. Would you bet a critical business

application on such a new arrival?

Privacy and Control Vendors generally offer extensive protection methods, and it’s in their

interests to offer high levels of security. PaaS often provides a relatively sophisticated suite of

access controls. But you, not the vendor, still own the risk.

Misjudging “Flexibility versus Power” Generally, you want more flexibility over design,

development, and deployment for a custom system such as a new profit center—and PaaS

doesn’t offer flexibility. Instead, it gives power and ready-made services. The trade-offs are

similar to the ones for outsourcing.

BENEFITS

Testing is Deployment The U.S. Army vows to “fight like we train and train like we fight.” For

development teams, that translates to test like they deploy and deploy like they tested. Cloud

computing gets them very close—trying multiple machines, different configurations, and different

locations; running stress tests; and testing compatibility, performance, and response in ways

impossible in a local environment.

Dynamic Allocation To compete with the pace set by the likes of Twitter, Facebook, and

Google, modern IT teams must be able to all but flip a switch to turn up a new service or features,

or test it on a small segment of customers. Before cloud computing, that was unthinkable.

Now business IT teams can approach the “perpetual beta” for which Google is known.

Internal Entrepreneurship The biggest strategic benefit is that developing through platform as a

service, combined with quick deployment on infrastructure online, can empower visionaries in

any part of the company. Consider creating a cloud budget, letting teams experiment with

cloud computing resources, and see what they dream up.

Session 01: Windows Azure Environment

2012-04-29T12:17:00.001-07:00

Application running on cloud is quite like that it is running on a virtual machine that running on Windows. Windows Azure assist for making a deployment environment so that applications can be more reliable, more scalable, and require less administration cost. But Windows Azure application environment isn’t exactly the same as building an on-premises application.

Whenever application deployed in Azure it is implemented as roles. That can be web role or worker role or both. Web role directly interact with browser or HTTP depending on IIS. In an ASP.net application simple web role is used to interact with users. On the other site worker role is designed to run code. Like data processing in parallel .User interaction through web role can be relay to worker role to execute user request.

SQL Server Table Partition

2012-04-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

What is Table Partition ?

¢ Partitioning is the database process or method where very large tables and indexes are divided in multiple smaller and manageable parts. SQL Server allows to partition tables using defined ranges and also provides management features and tools to keep partition tables in optimal performance.

How Table is Partitioned ?

¢ The data of partitioned tables and indexes is divided into units that can be spread across more than one filegroup in a database. The data is partitioned horizontally, so that groups of rows are mapped into individual partitions. The table or index is treated as a single logical entity when queries or updates are performed on the data. All partitions of a single index or table must reside in the same database.

When Table Partition is Required?

Generally, a large table might be appropriate for partitioning if both of the following are true:

1. The table contains, or is expected to contain, lots of data that are used in different ways.

2. partitioning a table or index might improve query performance if the partitions are designed correctly, based on the types of queries you frequently run and on your hardware configuration.

3. Queries or updates against the table are not performing as intended, or maintenance costs exceed predefined maintenance periods.

When Partition is not required
While partitioning can offer great benefits, it adds administrative overhead and complexity to the implementation of your objects, which can be more of a burden than a gain. Specifically, you might not want to partition a small table, or a table that currently meets performance and maintenance requirements.Partitioning to relieve the burden of moving rows and data—you should consider whether your scenario has this sort of burden when deciding whether to implement partitioning

The Windows Azure Service Model

2012-04-24T10:59:00.001-07:00

A Windows Azure application is called a “service”

–Definition information

–Configuration information

–At least one “role”

•Roles are like DLLs in the service “process”

–Collection of code with an entry point that runs in its own virtual machine

•There are currently three role types:

–Web Role: IIS7 and ASP.NET in Windows Azure-supplied OS

–Worker Role: arbitrary code in Windows Azure-supplied OS

–VM Role: uploaded VHD with customer-supplied OS

Windows Azure Services Platform

2012-04-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

Microsoft intends its new Windows Azure Services Platform to be a serious cloud computing platform for a broad range of developers and scenarios, from lone developers starting up a new Web-based company on a shoestring to large teams of enterprise developers looking for high-performance, highly available, and scalable Web sites, computing, and storage. A few years out, Microsoft wants Azure to be seen as the preferred location for enterprise data, not as a business risk. It's off to a good start.

There's a tremendous amount of capability being presented in the Azure CTP (Community Technology Preview), and there's more to come. It goes beyond simple Web hosting to a flexible architecture designed to automatically enlist additional resources in response to demand. There are capabilities here that I haven't seen in competing cloud offerings -- for example, workflows. The Azure team has picked and chosen existing Microsoft technologies -- virtual servers, the .Net Framework, IIS, worker processes, databases, queues, enterprise service bus, workflows, authentication, and so on -- and adapted them to the cloud.

Windows Azure and Components

2012-04-22T10:46:00.002-07:00

Windows Azure is a cloud based operating system which act as a service provider for cloud platform based application .It provides a cloud based fabric which hosted on Microsoft data center for managing, deploying and distributing application and service .Windows Azure has two main areas of functionality computing and storage.

