In this blog, I will share some quick tips including Q/A’s and useful links from Day 6 of our recently launched new batch of Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect(AZ-303/AZ-304)
On Day 6 Live Session, we covered the Azure SQL Service, Deployment Options, Azure SQL Database, Azure Resource Manager(ARM) Template, Azure Quickstart Templates, Azure Virtual hard disks(VHDs), Azure Automation, Runbooks In Azure Automation.
The previous week in Day 5 Live Session, we covered the Azure Storage Accounts, Storage Services, Performance tiers, Storage redundancy, Azure Blob Storage Lifecycle Management, Storage account access keys, SAS, Azure solution for data transfer, Azure Cosmos DS.
We also covered hands-on Lab 6, Lab 18 out of our 25+ extensive labs(AZ-303).
So, here are some of the Q/A asked during the Live session from Module 8: Implement Azure SQL Databases & Module 9: Automate Deployment and Configuration of Resources.
Azure SQL Service
Azure SQL allows hosting our Microsoft SQL Server workloads on the Azure cloud. We have three major ways of hosting the SQL database on the Azure Cloud.
1) Azure SQL Database
2) Azure SQL Managed Instance
3) SQL Server on Azure VM’s
➝Read more about the Azure SQL Service.
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed platform as a service (PaaS) database engine that handles most of the database management functions such as upgrading, patching, backups, and monitoring without user involvement. With Azure SQL Database, you can create a highly available and high-performance data storage layer for the applications and solution in Azure.
Q1: How do we do DR for Azure SQL Databases?
Ans: Azure SQL Database makes setting up disaster recovery so much easier than SQL Server IaaS (in a VM). Disaster recovery is done via active geo-replication, which is an Azure SQL Database feature that allows you to create readable replicas of your database in the same or different data center (region).
Deployment Options For The Database:
1) Single Database: Single database represents a managed isolated database. We create a database in Azure SQL with its own set of resources and it is managed by sever.
2) Elastics Pool: An Azure SQL Elastics pool allows us to allocate a shared set of computing resources to the collection of Azure SQL Database.
3) Managed Instance: The managed instance is a deployment option of Azure SQL providing near 100% compatibility with the latest SQL server on-premises.
Purchasing Models
1) DTU Model: It is known as the Database Transaction Unit purchasing model. This model is based on a bundled measure of computing, storage, and I/O resources in 3 service tiers, to support light to heavy database workloads.
2) Vcore Model: It is known as the Virtual core model. It provides a choice between a provisioned compute tier and a serverless compute tier.
Azure Resource Manager(ARM) Template
ARM template (Azure Resource Manager) is a block of code that defines the infrastructure and configuration for your project. All the resources and their properties are defined in this template. These templates use a declarative syntax to let you define your deployment in the form of JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files. This helps in automating the deployment process in a constant flow.
➝Read more about the ARM Templates.
ARM Template Format
The ARM Template file contains various key-value pairs in the JSON format. For example, below, you can see a format of an ARM Template.
- Schema– This ‘schema’ defines the location of the JSON file and specifies the version of the template language you want to use in this template.
- Parameters – Parameters in a template define the configuration. These parameters are used in run time or during deployment.
- Variables – Variables define values used throughout the template.
- Functions – The function contains the steps and procedures to be followed.
- Outputs – Output defines the result that you want to see when a template runs.
Q3: Can we create a resource group in an ARM template and deploy resources to it?
Ans: Yes, you can create a resource group in a template when you deploy the template at the level of your Azure subscription. After that, you can deploy resources in it.
Q4: Is there any size limit for ARM Templates?
Ans: Limit the size of your template to 4 MB. The 4-MB limit applies to the final state of the template after it has been expanded with iterative resource definitions and values for variables and parameters.
Azure Quickstart Templates
Azure Quickstart Templates are ready to deploy sample templates. The Microsoft community creates these templates. You will find various Azure Quickstart templates on Microsoft’s official site like creating a VM (Virtual Machine), deploying the VM, etc. A beginner can use these quickstart templates to get familiar with the concept.
Q5: What are the prerequisites before the deployment of templates?
Ans: Let’s quickly go through the prerequisites.
1. Editor/Extension: You need an editor or software to write a template like VS Code, Notepad++ and Sublime text editor, etc.
2. Azure CLI: You need to download and install Azure CLI to connect you with Azure and deployment of templates.
Azure Virtual hard disks(VHDs)
A virtual machine can have multiple hard disks like there will be an OS disk and multiple data disks; typically, a virtual machine has an OS VHD on which the OS is installed and also have one or more VHDs that contain applications and data. The difference between VHD and the physical disk is the VHD store as a virtual file in Azure is not a part of physical hardware.
Virtual Machine Image
A virtual machine image is a template form where you can create VHDs to run a virtual machine. The Azure Marketplace contains various VMIs that have inbuilt applications installed and configured for you like MySQL, Apache, and WordPress, from which you can build your VM’s easily with a single click.
