What is compute ?
Azure Compute provides an on-demand computing service in order to run cloud-based applications. (Any service that performs or enables computation).
Examples:
- Virtual machines
- Scale Sets
- App Services.
- Containers.
- Kubernetes
- Windows Virtual Desktops
- Functions
Virtual Machines - Characteristics:
- Part of the IaaS Service
- Azure Portal provides Tools to manage.
- Azure blueprints allow for compliance monitoring.
- Azure will recommend improvements to ensure better security, higher availability and greater performance.
- Comes in WIN or LIN with multiple hardware configurations.
What are Scale Sets ?
Azure lets you load balance a group of identical virtual machines.
* You provide Azure with the template, and it creates a scale set.
Scale Set Benefits :
1) it is simple to manage multiple identical VMs.
2) High Availability - If one VM fails, the others keep going.
3) Auto Scaling - Automatically match demand by adding VNs from the scale set.
4) Large Scale - Run up to 1,000 Vms in a single scale set.
5) No Extra Cost for using scale sets.
What are App Services ?
- These are full managed. (servers, network, storage)
- Part of the PaaS offering.
Examples:
- Web Apps
- Web Apps for Containers
- API App (Expose and connect your data backend)
App Services - Exam Notes:
App Services is an easy way to host and managed web applications.
- App Services are a PaaS offering.
- Web Apps are used to host web sites and web applications.
- Web Apps for Containers can host your existing container images.
- API Apps can host your data backend services.
Azure Container Instances - Characteristics:
1) Helps you manage application dependencies.
2) less overhead to virtual machines.
3) increased portability
4) Efficient in the development life cycle.
5) Increase in Constistency.
What is ACI ?
Azure Containers Instances.
It is the primary azure service for running container workloads.
* A workload is your process or application.
ACI’s provide on-demand access to the containers, with using virtual machines.
- You spin up the container when you need it.
- Saves you money.
What is Kubernetes ?
Kubernetes is an open source container orchestration system for automating application deployment, scaling and management . (created by Google.)
- Kubernetes is Greek for “governor” or Captain (hence why the logo is a ship’s wheel.
- Kubernetes is also spelled K8s.
What are the features of the Azure Kubernetes Service? (AKS)
- You can replicate container architectures.
- You don’t need to worry about infrastructure and hardware.
- Azure provides Identity and access management, elastic provisioning and more.
- Integration with Microsoft coding tools like VS-Code.
- Global Reach
What is the Azure Container Registry (ACR) ?
It keeps track of the current and valid container images.
Manages files and Artefacts for containers.
Feeds container images to ACI and AKS.
Use Azure Identity and security.
What is an AKS Cluster ?
An Azure Kubernetes cluster, is a K8s cluster creates by Azure Kubernetes.
* It is comprised of a master node and worker nodes.
What is a Pod ?
Pods are the smallest deployable units of computing that you can create and manage in Kubernetes.
* It is a group of 1 or more containers with shared storage, and network resources AND a specification for how to run a container.
What is an Azure Virtual Desktop ?
It is a virtualised Windows 10 environment, that runs 100% on Azure.
- Can be accessed via a web browser.
- You can re-use windows 10 licenses to reduce costs.
- Concurrency (multiple users can access the same device).
- Uses Azure storage to secure your data.
What are Azure Functions ?
A single function (Action) of Compute.
- Smallest compute function in Azure.
- Called or invoked via a standard web address (URL).
- Runs once and stops.
- Functions do run on VMs, but you have no access to it, it is fully maintained by Azure, you need only focus on the functionality of your function.
Azure Function Benefits ?
1) It only runs when needed.
2) If it fails for one function, it can continue to run against others.
3) If no resources are being used then you don’t pay for the function.
