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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Questions about Azure™? Look through the Frequently Asked Questions below.

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Services - Frequently Asked Questions | Windows Azure Platform http://www.microsoft.com/azure/faq.mspx

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Windows Azure FAQ

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What is Windows Azure?

Windows Azure provides developers with on-demand compute and storage to host, scale and manage Web
applications on the Internet through Microsoft data centers.

What is the Windows Azure platform?

The Windows Azure platform is an internet-scale cloud computing services platform hosted in Microsoft data
centers. The Windows Azure platform, which provides a range of functionality to build applications that span from
consumer Web to enterprise scenarios, includes a cloud services operating system and a set of developer services.
Windows Azure, Microsoft SQL Azure and Microsoft .NET Services are the key components of the Windows
Azure platform.

Is Windows Azure just a hosted service?

Windows Azure is not grid computing, packaged software, or a standard hosting service. It is an integrated
development, service hosting and management environment maintained at Microsoft datacenters. This environment
includes a robust and efficient core of compute and simple storage capabilities and support for a rich variety of
development tools and protocols.

How does Windows Azure ensure that the environment and services are always available?

Windows Azure is designed from the ground up to be a fault-tolerant platform. Innovative technology called the
Fabric Controller ensures that service availability is not affected even if individual servers fail. The Fabric
Controller technology also makes it possible for developers to upgrade their application without any service
interruption.

Why are you changing from Azure Services Platform to Windows Azure platform?

We believe that it is important to draw a clear link between our cloud services platform and Windows Azure, the
foundation for that platform. This is not unlike what we have done for many years with our Windows server
platform where Windows Server acts as the foundation for a broader set of platform products and technologies
including Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft .NET. Further, ‘Azure’ itself is not a product or a service. Using
Azure disconnected from Windows or SQL created the mistaken impression that we offer a Microsoft Azure
product which we do not.

Does BPOS run on the Windows Azure platform?

The current Business Productivity Online Suite (Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Communications
Online, and Live Meeting) was built and released before the introduction of the Windows Azure platform. While

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the two share common operational elements such as datacenters, provisioning and identity infrastructure, and
underlying commerce platform, the initial BPOS services were created based on the current releases of each server
e.g. Exchange 2007.

Will BPOS run on the Windows Azure platform at some point?

You should expect that over time, we will further align our investments in Microsoft Online Services to take
advantage of the scale and flexibility offered by Windows Azure, SQL Azure and .NET Services.

When will BPOS run on the Windows Azure platform?

We don’t have any specific dates to share but you should expect a steady transformation over time. For example,
the latest Exchange Hosted Archive now makes use of SQL Azure in its underlying storage technology.

What languages is the Windows Azure platform available in?

The Windows Azure platform is currently available in English.

When will Windows Azure, SQL Azure, and .NET Services be commercially available?

Windows Azure, SQL Azure, and .NET Services will be commercially available at PDC 2009.

In which countries is the Windows Azure platform commercially available? In what time frame?

At commercial launch, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, India, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and the United States. Israel is
currently being evaluated for commercial availability at PDC

In the March 2010 timeframe we expect commercial availability to expand to Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Czech Republic, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Puerto Rico,
Romania, Singapore, and Taiwan.

How does Windows Azure scale?

The innovative Fabric Controller technology in Windows Azure enables developers to scale applications
seamlessly, as demand rises and falls.

What is the Windows Azure Fabric Controller?

The Windows Azure Fabric is a scalable hosting environment built on distributed Microsoft data centers. The
Windows Azure Fabric Controller manages resources, load balancing, and the service lifecycle based on
requirements established by the developer. The Fabric Controller deploys the service and manages upgrades and
failures to maintain availability.

Is Windows Azure ready now? What is available?

During the Community Technology Preview (CTP) developers invited to the program, which includes all attendees
of the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2008 (PDC), receive free trial access to the Azure Services
Platform SDK, a rich set of cloud-optimized modular components including Windows Azure, SQL Azure Database,
Live Services, and .NET Services, as well as the ability to host their finished application or service in Microsoft
datacenters.

How does Microsoft differentiate Windows Azure from Windows Server?

Windows Azure and Windows Server are separate platforms designed to integrate easily so that customers have

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choice about the platform that most directly addresses their business needs. Windows Azure is a cloud service that
enables customers to create scalable and available web applications, while Windows Server addresses the
on-premises and hosting market. Windows Azure and Windows Server share some technologies and will share
some innovations bilaterally.

Is Windows Azure actually “Windows Server 8?”

No. Windows Azure is not the same as Windows Server. They are separate Microsoft platforms. Microsoft will
continue to invest heavily, to innovate and to ship new versions of Windows Server. Windows Azure is a cloud
services operating system that reduces the barriers to creating scalable and available web applications. The
availability of Windows Azure and Windows Server provides flexibility and choice for customers to build on the
Microsoft platform for either their on-premise or cloud applications.

What if a customer wants to use both Windows Server and Azure services for an application? Is that possible?

Yes. Although separate platforms, we have explicitly designed them to so that customers can choose the platform
that most directly addresses their application and business needs.

Can applications that are certified for Windows Server run on Windows Azure?

Applications certified for Windows Server will not run on Windows Azure unless the ISV or developer ports the
code. We have worked hard to ensure that applications built on .NET and some unmanaged code applications can
be ported to Windows Azure. We will continue to evaluate this process based on beta testing feedback.

What is the difference between Windows Azure Storage Service and SQL Azure Database?

Windows Azure Storage Service is designed to be the lowest cost, most efficient solution for large scale data
storage and retrieval in the cloud. It can store blobs, queues, and simple tables (non-relational). SQL Azure is
designed to bring the power of relational databases into the cloud and will provide rich querying over tables.

Can I use Windows Azure alone, or must I sign for the Azure Services Platform too?

Developers have the ability to sign-up for the compute, storage, and hosting services provided by Windows Azure
without signing up for other Azure Services Platform services.

Which types of support services will Windows Azure offer?

Developers have access to a suite of readiness resources including Prescriptive Architecture Guidance, virtual
hands-on labs, webcasts, and documentation. And support during the CTP period is provided through developer-
to-developer blogs and forums.

Is Windows Azure cross platform?

Windows Azure supports popular standards and protocols including SOAP, REST, and XML. Windows Azure is an
open platform that will support both Microsoft and non-Microsoft languages and environments. Windows Azure
welcomes third party tools and languages such as Eclipse, Ruby, PHP, and Python.

What makes it easy for developers to write code in Windows Azure if they want to use non-Microsoft technology?

To build applications and services on Windows Azure, Developers can use their existing Microsoft Visual Studio®
2008 expertise. Windows Azure supports standards and protocols including SOAP, REST, and XML. This enables
developers to integrate applications with Windows Azure, whether you use Microsoft or non-Microsoft tools and
technologies.

How developers can retain a sense of control over how their programs are run on Windows Azure?

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The built-in management services in Windows Azure provide developers control and visibility to stay focused on
what they do best - create and deliver killer applications online. Developers can specify the performance level and
parameters of their applications in Windows Azure.

How can developers maintain visibility into Windows Azure computer and storage processes? Can this be done
remotely?

Advanced tracing and logging functionality exposed in the Windows Azure portal allows developers to monitor
compute, storage, and bandwidth. This enables developers to ensure performance while paying only for resources
that their application consumes.

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Microsoft .NET Services FAQ

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What are .NET Services?

Microsoft .NET Services are a suite of web-based developer services that make it easier for Windows Azure
applications and SQL Azure databases to connect and interoperate securely with existing software assets. .NET
Services run on the Windows Azure platform, and provide a Service Bus and an Access Control Service for
customers with the need to integrate cloud services with on-premises systems, or to perform business-to-business
collaboration.

The Service Bus service enables secure, loosely-coupled connectivity between services and applications behind
firewall or network boundaries, using a variety of communication patterns.

The Access Control service provides an enterprise-class mechanism for performing federated access control
authorization as a web service across organizations and protocols.

What is the relationship between the Azure Services Platform identity services and Active Directory?

The Access Control Service can federate with third party identity providers, allowing for the handling of identities
from existing systems and from different organizations. With its federation capabilities the Access Control Service
can federate with Active Directory to use existing identities and enforce claims based access control.

What does the .NET Access Control Service provide?

The .NET Access Control Service provides authorization capabilities as a hosted offering relieving developers from
having to build access control into their applications, something particularly problematic when applications extend
beyond traditional organizational boundaries to integrate with external services. In addition, the service's federation
capabilities ensure that user identities from many different organizations are supported. The Access Control Service
is based on powerful, secure and standards based infrastructure and can be used on its own it but also supports
other services such as the Service Bus.

What does the .NET Service Bus provide?

Applications frequently need to connect or integrate with other applications and services to create what are called
composite applications. Creating an infrastructure to facilitate this type of communication involves significant
challenges related to authentication, naming, and secure cross organizational firewall traversal. The .NET Service
Bus provides a hosted, secure, standards-based infrastructure that dramatically reduces the barriers to applications
communicating across systems and organizational boundaries.

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Microsoft SQL Azure FAQ

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What is SQL Azure?

Recently, Microsoft announced a branding change for SQL Services and SQL Data Services. The new names for
these services are Microsoft SQL Azure (formerly SQL Services) and SQL Azure Database (formerly SQL Data
Services). This is only a branding change and does not reflect any changes in the vision and strategy. Microsoft
SQL Azure will continue to deliver on Microsoft’s Data Platform vision of extending the SQL Server capabilities in
cloud as web-based services. SQL Azure will deliver a rich set of integrated services for relational databases;
reporting; and analytics and data synchronization with mobile users, remote offices and business partners. SQL
Azure Database is currently available as a Community Technology Preview (CTP) service. Other services will be
available in the future.http://www.microsoft.com/sql/dataservices/default.mspx

How is Microsoft SQL Azure different from Microsoft SQL Services

Microsoft® SQL Services is being renamed to Microsoft® SQL Azure™. There is no change in the product
strategy roadmap, availability timeline or business model. Microsoft received great feedback from customers on
naming cloud database for Windows Azure and decided to rename SQL Services to SQL Azure.

How has the SQL Azure Database roadmap evolved since the announcement at PDC 2008?

Following a CTP announcement of SQL Azure Database at PDC 2008 there has been a large quantity of valuable
customer feedback through forums, blogs and posts. Based on the customer needs and requirements, our roadmap
is now focused on empowering the Azure customers, by delivering a traditional relational database service in the
cloud, supporting Transact-SQL(T-SQL) over TDS (Tabular Data Stream) protocol. With this evolution, SQL Azure
Database will provide customers with the ability to use existing investments in T-SQL development and use a
relational data model in the cloud. In addition to this, SQL Azure Database provides a stronger value proposition
through savings in the cost of development by enabling the ability to use existing applications/tools and knowledge,
while benefitting from the new distributed, cloud based functionality of SQL Azure Database.

How is SQL Azure Database different/better than what Microsoft offered customers at PDC 2008?

At PDC 2008 customers were offered a flexible entity-based data model that did not provide schema support and
exposed only minimal relational capabilities. After many customers reviews and based on significant customer
feedback the SQL Azure Database capabilities are evolving to provide customers with the ability to utilize a
traditional RDBMS data model in a cloud-based environment. Developers will be able to use existing programming
interfaces and apply existing investments in development, training, and tools to build their applications along with
current advantages of high availability, scale, utility and cost.

What is Microsoft’s message to customers using SOAP and REST based access to Authority-Container-Entity
(ACE) programming model?

With the move to a T-SQL based relational data model, SQL Azure will not support the current SOAP and REST
based Authority-Container-Entity (ACE) programming model. Based on extensive feedback from our early adopter
customers and partners, most customers will greatly benefit from the relational capabilities in SQL Azure and will
continue to develop their applications against this. Customers who wish to expose REST access to their SQL Azure
data can easily do so by building custom services with ADO.NET Data Services. On the other hand, customers who
wish to use a REST based programming model and whose needs are met with non-relational simple structured data
storage have the option of using Windows Azure storage.

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Which scenarios will be enabled with the evolution to this relational data model roadmap?

SQL Azure Database will target the following scenarios:

Corporate departmental custom applications New Web 2.0 and ASP.NET apps built on Windows Azure that
require relational database services
Business ISVs building multitenant LOB applications or extending traditional packaged LOB apps like PLM,
content/record management, digital asset management that require massive scale and high availability and
data protection.
SQL Azure will also enable early CTP of new scenario for enterprise businesses such as central, cloud-based
repository of data to be accessed by multiple users on multiple devices from anywhere and kept in sync with
on-premises data sources and clients.

How will SQL Azure roadmap evolve to support larger and more complex apps?

In its initial release, SQL Azure Database will support relational capabilities suitable for relational apps, including
multi-tenant apps requiring large levels of scale. Future releases of SQL Azure will support advanced features like
distributed queries across partitions, and auto-partition.

How does the evolved SQL Azure roadmap address security, availability, reliability, and quality of the data?

SQL Azure will continue to be built on the proven SQL Server technology foundation and architecture, which
offers reliability, availability and enterprise-level security features. By harnessing these capabilities SQL Azure will
offer a business-ready service level agreement that provides built-in data replication for automatic high-availability
and backups for business continuity in the unlikely event of a failure.

How has the architecture model evolved with SQL Azure?

SQL Server is still the architectural foundation for SQL Azure. It is the language and protocol supported by the
service endpoint that has changed. The flexible Authority, Container, Entity (ACE) data model has been replaced
with a relational data model accessed by customer’s applications via T-SQL over TDS. This change delivers a
familiar development experience for our customers currently using an on-premises SQL Server database, and in
turn enables them to use existing knowledge, skills, tools, and applications.

How has the programming model evolved with SQL Azure?

Previously, SQL Azure supported a flexible, Entity based data model. After getting valuable customer feedback it
was apparent that there was a need for a fully relational data model in the cloud. SQL Azure represents the move
from the ACE programming model to a relational data model with many familiar SQL Server-like programming
concepts. Developers will be able to utilize existing Transact-SQL code to access their data in the cloud. They will
also create and modify applications that utilize existing Transact-SQL code to interact with the fully relational
cloud database service. In addition, they can expose REST and SOAP services on top of their data easily using
existing data access frameworks, such as ADO.NET Data Services.

How does Microsoft differentiate SQL Azure from SQL Server?

SQL Azure is built on SQL Server database technologies that are used for running mission-critical applications in
the enterprise as well as on the Web. Since SQL Server is a broad data platform that can handle all data types from
birth to archival, there are many associated capabilities that our data platform provides. SQL Azure is exposing a
large subset of these relational capabilities and extending them as services in the cloud.

These services feature built-in high scale, availability, and self-management, and are provided in a way that makes
it easy for customers and partners to consume over the Internet. Although SQL Azure in its first iteration exposes
only the core RDBMS capabilities of what is in the full SQL Server data platform, Microsoft expects this to

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increase over time, with likely future features including Reporting, Analytics, ETL and other premium services etc.
SQL Server and SQL Azure share some technologies and will share some innovations bilaterally.

How is SQL Azure Database different from a dedicated hosted database in Cloud?

SQL Azure Database is a highly available, scalable, distributed database service hosted by Microsoft in the cloud.
SQL Azure Database enables easy provisioning and deployment of relational database services. Developers do not
have to install, setup, patch or manage any software. HA, backup and recovery, geo-distribution and disaster
recovery will be built-in. With a dedicated hosted database, developers and IT Pros are still responsible for
installing, setting up, updating and patching OS and database software. Additionally, hosted database solutions have
to device HA, scaling out and disaster recovery solutions thus increasing total cost of administration.

What are the specific differences customers can expect when using Windows Azure Table storage vs. SQL Azure
Database?

SQL Azure Database service will offer a scalable distributed relational database service in the Cloud that is used for
storing, processing and analyzing structured, semi-structured and unstructured data. Windows Azure Table storage
is a non-relational, scalable, simple structured storage (ISAM style) in the cloud. Since SQL Azure Database will
offer database service for applications developed on Windows Azure, customers can pool these services based on
the needs.

Can customers use a combination of cloud and on-premises databases with the same management tools and
programming languages?

With the new relational data model in SQL Azure, customers will be able to utilize existing tools such as Visual
Studio so they can work with both on-premises SQL Server and cloud-based SQL Azure Database deployments. In
addition, SQL Azure enabled new scenarios that will provide a seamless synchronization of data between an
on-premises database and SQL Azure. This will enable customers to use combinations of databases on and off
premises.

How do partners fit into this cloud based model – specifically, VARs ISVs, SIs and developers?

Business partners will continue to build multi-tenant packaged or custom LOB applications and use SQL Azure
Database with the similar knowledge and tools as they do with on-premises SQL Server. Partners can also extend
their existing LOB applications to use SQL Azure with minimal friction. ISVs and partners can also develop and
offer new consumer Saas applications powered by SQL Azure and Windows Azure multi-tenant capabilities.

Will SQL Azure work with Windows Azure?

Yes. SQL Azure provides a cloud-based relational database service for Windows Azure Developers who write
Windows Azure applications will be able to access SQL Azure based on their database needs.

What application development tools can developers use to build business applications for SQL Azure?

Developers will be able to use Visual Studio to create new applications or modify existing applications for SQL
Azure. Developers can also use existing ASP.NET controls, designers, and tools to develop applications. In the
future, developers will also use web based Management tools to access and manage their cloud-based data. In the
future, SQL Azure will also provide tools and documentation to support additional programming languages.

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Microsoft Dynamics CRM FAQ

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Is Microsoft Dynamics CRM built on Windows Azure?

How is Microsoft Dynamics CRM an end user service as well as a developer service?
When would I use Microsoft Dynamics CRM to build a business application rather than Windows Azure?
What sorts of things can I do with Azure and Microsoft Dynamics CRM today?

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Microsoft Sharepoint Services

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Where can I learn more about SharePoint development?

When will the next version of SharePoint release?
What are the different versions of SharePoint available now?
How does SharePoint consume Azure services?
Where can I find more information about SharePoint Services in Azure?
Will customers using Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Server 3.0 be able to
upgrade to SharePoint Services in Azure?
What can I do now to prepare for SharePoint Services in Azure?

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Pricing FAQ
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What is the pricing model for the Windows Azure platform?

How are Windows Azure Compute hours metered?
How is the storage in Windows Azure metered?
How is the bandwidth in the Windows Azure platform metered?
What does it really mean when we say “Web Edition includes up to 1 GB DB/month” or “Business Edition
includes up to 10GB DB/month”?
How is SQL Azure database metered?
How does .NET Services meter messages?
What currencies will be used to purchase the Windows Azure platform when it is commercially available?
How can I predict the cost of the Windows Azure platform services I use?
How can I get support?
How is Microsoft pricing individual Windows Azure platform services if an end user wants to use a combination of
the platform’s offerings, i.e. just consuming Windows Azure and .NET Services?
How Can I Get Started With Azure?

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Licensing and Service Level Agreements

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Can you explain the basic licensing offerings for the Windows Azure platform?
When will the Windows Azure platform be available in Enterprise customer programs like the Enterprise
Agreement?
I have on-premises Windows Server, SQL Server or .NET licenses. Can I transfer them to Windows Azure, SQL
Azure or .NET Services?
Will Microsoft license Windows Azure for customers and partners to run it in their datacenters?
What is the Windows Azure SLA agreement?

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What is the .NET Services SLA agreement?

What is the SQL Azure SLA agreement?
How will the Windows Azure, SQL Azure and .NET Services SLA agreements work with current on-premise
Microsoft licensing agreements?
How does Windows Azure pricing compare to Windows Server pricing?

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Partners
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How will partners make money with the Windows Azure platform business model and pricing structure?
I’m a mass market shared hosting provider. What can I do with The Windows Azure Platform?
I’m a managed hosting provider. What can I do with The Windows Azure Platform?
I host a business application platform like email, SharePoint or CRM. What can I do with The Windows Azure
Platform?
As an ISV, why would I want to consider the Windows Azure platform?
As a Systems Integrator, why would I want to consider the Windows Azure platform?
As a Custom Software Developer, why would I want to consider the Windows Azure platform?
As a Web Agency/VAP, why would I want to consider Windows Azure?
As an OEM, why would I want to consider the Windows Azure platform?
I’m a network service provider. What can I do with the Windows Azure platform?
Can you elaborate on the Windows Azure Platform QuickStart?
As an MSDN subscriber, do I get a special offer?
What is the Windows Azure platform Development Accelerator offer?
How are you designing the Windows Azure platform trials and free usage?
Would Windows Azure be available through the ISV Royalty Program?
What partners have built solutions using the Windows Azure platform? What is the business value evidence?
What Partner promotions are planned for the Windows Azure platform?
What Partner support offerings are planned for the Windows Azure platform?
Will there be discounts offered to MSFT partners who use the Windows Azure platform?
Does Microsoft intend to offer a marketplace in which partners can sell their applications built upon the Windows
Azure platform?
As a partner, can I host my application that I have built for customers within my datacenters? Do I have to host it in
the Microsoft datacenter?
How /Why is the Windows Azure platform partner model different than the Online Services partner model?
Can I resell services I build on top of the Windows Azure platform outside of countries where you make the service
available (e.g. Russia?)

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Product Features
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Can I do EC2-like deployment of whole VM images on Windows Azure? If not, why not?
If I build my application on the Windows Azure platform, can I move it to a server or hosted server?
How does .NET Services relate to the .NET Framework?
How do I access .NET Services?
When is the next CTP for SQL Azure?

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