Getting started for Windows Azure Platform

Pre-Requisites:

1. Operating system : Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 / Windows Vista
2. Editor : Visual Web Developer 2010 Express Edition (Optional)
   Visual Web Developer 2010 Express is a set of free development tools. When combined with Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio, it offers a new integrated development environment for building Windows Azure applications. If you don't have Visual Studio, download and install this application before installing Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio. Note that, as a part of DreamSpark, students get access to Visual Studio 2010 Professional edition, which is even better.
3. Database : SQL Server 2008 Express Edition or SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition (Optional)
   The windows Azure simulation and development environment uses SQL Server databases to mimic the storage components of the cloud. You will need this for setting the environment for Windows Azure Storage, SQL Azure and logging & diagnostic environment. Note that, as a part of DreamSpark, students get access to SQL Server 2008 Developer edition, which is even better.

Windows Azure ToolSet:

Windows Azure Core:

1. Install Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 1.2 (June 2010)
   Includes Windows Azure Software Development Kit (SDK). Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio extend Visual Studio to enable the creation, building, debugging, running, and packaging of scalable services on Windows Azure.
   
   Download: http://download.microsoft.com/DOWNLOAD/1/F/9/1F96D60F-EBE9-44CB-BD58-88C2EC14929E/VSCLOUDSERVICE.EXE
   
   Windows Azure SDK -- June 2010 ( in case you need separate standalone SDK and using editor like Eclipse etc)
   
   The standalone Windows Azure SDK provides developers with the APIs, tools, documentation, and samples needed to develop Internet-scale applications that run on Windows Azure.
   
   Downloads:
   
   1. StandAlone SDK (x64) : http://download.microsoft.com/DOWNLOAD/1/A/4/1A4A1EBD-0360-42D9-B418-BE77023060E1/WINDOWSAZURESDK-X64.EXE
   2. StandAlone SDK (x86) : http://download.microsoft.com/DOWNLOAD/1/A/4/1A4A1EBD-0360-42D9-B418-BE77023060E1/WINDOWSAZURESDK-X86.EXE
   3. SDK Documentation : http://download.microsoft.com/DOWNLOAD/1/A/4/1A4A1EBD-0360-42D9-B418-BE77023060E1/WindowsAzureSDK.chm
   4. SDK release notes : http://download.microsoft.com/DOWNLOAD/1/A/4/1A4A1EBD-0360-42D9-B418-BE77023060E1/relnotes.htm
2. HotFixes for Windows Azure Tools :
   1. Enable Windows Azure IntelliTrace on 32-Bit OS (not required for x64 OS)
   2. Native Debugging Improvements (not required for Visual Studio 2010)
   3. Improve Visual Studio Stability (not required for Windows 7)
   4. Correct WCF metadata when hosting behind a load balancer (.NET 3.5 Roles) (Windows 7 Hotfix)
   5. Support for FastCGI on the Development Fabric (not required for Windows 7, or Windows Server 2008 SP2 or later)
3. Windows Azure App Fabric:
1. Windows Azure AppFabric SDK (July 2010) :
   • Windows Azure platform AppFabric is a key component of the Windows Azure Platform. It includes two services: AppFabric Access Control and AppFabric Service Bus.
   • Download: Windows Azure AppFabric SDK V1.0 - July Update
2. Windows Azure AppFabric Labs (Developer bits - August 2010):
   • AppFabric labs is a new environment which the AppFabric team is using to showcase some early bits and get feedback from the community. Need to sign up separately. This is the developer only environment. The August Release is available now.
   • Labs environment: http://portal.appfabriclabs.com
4. SQL Azure :
   1. Getting Started with SQL Azure: You need to have SQL Azure portal access to do any operations and learning for SQL Azure. However the learning curve is negligible and amounts only to connection string difference. The SQL Server Management Studio works just fine for the cloud as for on-premise.
   2. Developing and deploying with SQl Azure: This is a walkthrough hand holding you to jump-start into SQL Azure.
5. Management Tools:
   These tools have been developed by Microsoft, partners, and community members and to help you develop, deploy and manage your hosted services and storage accounts in Windows Azure
   Download: Windows Azure Management Tools
   

Training :

1. Windows Azure Training Kit ( June 2010)
2. Windows Azure Security Whitepaper

Code Samples:

1. Windows Azure Samples
2. Code Gallery Projects
3. Codeplex Projects

Videos:

1. How do I Videos: http://msdn.microsoft.com/hi-in/windowsazure/ff798080(en-us).aspx
2. Channel 9: http://channel9.msdn.com/Learn/Courses/Azure/