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We have several website hosted on a dedicated server with following configuration
Windows OS based dedicated server
MS SQL SERVER Windows 2012 for database
IIS 7.5+
and other software to managing website such as plesk
We have developed websites in asp.net web-form with framework 4.0 or 4.5 (about 10 website)
We also have few asp.net MVC based website with framework 4.5 (about 5 websites)
We use InProc default session state for sessions
beside this we have other software installed for security etc.
we also have mobile application api running same server and same application is use to send push notification to OS & Android devices
Now i have few question regarding migration to Azure enviroment.
First, my big concerns are session state, i want to migrate to Azure without making any changes to code except changes to web.config is this possible?
Second we use MS SQL SERVER 2012 as database and on azure we have to use Azure SQL Database which i believe is not same as MS SQL SERVER, Can i use Azure SQL Database or i should still to MS SQL SERVER as i have application running on this and migrating to Azure database may create problems?
Third, let us say i choose web+Mobile--> App Service Standard Package (which comes with upto 10 instance) what are these instance? and will individual session always connect to same instance?
Forth: I have about 20 database one of them is about 6GB & other database are about 200MB-700MB which service should i use for database in case i use Azure SQL Database
Single Database or Elastic?
Can i create multiple database under elastic mode?
Let us say if i choose "100 eDTUs: 10 GB included storage per pool, 200 DBs per pool, $0.20/hour" will i have total of 10GB space for all
database in elastic pool and what is per pool and how many pools will
i get in this option.
or MS SQL SERVER on Virtual Machine is better option as i can run SQL Server based session
Fifth: Disk Space, let us say i choose App Service "S2: 2 Cores(s), 3.5 GB RAM, 50 GB Storage, $0.200", is 50GB disk space include OS or space allocated to file which we upload?
Sixth: Some of our application are used to send push notification to iOS & Android device i am not sure if they will work in Azure environment as they need certain ports to be open and also some sort of certificate to be installed on the server.
I have asked too many question as i didn't had clarity from MS chat as they just passed links which can be confusing at time, i hope i get clarity here
Q: First, my big concerns are session state, i want to migrate to Azure without making any changes to code except changes to web.config is this possible?
If one of your concerns is code refactoring, then the model you should chose is Infrastructure-As-A-Service. In this model, there is no need to change in code because the infrastructure on Azure can be similar to the on-premises in which you provision virtual machines to run Windows Server, SQL Server and IIS. Software versions are all of your choice with no limitation. As long as the software version is still supported in Microsoft product lifecycle when procuring new software license.
If you'd love to modernize your web application, Azure App Service can be a good chosen destination. Azure App Service can run code compiled against .NET 4.0 framewor. InProc session state is not guaranteed in Azure App Service so you need to look into an alternative if using Azure App Service, for example Azure Redis Cache.
Q: Second we use MS SQL SERVER 2012 as database and on azure we have to use Azure SQL Database which i believe is not same as MS SQL SERVER, Can i use Azure SQL Database or i should still to MS SQL SERVER as i have application running on this and migrating to Azure database may create problems?
Without impact analysis and how complex your data model is, it's hard to say whether Azure SQL Database is compatible with your database. Fortunately, Microsoft provides a tool named Data Migration Assistant (DAM) which assists you to perform database compatibility analysis for Azure SQL Database. This link gives you more details on DAM (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-database-cloud-migrate). Moving from SQL Server to Azure SQL Database would gain more benefits in high availability, disaster recovery and scalability. Administration effort with server management, OS patching is significantly reduced. With SQL Server in Azure VM, the migration cost is much better as you only need to shift and lift (provision VM, perform database detach/attach or other backup/restore methods).
Q: Third, let us say i choose web+Mobile--> App Service Standard Package (which comes with upto 10 instance) what are these instance? and will individual session always connect to same instance?
No, session would not be maintained in guaranteed mode. When you chose Azure App Service, your web application will be run on virtualized servers running Windows Server and IIS. The term "Instance" is server instance. Azure App Service helps you handle scaling by allocating compute resource across multiple instance to make sure your application does not get crashed with inadequate memory and resource. The default at the first time you provision your web app is 1, but the number of instance is configurable.
