Exploring Azure compute services
1. Exploring Azure compute services
In this lesson, we will explore Azure compute services.2. Azure compute services
Compute services in Azure refer to a variety of resources and services that enable the processing and execution of applications and workloads in Azure cloud. These services provide the necessary computing power to run apps, process data, and perform various tasks.3. Azure compute services
Based on the method the service is delivered to you as the customer, compute services fall into the following major categories: Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service and serverless. Let's have a look at each category in more details.4. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Infrastructure as a Service is a category of cloud computing services that provides virtualized computing resources over the Internet. It is one of the fundamental service models in Azure cloud, offering a flexible and scalable alternative to traditional on-premises infrastructure. Commonly used services include virtual machines, and networking, both of which will be explored in greater detail in the upcoming lessons.5. IaaS in practice
To understand the distinctions between traditional setups and Infrastructure as a Service, consider the following example. In a conventional scenario, a database administrator deals with server hardware: computing power, disk space, networking components. Using a virtual machine in the cloud eliminates the need for hardware maintenance. Virtual machines provide the freedom to select your operating system and install a variety of applications, like you would do with an on-premises server. Azure manages hardware failures and potential disasters, ensuring your virtual machine remains unaffected. You are still responsible to manage the operating system, SQL Server, databases, and handling other software configurations.6. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Platform as a Service model takes these advantages to a higher level and allows cloud users to forget about the operating system and software components too. Platform as a Service simplifies the process of building and running applications by providing a ready-made platform to use.7. PaaS in practice
Our database administrator could use Azure SQL to allow him to concentrate on database development and administration, without the concerns about virtual machine maintenance. Azure provides Platform as a Service not just for database functionality but also for various application types. App service is an excellent option for web-based and mobile applications which we will learn about in upcoming lessons.8. Serverless computing
An even simpler cloud model is serverless computing. For instance, Azure SQL allows users to control certain infrastructure-related configurations, such as database performance and network security. Serverless shifts more responsibility to the cloud provider, with users focusing mainly on writing code. Applications are broken down into smaller, standalone components that get executed in response to events.9. Azure functions
Azure provides several serverless choices, with Azure functions being the most notable. Functions allow developers to run code in response to events without the need to manage infrastructure. Being characterized by low complexity, functions are primarily used to address specific requirements.10. Azure functions in practice
Our database administrator needs database indexes to be rebuilt every Sunday and get notified about the result. He could start using an Azure function that gets triggered each Sunday and performs the required steps.11. Containers
Another specific category of serverless components is known as container services. A container is a lightweight, standalone, and executable software package that includes everything required to run a piece of software. With containers, you can forget about all software pre-requisites necessary to test or run applications, including the operating system. For example, you could be running a Linux application deployed to a container running on a Windows system.12. When to use containers?
Containers are frequently used to build solutions through a microservice architecture, breaking down complex applications into smaller, independent components. For instance, a website can be divided into several containers: one for the front end, one for the back end, and Azure SQL for the database. This separation enables independent maintenance, scaling, or updating of different application components.13. Azure container services
Azure offers several container services: Azure container instances, to quickly run containers and test or run applications under different operating systems and performance scenarios. Azure container registry is used for storing and managing container templates. Azure Kubernetes service is a container orchestrator that facilitates the deployment, management, and scaling of containerized applications.14. Let's practice!
Let's review our newly acquired knowledge on computing services with some exercises.Create Your Free Account
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