Free Windows Azure Training Events Nationwide

SESSION 1: The Next Wave: Windows Azure

The future of highly available, high-performance, secure, dynamically scalable, hosted computing is here.  It’s Microsoft’s new online service computing platform: Windows Azure.   In this session, we’ll discuss and demonstrate the basics of Windows Azure and how you can leverage it in your work.  We’ll show you real-world examples of how companies are using Azure today, help you think about applying it for customer-facing applications, or quickly and dynamically add horsepower to your own computing infrastructure.  We’ll also touch on the exciting future of the platform – including what you can expect to see in the coming months and years.

Highlights include:

• What exactly is “Cloud Computing”?  What applications are best suited to the cloud?
• Microsoft’s commitment to the Cloud:  The virtualization platform and data centers
• The Azure architecture: How it all fits together
• How to get started in the cloud: Deploying and managing applications
• Will I save money by doing this?  (Using the Azure TCO tool)
• What will Windows Azure look like a year from now?

SESSION 2: Hyper-V: Tools to Build the Ultimate Virtual Test Network 

Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V version 2.0 provide a powerful base upon which you can build a highly realistic, effective test bed for servers, clients, and networks. In this session, you’ll learn how to use the resources of a TechNet subscription, Windows Server 2008R2, Hyper-V, and a new, free sysinternals tool called Disk2vhd, to build the ultimate test or training environment.  We’ll show you how to import existing virtual machines and export virtual hard disks. You’ll see how to take point-in-time snapshots, and to build snapshot hierarchies that allow you to move both backward and forward to specific points in the time of a VHD.  We’ll also demonstrate how to create a virtual machine from a running physical machine, and then import that VHD into Hyper-V.  By the end of this session, you’ll have a solid understanding of the tools and techniques currently available for building a great virtual environment in Hyper-V.

Highlights include:

• TechNet subscription: What is it? How do I get one? What does it cost?
• Virtual Hard Disks: format interoperability and disk types
• Working with virtual networks and network connections
• Connectivity with legacy network adapters and network adapters
• Using wireless interfaces
• Importing and exporting VHD files
• Effects of importing and exporting a VHD in Hyper-V
• How to take, apply and consolidate snapshots

SESSION 3: Windows 7 Deployment

Deploying Windows 7 is easy if you’re using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010.  This session will walk you through the various tools that can help simplify your deployments.  We’ll drill down in the MDT Workbench and look at how the MDT process helps you create a reference image, which can then be easily deployed to the target computers.  We’ll look at how to configure the deployment environment, show how you can add operating systems, applications, drivers, and language packs using the Deployment Workbench, and then finish up by creating a task sequenced deployment to a target computer.

Highlights include:

• Microsoft Deployment Options
• Review the MDT 2010 Deployment Process
• Deployment Tools
• o Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK )
• o Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
• Configure MDT 2010 to perform a Lite Touch Installation (LTI) of Windows 7

We’ll start with a developer-focused overview of this new platform and the cloud computing services that can be used either together or independently to build highly scalable applications. As the day unfolds, we’ll explore data storage, SQL Azure, and the basics of deployment with Windows Azure. Register today for these free, live sessions in your local area.

SESSION 1: Overview of Cloud Computing and Windows Azure

The Windows Azure platform is a set of high-performance cloud computing services that can be used together or independently and enable developers to leverage existing skills and familiar tools to develop cloud applications. In this session, we’ll provide a developer-focused overview of this new online service computing platform. We’ll explore the components, key features and real day-to-day benefits of Windows Azure.

Highlights include:

• What is cloud computing?
• Running web and web service applications in the cloud
• Using the Windows Azure and local developer cloud fabric
• Getting started – tools, SDKs and accounts
• Writing applications for Windows Azure

SESSION 2: Survey of Windows Azure Platform Storage Options

Durable data storage is a key component of any cloud computing offering. The Windows Azure Platform offers many options, which can be used alone or in combination. Windows Azure itself offers ready-to-use and lightweight storage in the form of tables, blobs, and queues. Another choice for storage is SQL Azure, a true relational database in the cloud. In this session, we’ll explore the highlights of these implementations and how to both create and use storage in each form. We’ll give you guidance on choosing the right forms of storage for your application scenarios.

Highlights include:

• Understanding table & blob storage
• Programming against table & blob storage
• Working with queue storage
• Managing credentials and connection strings
• Scaling and configuration
• Understanding SQL Azure databases versus local SQL Server databases
• SQL Azure firewall, logins and passwords
• Database creation, deployments and migrations
• Database management using SQL Management Studio
• Programming against SQL Azure databases

SESSION 3: Going Live with your Azure Solution

Windows Azure features a powerful, yet simple deployment model. By focusing on your application and abstracting away the infrastructure details, you can deploy almost any app with minimal fuss. In this session, we’ll walk you through the basics of Windows Azure deployment, including site monitoring, diagnostics and performance issues.

Highlights include:

• Start-to-Finish Visual Studio demonstration of a realistic XML data driven business web site from the desktop to the cloud.
• Windows Azure Deployments
• Start-to-Finish Visual Studio demonstration of a realistic SQL Server data driven business web site from the desktop to the cloud.
• Configuration of your application in the cloud
• Guidance and Suggestions to ensure your success