Q: Forth: I have about 20 database one of them is about 6GB & other database are about 200MB-700MB which service should i use for database in case i use Azure SQL Database
Single Database or Elastic?
Can i create multiple database under elastic mode?
Let us say if i choose "100 eDTUs: 10 GB included storage per pool, 200 DBs per pool, $0.20/hour" will i have total of 10GB space for all database in elastic pool and what is per pool and how many pools will i get in this option.
or MS SQL SERVER on Virtual Machine is better option as i can run SQL Server based session
Choosing Single Database or Elastic depends on performance and peak load of your database. Single database is used for independently database, when you can specify the DTU (Data Transaction Unit) for predictable performance. While Elastic Pool is best for managing set of databases in a pool. Elastic Pool is a choice for unpredictable performance and usage.
In your case, I'd recommend to use Elastic Pool to rescue performance. Elastic Pool allows you to set eDTU for your pool no matter how much of DTU a specific database in a pool needs. Elastic Pool monitors and perform performance analysis in depth to give you an insight and overall picture of each database performance.
When it comes to pool, you should not worry about how much storage you are given to each database. You don't also have to worry about the number of databases you can store in a pool. Saying you have total 20 databases, you need only one pool.
The eDTU you need can be calculated via this website http://dtucalculator.azurewebsites.net/. Just run one of the given scripts in the website on your SQL Server (where your on-premises databases are running) to capture performance metrics, then upload Excel file to the website. It will gives you a number. For example, the result says that total 20 databases need totally 100 eDTU. Then you just create an Elastic pool and adjust 100 eDTU for the pool. However, if using Elastic Pool Basic, you are only given 10 GB per pool which is not enough for 120 GB (20 * 6 GB), then you need Elastic Pool Standard for 100 eDTU to achieve 750 GB maximum. Note that you can choose Basic plan of 1,200 eDTU to achieve 156 GB maximum. However, this way is never recommended because storage space is much cheaper than eDTU.
In a nutshell, with your draft info above, I'd recommend to chose Standard plan of Elastic Pool with 100 eDTU. You can increase number of eDTU if it does not satisfy the performance of totally 20 databases. No database downtime is needed when adjusting eDTU number.
Creating only 1 pool is not really my recommendation. It depends on your database workload. For example, in 20 databases, there are 5 databases that are heavy workload for an ERP or business-critical systems while the rest are just normal databases. In this case, you'd need two Elastic pools. One pool with high number of eDTU is set, and another pool has low number of eDTU.
Q: Fifth: Disk Space, let us say i choose App Service "S2: 2 Cores(s), 3.5 GB RAM, 50 GB Storage, $0.200", is 50GB disk space include OS or space allocated to file which we upload?
When it comes to Azure App Service, OS is not counted in. 50 GB storage space is given directly to your application's space (to store image, compiled DLL, video, library..)
Q: Sixth: Some of our application are used to send push notification to iOS & Android device i am not sure if they will work in Azure environment as they need certain ports to be open and also some sort of certificate to be installed on the server.
Azure Notification Hubs can help you achieve push notification. Azure Notification Hub allows you to use certificate of each kind of platform (e.g iOS to manage devices. This is a sample reference if you are familiar with iOS https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/notification-hubs/notification-hubs-ios-apple-push-notification-apns-get-started. Azure Notification Hub also supports token-based for APNS if you need.
For each case, please give more details (e.g. your mobile scenario) , and specific questions if possible so I and people here can elaborate more.
Related
I am developing a Xamarin mobile app that requires a central cloud data storage (so a database). I also need an app service to host an API to interface with the database. I have been leaning towards Azure for both of these needs to keep everything in the Microsoft/Azure space and I am also familiar with it, but I am not sure if that would be overkill for my needs.
The data I need to store is only a few hundred records across a couple of tables and does not contain sensitive information. The app service would be quite small. I used their cost calculator with the cheapest options and that came out to only about $7/month for a small database and they have a Free Tier for the app service, although I have read that it is very slow, not sure to what extent though for the simple use case I have for it. This is very reasonable unless I have to upgrade to the Basic Tier App Service which jumps up to $70/month, that becomes a bit more than what I am looking to spend for this.
Wondering if folks know if the Free Tier of the Azure App Service would be impractically slow to host an API. It is listed as using Shared Cores, 1 GB RAM, and 1GB of storage. Also open to suggestions for other options that play well with .NET. Thanks!