Cloud service consumer host application on Windows Azure and it provide a highly scalable environment for executing application.

Windows Azure provides fundamental services for BLOB storage, queue storage, and simple table storage. But the storage service is not relational for relational database service; SQL Azure will be the choice

o Model: Treat the data center as a machine

o Handles resource management, provisioning, and monitoring

o Manages application lifecycle

o Allows developers to concentrate on business logic

• Provides shared pool of compute, disk and network

o Virtualized storage, compute and network

o Illusion of boundless resources

• Provides common building blocks for distributed applications

o Reliable queuing, simple structured storage, SQL storage

o Application services like access control and connectivity

Windows Azure Components

	Windows Azure PaaS
Applications	Windows Azure Service Model
Runtimes	.NET 3.5/4, ASP .NET, PHP
Operating System	Windows Server 2008/R2-Compatible OS
Virtualization	Windows Azure Hypervisor
Server	Microsoft Blades
Database	SQL Azure
Storage	Windows Azure Storage (Blob, Queue, Table)
Networking	Windows Azure-Configured Networking

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 New Features Part-2

2012-04-21T14:06:00.001-07:00

EOMONTH
We have to face problem whenever we are going to identify the end date of month no built in function was there but now that problem has over in SQL Server 2012, EOMONTH return the date of the month
SELECT EOMONTH (‘05/02/2012’) ‘EOM Processing Date
Output: 2012-02-29
You can specify number of month with EOMONTH function also and it can be negative value
SELECT EOMONTH ( Getdate(), -1 ) AS 'Last Month'
Output: 2012-01-31

CHOOSE
Using this you can find out the specific item from a list of values.
SELECT CHOOSE ( 4, 'CTO', 'GM', 'DGM', 'AGM', ’Manager’ )
Output: AGM

CONCAT
This function is concatenating two or more string
SELECT CONCAT( emp_name,’Joining Date’, joingdate)
Output: Rahman Joining Date 01/12/2001

LAST_VALUE and FIRST_VALUE
Using the function you can last value among the set of ordered values according to specified ordered & partitioned criteria. First value return the first value in an ordered set of values.
Insert into result(Department ,ID ,Marks ) values (1,103,70), (1,104,58) (2,203,65) (2,201,85)
Select   Department,Id ,Marks, last_value(Marks) over (Partition by Department order By Marks) as
‘Marks Sequence’ ,first_value (Marks) over (Partition by Department order By Marks) as ‘First value’
from result
OutPut
Department   Id        Marks      Marks Sequence      First value’
1                 104       58            58                           58
1                 103       70            70                           58
2                 203       65            65                           65
2                 201       85            85                           65

LEAD
Using the function you can accesses data from a subsequent row in the same result set without the use of a self-join.
SQL:
SELECT BusinessEntityID, YEAR(QuotaDate) AS SalesYear, SalesQuota AS CurrentQuota,
LEAD(SalesQuota, 1,0) OVER (ORDER BY YEAR(QuotaDate)) AS PreviousQuota
FROM Sales.SalesPersonQuotaHistory
WHERE BusinessEntityID = 275 and YEAR(QuotaDate) IN ('2005','2006');
OutPut:
BusinessEntityID SalesYear   CurrentQuota          NextQuota
---------------- ----------- --------------------- ---------------------
275              2005        367000.00             556000.00
275              2005        556000.00             502000.00
275              2006        502000.00             550000.00
275              2006        550000.00             1429000.00
275              2006        1429000.00            1324000.00
275              2006        1324000.00            0.00

File Group Enhancement:
A FILESTREAM filegroup can contain more than one file. For a code example that demonstrates how to create a FILESTREAM filegroup that contains multiple files.

Microsoft SQL Azure

2012-04-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Similar SQL Server on your premises, SQL Azure Database exposes a tabular data stream (TDS) interface for Transact-SQL-based database access.
SQL Azure Database supports many SQL Server 2008 data types; it does not support data types that have been deprecated from SQL Server 2008.
Because SQL Azure Database is a service, administration in SQL Azure Database is slightly different. SQL Azure Database abstracts the logical administration from the physical administration; Microsoft administers the physical hardware such as hard drives, servers, and storage. This approach helps SQL Azure Database provide a large-scale multi-tenant database service that offers enterprise-class availability, scalability, security, and self-healing.
Using SQL Azure Database, DBAs manage schema creation, statistics management, index tuning, query optimization, and security administration (logins, users, roles, and so on).
Analysis Services, Replication, and Service Broker are not currently provided as services on the Windows Azure platform.
SQL Azure Database automatically replicates all data to provide high availably.
SQL Azure Database also manages load balancing and, in case of a server failure, transparent fail-over.

Multi-tenant Architecture Consideration in Windows Azure

2012-04-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

In multi-tenant application single instance is used by users of different organization. Failure impacts all users, Windows Azure reduces the risk giving the facility to deploy multiple, and identical copies of your application into multiple Windows Azure role instances.

Scalability
Scalability of web application depends running on Windows Azure mainly depend on ability to deploy multiple instances of your web and worker roles to multiple compute nodes while being able to access the same data from those nodes. Both single-tenant and multi-tenant applications use this feature to scale out when they run on Windows Azure.

