Azure: Critical comments about MVAs when learning about VMs Part 1
Critical Comments about the MVAs
The Microsoft Virtual Academy courses are a great way to get up to speed in new technologies. And Azure is certainly one of these new fangled technologies. And if you want to get started using Azure, you will waste no time when learning with the MVAs, although MVAs do take a bit of time. One of the best Azure MVA courses: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions, an excellent training by Bret Stateham and Sidney Andrews.
Seriously, if you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I can be pretty harsh on things Microsoft. But Bret and Sidney do excellent work. Take the Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions from beginning to end and you are pretty much ready for the 70-532 exam.
How to get access to Azure? You can do the free stuff which Bret and Sidney describe how to in their first module. Or you might want to think about purchasing the MSDN subscription that covers the Azure access. The amount of Azure that you get makes it a worthwhile investment. Plus you get access to all of that great software from Microsoft. You can then use the MVA for training and the MSDN to get access to the software.
Just think in the past you had to buy the software AND pay for the training. So it’s a good deal, and there is no better trainer team than Bret and Sidney. Except for all of the other pairs. That is why I don’t do the MVA: Got no friends.
I am taking a look at module three, and you should really watch the first two to get the bigger picture, Bret and Sidney has done a great job of organizing their work, you will be presented with answers to questions like the following:
Can you use LoadBalancing on your Virtual Machines Endpoints automatically?
Creating the initial VM, you will need to consider the tier you will use for your VM. One of the considerations is will you need to load balance your Azure Virtual Machine Endpoints automatically? This is explained in very good detail in the MVA. So if you are asking yourself, can Azure Endpoints be automatically loadbalanced the answer is true if you are using Standard or Premium VMs and false if you are using Basic.
Assume that you would normally use Standard VMs in most cases, so in general the answer is True.
If you want more information, in written format that is you would find the answer at:
- Load Balancing for Azure Infrastructure Services
- Using the classic portal for loadbalancing is shown at:
- In the new portal you would see this (click to enlarge), if you are using the Basic Tier, then the Load Balanced Sets gives you a clear indication that you can not use Load Balancing. This makes sense since the Basic Tier is usually used for development tests and not for production.
In VMs, depending on the configuration tier you choose, load balancing is available for Standard Tiers, A1-A4, A5-A11, D1-D4 and D11-D14, but not for the Basic levels of A0-A4. If you are using an MSDN subscription, which I think is a good deal, then you want to experiment with the various tier VMs and then turn them off otherwise you will burn down your $150 a month.
My configuration is currently set to the Basic Tier, A0, which does not support Load Balancing.
Restart the VM and refresh the browser, you now see the following
Now I can use Load Balancing if I click on “All Settings”. Then to learn how to use the loadbalancing tools, check out the MVA referenced at:
Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions
Module 3 gives a clear explanation of how to use VMs, but make sure to check out Module 1 and Module 2 as well.
Enjoy!