I run several web services between AWS and Azure. Depending on how you are planning to write your App Service you can go with Azure VM Standard B1s and they will fall under FREE tier usage. Else around $10 per month.
You can run an embedded DB like SQL Lite with ASP.net. I use Spring Boot and works well.
I have a VM with SQL Server and an application that uses no more than 50 users. I don't require to have a zero downtime application in case my VM or datacenter had an issue, but what I need at least to assure is that I can make the app available again in less than 30 minutes.
First approach: using an Availability Set with 2 VM's won't work actually because my SQL Server lives in the same VM and I don't think Availability Set will take care of the real time replication of my SQL Server data, it will care only about the web application itself and not the persistent data (if I'm wrong please let me know), so having the above statement AV Set is not for me. Also It will be twice expensive because of the 2 VMs.
Second approach: using Recovery Site with disaster recovery I was reading that wont warranty to have a zero data loss, because there is a minimum frequency of replication and I think is 1 hour, so you have to be prepared to deal with 1 hour of data loss and I don't like this.
Third option: Azure Backup for SQL Server VM, this option could work the only downside is that has a RPO of 15 minutes that is not that much, but the problem is that if by some reason the user generates in the app some critical records we wont be able to get them again into the app because the user always destroy everything right away when they register into the app.
Fourth approach: Because I don't really require a zero downtime app, I was thinking on just having the actual VM using 2 premium disks one for SQL Server data files and other for SQL Server logs. In case of a VM failure I will get notified by users inmediately and what I can do is to create a snapshot of OS disk, and SQL premium disks (total of 3) and then create a new VM using these snapshots, so I will get a new working VM maybe in a different region having the exact very last data inserted into SQL before the failure happened.
Of course I guess I will need on top the VM a load balancer so I can just reroute traffic to the new VM. The failed VM i will just kill it and use the new VM as my new system. If fail happens again I just follow same process so this way I just only pay for one VM and not two.
Is this someone has already tried, does this sound reasonable and doable or Im missing a big thing or maybe I wont get what I expect to get?
You better use Azure SQL (PaaS) instead of VM, there are many different options that you can do for your needs. Running SO + SQL in the same VM is not recommended, changing to a Azure SQL (PaaS) you can decrease your hardware for SO VM and configure your SQL for supporting 50 users. Also you can use Load Balancer as you said, either Traffic Manager (https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/azure/traffic-manager/traffic-manager-overview) or Application Gateway (https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/azure/application-gateway/overview) to route traffic to your SO VM's where the application is running. Depends on your application you can migrate to Azure Web App (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/).
Azure SQL (Paas) you can have less than 30 minutes for sure, I would say almost zero down time although you don't required it.
Automatic backups and Point-in-time restores
https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/azure/sql-database/sql-database-automated-backups
Active geo-replication
https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/azure/sql-database/sql-database-active-geo-replication
Zone-redundant databases
https://learn.microsoft.com/pt-br/azure/sql-database/sql-database-high-availability
Finally I don't think having Always-on (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/availability-groups/windows/overview-of-always-on-availability-groups-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver15) solution is good, once it is expensive and there are only 50 users. That's why I believe you better thinking of a Saas + PaaS solution for your application and database. Your 4th option sounds fine, but you need to create a new VM, configure IP, install SQL, configure SQL and so on to bring up your SQL.
What users is going to do if it happens when you are not available to fix it immediately? Your 30 minutes won't be accomplished :)
I want to host 1 web app in windows OS with SQL server database. I have selected b1 instance and selected S0 database. I have selected app service and storage is these 2 things are enough to host a app? can we run this app for 24 hrs?
app is smart city dashboard app. concurrent users will be max of 10. 10 department person may watch the app concurrently the app. this app is not for public user. this will be for the office admin purpose to monitor city utilities like transformer temperature, intrusion detection. some of the web pages have page refresh of 30 seconds. so the app will refresh every 30 seconds and it will check the database in every 30 seconds.
app is already developed in asp.net mvc with sql server database with entity framework.
