Drew McDanielPrincipal Lead Program Manager

Optimize Your Windows Server Workloads on Azure

Agenda

Windows Images and DisksStorage Account ManagementIntegration with Web/Worker RolesAutomation Magic

Disk/Image ArtifactsDisk with Operating SystemAn Azure page blob that is a valid fixed size VHD file that contains a specialized Windows or Linux operating system. This artifact is attached to a VM container to create a VM.

OS ImageAn Azure page blob that is a valid fixed size VHD file that contains a generalized Windows or Linux operating system. This artifact is copied to a separate page blob which is then attached to a VM container to create a VM.

VM ImageA collection of an OS Image along with one or more data disk images. All images from this artifact are copied to separate page blob(s) which are then attached to a VM container to create a VM.

Preparing Windows Image

Data Drives and Images

Leave “Temporary Storage” at D:

Sysprep Will Reset Drive LettersConsider startup script to set drive letters back as requiredAssume DVD device will be at a drive letter higher than data disks in VM Image

Recreate Storage Spaces via Scripts

New VM Image Demo

Join Active Directory Domain Disable Windows Update Install X509 Certificates Set Time Zone

Use command line tool “tzutil /l” to see all valid time zone strings

Custom DataData placed at %SYSTEMDRIVE%\AzureData\CustomData.bin

Advanced WinRM ConfigWinRM over HTTP or user defined certificate for WinRM over HTTPS

Image Configuration - PowerShell Only

Uploaded Virtual MachinesConfigure PageFile to D:\ (Temp Drive)

Modify Persistent Drive Letters to Avoid D:\

Point to Azure Activation Serverhttp://azure.microsoft.com/blog/2014/05/08/virtual-machines-best-practices-single-vms-temporary-storage-and-uploaded-disks/

SanPolicy to OnlineAll

Avoid Disk Signature Collisionhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2011/11/08/3463572.aspx

Agenda

Windows Images and DisksStorage Account ManagementIntegration with Web/Worker RolesAutomation Magic

Storage Account

Virtual Machines and Storage Accounts

Virtual Machine

Disk with OS

Data Disk

OS Image

Copy

Storage Item Recommended Limits

Active Disks per Storage Account 40 (20,000 IOPS / 500 IOPS per Disk)

Storage Accounts per Subscription 100

Active Disks per Subscription 4,000

C:\ Drive

E:\ Drive

Storage Management HintsSeparate OS Disks and Data DisksReduces number of custom images to be copied to storage accounts

Use CopyBlob to Move BlobsFrom PowerShell: Start-AzureStorageBlobCopyEliminates need to download/upload blobs

Moving Between Storage Accountshttp://azure.microsoft.com/blog/2014/10/22/migrate-azure-virtual-machines-between-storage-accounts/

Optimize Storage Spaces for Number of DiskUse PowerShell Cmdlet when more than 8 disks: New-VirtualDisk –NumberOfColumns <Disk Count>

Agenda

Windows Images and DisksStorage Account ManagementIntegration with Web/Worker RolesAutomation Magic

IaaS and PaaS IntegrationPaaS Web/Worker RolesIIS applicationWeb services

IaaS RolesLinux workloadsTraditional applications (SQL Server, SharePoint, Dynamics AX, etc)Web services where greater control is required

Virtual NetworkAllows PaaS / IaaS deployments or multiple IaaS deployments in same datacenter networkUse security groups or ACLs to secure application tiers

Agenda

Windows Images and DisksStorage Account ManagementIntegration with Web/Worker RolesAutomation Magic

Remote PowerShell AutomationPS C:\> $cred = Get-Credential

PS C:\> Enter-PSSession -ComputerName drewm-as-demo.cloudapp.net -port 5986 –UseSSL -Credential $cred

[drewm-as-demo.cloudapp.net]: PS C:\>

1. Author PowerShell Script2. Specify Script at VM Deployment Time (Current Portal) or After Deployed

(Preview Portal)

Custom Script Automation

Additional Automation OptionsPowerShell DSC

Octopus

Chef

Puppet

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