Getting Started with Azure Design Patterns and Azure ARM Quick start templates

Article
05/17/2017

So one the most common questions I get is how do I get started with designing and implementing Azure for my resources

Here a few of my favourite resources

1. The Cloud Patterns and Practices

The Patterns and Practices resource depicts common problems in designing cloud-hosted applications and design patterns that offer guidance.

Click on the infographic below to zoom in and view in detail or download it straight to your machine.

These design patterns are useful for building reliable, scalable, secure applications in the cloud.+

Each pattern describes the problem that the pattern addresses, considerations for applying the pattern, and an example based on Microsoft Azure. Most of the patterns include code samples or snippets that show how to implement the pattern on Azure. However, most of the patterns are relevant to any distributed system, whether hosted on Azure or on other cloud platforms. see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/patterns/

2. Microsoft Azure Infographics site

A superb collection of infographics representing all aspect of Azure

3. Azure Quick Start Templates

With the release of Azure Resource Manager, users are now able to provision and deploy applications using declarative templates. A full listing of publicly contributed templates can be found at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/templates/ or Github at https://github.com/Azure/azure-quickstart-templates

Ways to Deploy

Use the “Deploy to Azure” link

Many template will have a “Deploy to Azure” button that allows one-click deployment to Azure.

Powershell

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/resource-group-template-deploy/

Copy and Paste into Portal

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/resource-group-template-deploy-portal/

Training

Using Azure Quick Start Templates and ARM https://www.lynda.com/Azure-tutorials/Using-Azure-Quickstart-Templates/572164/604861-4.html

Azure Resource Manager https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/deep-dive-into-azure-resource-manager-scenarios-and-patterns-13793

Building infrastructure using ARM https://mva.microsoft.com/en-US/training-courses/building-infrastructure-in-azure-using-azure-resource-manager-14321

4. VSCode and Extensions

I love VSCode and its a great multi-platform development tool within teaching, learning and research and its quickly becoming the preferred development tool for students as its 100% FREE and can be run on Windows, Mac or Linux you can download it from here for free.

Extensions to VSCode are also amazing with the community now developing 1000s if extensions you can now even develop Azure Resource Manager Templates with the ARM extension from the Marketplace.

One of my favourite extensions is the ARM Template

Setting up VSCode ARM Extension

Step 1.

Launch Visual Studio Code (VSCode)
Press F1 on the keyboard
Input Extensions: Install Extensions or Press Ctrl + Shift + X

Step 2. Installing the extension

Search for the Azure Resource Manager Tools extension
Select Install

Step 3. Loading the Extension

Select Reload

Step 4. Configuring the Snippets for JSON Template

With Azure Resource Manager Tools extension has been installed, Select File > Preferences > User Snippets

Specify JSON as the Language for Snippet

With the JSON User Snippet loaded into the Editor, you will need to COPY the ARM Snippets JSON code from https://github.com/Azure/azure-xplat-arm-tooling/blob/master/VSCode/armsnippets.json Paste the copied ARM Snippets JSON code into the User Snippets for JSON Language before the ending brace (Eg. }

Once the JSON ARM Snippets has been pasted, Select File > Save or Press Ctrl + S to save the User Snippet for JSON Language

After the User Snippet has been saved, Select File > Close Editor or Press Ctrl + F4 to close the Editor

Step 4. Using the Extension to create ARM Templates

Select File > New File or Press Ctrl + N

A New File will usually be in Plain Text language and we will need to change it to a JSON language.

Select F1 > input Change Language Mode

Specify JSON as the Language for the New File

Specify arm! and the return key to obtain the ARM Template skeleton

On the Editor, the arm! User Snippet will automatically generate the ARM Template skeleton

And on the resources, specify arm-vm User Snippet and the return key to obtain the Linux Virtual Machine skeleton

With the ARM Template for VSCode you can quickly develop a fully formated ARM Template with ease that provide useful auto generated ARM template resources, parameters or variables skeleton and have direct source control for DevOps CI/CD practices