Q6: What is a Specialized Image?
Ans: Specialized images are like a golden edition of your system. It is just like a snapshot of your current system. Creating Virtual Machines from specialized images creates an exact copy of your existing system in Azure. Once you have a specialized image version, you can create one or more new Virtual Machines using the New-AzVM cmdlet.
Also, Check Our blog post on Azure Serverless Computing.
Azure Automation
Azure Automation delivers a cloud-based automation and configuration service that supports consistent management across your Azure and non-Azure environments. Automation gives you complete control during deployment, operations, and decommissioning of workloads and resources.
It comprises process automation, configuration management, update management, shared capabilities, and heterogeneous features. This Service allows you to author runbooks graphically, in PowerShell, or to use Python.
Q7: Does Azure charge for automation services?
Ans: Yes, Charges for process automation are incurred whenever a job or watcher runs. You will be billed only for minutes/hours that exceed the free included units.
Q8: What are the Use Cases for Azure Automation?
Ans: Following are some use cases of Azure Automation.
VM management: Use Azure automation to deploy VMs and schedule the startup and shutdown of instances.
Log management: Rotate log files or delete them when space becomes tight. Run log analytics and generate reports
Import nightly data loads: Schedule data feeds that send data between applications. Transfer the data files and run the extract, transform, and load procedures needed to import them into cloud systems.
Event management: Automate the response to an event alert based on the detailed information in the event.
Runbooks In Azure Automation
Runbooks are stored and managed in Azure Automation and then delivered to one or more designated Hybrid Worker computers.
Azure Automation runbooks can run in an Azure Sandbox, a shared environment against Azure resources, and A Hybrid Runbook Worker: in any environment, directly on the computer that hosts the worker role and against local resources in the environment.
➝Read more about the Runbooks.
Q9: What are the types of Runbooks in azure?
Ans: Let’s have a look at the types of Runbooks in azure:
- Graphical: Graphical runbook based on Windows PowerShell and created and edited completely in the graphical editor in Azure portal.
- Python: Textual Runbook based on Python scripting.
- Graphical PowerShell Workflow: Graphical runbook based on Windows PowerShell Workflow and created and edited completely in the graphical editor in Azure portal.
- PowerShell: Textual runbook based on Windows PowerShell scripting.
- PowerShell Workflow: Textual Runbook based on Windows PowerShell Workflow scripting.
Q10: Can Python 2 and Python 3 runbooks run in the same Automation account?
Ans: Yes, there’s no limitation for using Python 2 and Python 3 runbooks in the same Automation account.
Quiz Time (Sample Exam Questions)!
With our Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect training program, we cover 220+ [AZ-303] & 200+[AZ-304] sample exam questions to help you prepare for the certification AZ-303 & AZ-304.
Note: Download the 25 Sample Exam-Questions of Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect from here.
Check out one of the questions and see if you can crack this…
Ques: Which of the following best describes the format of an Azure Resource Manager template? Select one?
A. A Markdown document with a pointer table
B. A JSON document with key-value pairs
C. A TXT document with key-value pairs
D. An XML document with element-value pairs
The right answer will be revealed in my next week’s email.
Here is the answer to the question shared last week.
Ques : Your company is planning to store log data, crash dump files, and other diagnostic data for Azure VMs in Azure. The company has issued the following requirements for the storage:
- Administrators must be able to browse the data in File Explorer.
- Access over SMB 3.0 must be supported.
- The storage must support quotas.
You need to choose the storage type to meet the requirements. Which storage type should you use? Select one.
A. Azure Files
B. Table storage
C. Blob storage
D. Queue storage
Answer:
A. Azure Files
Explanation : Azure Files supports SMB 3.0, is reachable via File Explorer, and supports quotas. The other storage types do not support the requirements. While blob storage is good for unstructured data, it cannot be accessed over SMB 3.0.
Feedback
We always work on improving and being best version of ourselves from previous session hence constantly ask feedback from our attendees.
Here’s the feedback that we received from our trainees who had attended the session…
Here 2106 is in YYMM format, represents the trainees from the batch of June 2021.
Related/References
- AZ 303/304: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect: Step By Step Activity Guides (Hands-On Labs)
- [Recap] Day 1: Azure Active Directory [Azure Solutions Architect]
- [Recap] Day 2: Implement and Manage Hybrid Identities & Virtual Networking: [Azure Solutions Architect]
- [Recap] Day 3: Implement VMs for Windows and Linux: [Azure Solutions Architect]
- [Recap] Day 4: Load Balancing and Network Security [Azure Solutions Architect]
- [Recap] Day 5: Storage Accounts & NoSQL Databases [Azure Solutions Architect] [AZ-303/304]
- Top 10 Best Practices for Azure Security in 2021
- Tips To Prepare Exam AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design
- Exam AZ-305: Azure Solutions Architect Expert Certification
Next Task For You
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