APP SERVICE PLAN B1
CORES 1
RAM 1.75 GB
STORAGE 10 GB
database - single database
Purchase Model - DTU
Service Tier- General Purpose
PLAN S0
DTUS 10
INCLUDED STORAGE 250GB
MAX STORAGE 250 GB
my queries
according to selected plan there is 10 gb space. so is that space for app deployment.or it is for .net framework installation and sql server management studio installation.
there is mentioned, only 10 DTU in database. can i fetch data from database any number of times or 10 times only i can fetch data.
The size is the size of everything your Web app will use not the underline infrastructure.
In regards to DTU, there are many option for SQL you can choose from depending on your needs. Rather than a single database you can use elastic pool or managed instances.
Below is a link to a DTU page, there are links on that page to other options, you have review an decide which option is suitable for your application.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/sql-database/sql-database-service-tiers-dtu
In terms of the database you can simulate the intended workload with the current application developed with .Net Framework and SQL Server during that simulation you can collect performance counters that can be used by Azure DTU Calculator to estimate the appropiate number of DTUs (service level) that you need for your database,
I recently got a trial version of Windows Azure and wanted to know if there is any way I can deploy an application using Cassandra.
I can't speak specifically to Cassandra working or not in Azure unfortuantly. That's likely a question for that product's development team.
But the challenge you'll face with this, mySQL, or any other role hosted database is persistence. Azure Roles are in and of themselves not persistent so whatever back end store Cassandra is using would need to be placed onto soemthing like an Azure Drive (which is persisted to Azure Blob Storage). However, this would limit the scalability of the solution.
Basically, you run Cassandra as a worker role in Azure. Then, you can mount an Azure drive when a worker starts up and unmount when it shuts down.
This provides some insight re: how to use Cassandra on Azure: http://things.smarx.com/#Run Cassandra
Some help w/ Azure drives: http://azurescope.cloudapp.net/CodeSamples/cs/792ce345-256b-4230-a62f-903f79c63a67/
This should not limit your scalability at all. Just spin up another Cassandra instance whenever processing throughput or contiguous storage become an issue.
You might want to check out AppHarbor. AppHarbor is a .Net PaaS built on top of Amazon. It gives users the portability and infrastructure of Amazon and they provide a number of the rich services that Azure offers such as background tasks & load balancing plus some that it doesn't like 3rd party add-ons, dead-simple deployment and more. They already have add-ons for CouchDB, MongoDB and Redis if Cassandra got high enough on the requested features I'm sure they could set it up.
I want to pull large amount of data, frequently from different third party API web services and store it in a staging area (this is what I want to decide right now) from where it will be then moved one by one as required into my application's database.
I wanted to know that can I use Azure platform to achieve the above? How good is it to use Azure platform for this task?
What if the data to be pulled is of large amount and the frequency of the pull is high i.e. may be half-hourly or hourly for 2,000 different users?
I assume that if at all this is possible, then the bandwidth, data storage and server capability etc. will not be a thing to worry for me but for ©Microsoft. And obviously, I should be able to access the data back whenever I need it.
If I would have to implement it on Windows Servers, then I know that I would use a windows service to do this. But I don't know how it can be done for Windows Azure Platform if at all it is possible?
As Rinat stated, you can use Lokad's solution. If you choose to do it yourself, you can run a timed task in your worker role - maybe spawn a thread that sleeps, waking every 30 minutes to perform its task. It can then reach out to the Web Services in question (or maybe one thread per Web Service?) and fetch data. You can store it temporarily in Azure Table Storage, which is a fraction of the cost of SQL Azure (0.15 per GB), and then easily read it out of Table Storage on-demand and transfer to SQL Azure.
Assuming you host your services, storage and SQL Azure are in the same data center (by setting the affinity appropriately), you'd only pay for bandwidth when pulling data from the web service. There'd be no bandwidth charges to retrieve from Table Storage or insert into SQL Azure.
In Windows Azure that's usually Worker Role used to host the cloud processing. In order to accomplish your tasks you'll either need to implement this messaging/scheduling infrastructure yourself or use something like Lokad.Cloud or Lokad.CQRS open source projects for Azure.
We use Lokad.Cloud for distributed BI processing of hundreds of thousands of series and Lokad.CQRS allows to reliably retrieve and synchronize millions of products on schedule.
There are samples, docs and community in both projects to get you started.