Agenda

Startup tasksElevated privilegesRemote DesktopNetwork traffic rulesVM role

Startup Tasks

What Are Startup Tasks?

Why Do We Have Startup Tasks?Sometimes setup is required before execution“At the top of the code” isn’t good enoughElevated startup task, non-elevated roleScripting often easier than C#Reusable startup tasks

“Upload a VHD” is overkillOften just need to run an MSI, unzip filesWant full PaaS experience, including patchingVM images aren’t very reusable

Startup Task OptionsDefined in ServiceDefinition.csdefCan run elevated or notThree execution modes:

synchronous asynchronous, block shutdown

asynchronous, don’t block shutdown

Startup Task TipsLog everything:command >> %~dp0log.txt 2>> %~dp0err.txt

/y everything:copy /y foo barecho y| cacls … [Note no space after “y”]

Use local storage (guaranteed space)Reboots are fine, but don’t enter an infinite loopUse “psexec -s” to test (“local system” is a weird user)Consider “exit /b 0”

When Not To Use Startup TasksLong, manual, or fragile installationsUse VM Role

Things that require the IIS pool to exist alreadyUse OnStart() in an elevated web role

Processes that need to be monitored (for the most part)Easier to write proc.Start();proc.WaitForExit();

Elevated Privileges for the RoleEntire role can run elevated<Runtime executionContext="elevated" />

For web roles, doesn’t affect web app (IIS)

Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop

ROLE 1 ROLE 2IN_0

IN_1

IN_2

IN_0

IN_1

Network Traffic Rules

ServiceDefinition.csdef:<NetworkTrafficRules>

<OnlyAllowTrafficTo><Destinations>

<RoleEndpoint endpointName="ServiceEndpoint"roleName="WorkerRole1" />

</Destinations><WhenSource matches="AnyRule">

<FromRole roleName="WebRole1" /></WhenSource>…

VM Role

Only Two Differences

Who handles OS servicing

How you package/deploy your application

Punchline: When to Use VM Role

Error-prone application installations

Long running application installations

Application installations requiring manual interaction

VM Roles are fully integrated in the Windows Azure Platform-as-a-Service model

1

2 A Windows Azure application runs multiple instances of each role

3 A Windows Azure application behaves correctly when any role instance fails

WA Programming Model: Three Rules

Benefits of This Model

Windows Azure Application Platform

Automated, Consistent Application Updates

Automated, Consistent Configuration Changes

Multi-Instance Management Scale-out

High Availability Automated, Consistent OS Servicing

Platform Capabilities and App ContractStateless ImagesConsistent updatesConsistent configurationMulti-instance management

Multiple InstanceScale-outHigh Availability

Not all applications can be migrated!

Automated, Consistent Application Updates

Automated, Consistent Configuration Changes

Multi-Instance Management

Scale-out

High Availability

VM Role Doesn’t Mean Single-InstanceRule #2: A Windows Azure application runs multiple instances of each roleNo high-availability without multiple instances

VM Role Doesn’t Mean “Stateful”Rule #3: A Windows Azure application behaves correctly when any role instance failsRunning a database? Think about how the data is replicated

The TradeoffVM roles and web/worker roles can do the same thingsWe’re back to the two differences:Who handles OS servicingHow you package/deploy your application

To choose, consider:Development cost/effortOperating cost (OS maintenance)VM startup timeSkills/resources available

Startup tasks + elevated privileges = EVERYTHING

VM Role available for more control

Summary

Thank You

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IN THIS PRESENTATION.