SLA (Service Level Agreement)
If SLA with customers differ from each other then all SLA content need to be meat in the instance. As a result all level of customer’s requirement will be cover .Otherwise you need to make same SLA for all clients.

Legal and Regulatory Environment
Whenever SLA differs from customer in the context like customer specific database storage, storage location differs, functionality differs then it should be notify to client.

Handling Authentication and Authorization
Multi-tenant application need to have security option so that client can use application level security with active directory level also.

Windows Azure and cloud computing

2012-04-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

Windows Azure is Microsoft’s public cloud computing platform. It’s a place to run your applications out on the internet, at scale. With geographically distributed datacenters worldwide, applications can be built, hosted and managed around the world. With Windows Azure, you can extend and even move your datacenter services off-premises or beyond a hosted environment, paying only for the resources you use at any given time. The flexible cloud computing platform of Windows Azure lets you focus on solving business problems and addressing customer needs, not on the infrastructure.
Benefit
Only Microsoft delivers a comprehensive, end-to-end cloud solution that is designed so your private cloud and public cloud work together. With Microsoft, the investments you make today will work for you in the future. Microsoft’s Public Cloud Platform delivers the following benefits

A Powerful and Practical Platform
You don’t need to learn new tools or a new platform to harness the benefits of cloud computing. With Windows Azure, you can easily move existing applications to the cloud and create new applications and services using technology you already know and trust.

Flexibility
Windows Azure gives you the agility to take advantage of multiple application development tools, automated service management, and global datacenter presence. This enables you to respond faster to customer needs, focus on your competitive differentiators, and reach new markets.

Freedom to Choose
With Windows Azure you have the freedom to choose where and how you manage, deploy, and store data, so that you can focus on business challenges and customer needs.

Simplified Approach
With Windows Azure, you can create and manage applications and services utilizing familiar languages such as .NET, Java, PHP and Ruby.

Reliable Solution
Cloud computing from Microsoft means 99.9%+ uptime and 24/7 support so you can be sure you’ll have the services your business needs whenever it needs them.
Ref :http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/public-cloud/default.aspx

Single-Tenant Vs Multi-Tenant SaaS

2012-04-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

In single-Tenant architecture user use dedicated instance of application software hosting on a server and database not shared. In case where same application software is used by different companies having same functionality but do not share same instance and database. Each company uses it’s own instance and database. SAP is the company which provides service following the single tenant architecture.

But in Multi-tenant architecture, multiple companies’ use same instance of application software. It is hosted in a server and data are kept in same server and data are separated by simple partition that prevents data migration. Salesforce.com is the successful SaaS provider having the multi-tenant architecture.

Single tenant system user gets freedom for customization, security and enhancement because by that other client is not impacted. But in multi-tenant environment one client requirement can differ from another that it become difficult to fit.
Single tenant environment is more secure then multi-tenant because data are kept differently and may implement customer specific security. Single tenant is more costly then multitenant system.
Multi-tenant systems efficiently use each resource and cost shared between clients.
Thinking ins and outs of both architecture and requirement and business context decision need to be made.

Cloud Computing Service Model

2012-04-20T09:19:00.001-07:00

Cloud computing service model describe what types of service is provided to customer according to their business requirements. Cloud service provides different types of service, there are no hard and fast rules governing these service offerings. Most common services model are as below:

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
PaaS (Platform as a Service)
SaaS (Software as a Service)

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
Having the service user can get dynamic infrastructure facility by the provider in virtualized form. Billing amount is calculated as per unit resource usages like per CPU hour, data GB stored per hour, network bandwidth consumed, network infrastructure used per hour, value added services used, e.g., monitoring, auto-scaling etc. User can get high resource (CPU, Memory, and Network Bandwidth) for specific time duration. It serves as a foundation for the other two models, for their execution.
Amzon is the pioneer of IaaS. Other leading providers are Rackspace,Windows Azure,VirtuStream,, GoGrid, Joyent, Rightscale , NetMagic and InstaCompute.

Platform as a Service (PaaS):
Service Provider provide cloud environment for development and deployment software. In this environment Application developer can do development to testing without buying complex hardware or can avoiding preparing and manage complex environment. With some PaaS offers, the underlying compute and storage resources scale automatically to match application demand such that the cloud user does not have to allocate resources manually.
With the model user can run web service, database, and development and testing tools.

SaaS (Software as a Service):
Cloud providers Prepare software deployment environment and user can host application software. Maintained and managed software and infrastructure by cloud provider. User can access work having the privilege which is assigned. He needs not to worry on taking backup, security or infrastructural maintenance. Most common SaaS providers are:
Project Management: DeskAway , Zoho Mail, Chat, Docs, Project, Sheet, Writer etc.
CRM apps – Impel CRM, Salesforce.com, and Microsoft Dynamics.
Cloud based Storage and Sharing services: Drop box, Skydive (windows live), Amazon S3, Google Docs, Box.net, Mozy.
SMEs/SMBs : EazeWork (for HR, PayRoll and Sales)