Smart421 - UK Azure User Group Reference Architecture using Service Bus for pub/sub

UPDATE 12/03/12: Source code for my presentation is now available here: https://bitbucket.org/azurebook/windows-media-remote-control/overview You will need to edit various config files to include your X.509 certs, Service Bus and ACS namespaces and ACS Simple Web Token (SWT) symmetric keys. I will write a blog post on how to do all these things and get it running in due course.

I presented at the recent UK Windows Azure User Group on Tuesday 6th March. You can view my Prezi presentation here: http://t.co/FH4S03gL

My colleague  Mark Want has written a post regarding this event on the Smart421 blog here: http://smart421.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/uk-windows-axure-user-group/

I'm really starting to like this group and getting to know the folks from this group is great fun. They are now starting to run events in Manchester as well as London.

I talked about a reference architecture that I have been working on in my spare time over the last few weeks. The code will be available soon and I will blog and tweet when made available.

The solution uses quite a few features of Azure such as: MVC 4 Web Role, ACS, SAML 2.0 and SWT tokens, Google as an identity provider, Service Bus Relay services, Topics and subscriptions, Castle Windsor with the Service Bus and Topics/Subscriptions for pub/sub, a DR strategy and global DNS to enable DR and hide the cloudapp.net domain.

Next I want to show ADFS as an STS over ACS, Idempotent messaging when using WCF with the Service Bus and load testing using VM Roles.

London Windows Azure User Group LWAUG - first meeting update

LWAUG - what a mouthful! As mentioned in an earlier post, I attended the LWAUG first meeting on Tuesday night in London. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a lot from it. I also found it particularly useful talking to various folks during breaks and after the talks - as I do with most user groups, engaging with members and exchanging experiences/knowledge is one of the reasons I attend.

Sadly though, I could only stay for Richard Conway's talk on Service Management API's in Windows Azure. Service Management API's allow you to programmatically create and deploy services into Azure. I missed Andy Cross's talk on diagnostics as I had to get back to Norfolk, I didn't get home until 00:30am. Andy's slides can be obtained here: http://lwaugbe.blob.core.windows.net/talks/Fluent%20Diagnostics%20Dec%2011.pptx. (note the use of Azure blob storage to store the files!).

I am told some of the service management API's as demoed by Richard are undocumented. