16.1. Azure Overview

Microsoft's cloud computing offering can be divided into a number of stand-alone modules or services:

  • Windows Azure Platform

  • Microsoft .NET Services

  • SQL Azure (formally SQL Data Services)

  • Live Services

Books could be written on each of these areas (and will be), so in this chapter I will be covering only the core building block services to get you started. I will be covering the following:

  • The Windows Azure Service Platform

  • Azure storage

And we will be taking a brief look at the following:

  • SQL Azure

  • Microsoft .NET Services

RANDOM TRADEMARK FACT

In 2007, computing manufacturer Dell tried to trademark the term cloud computing.

http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77139082

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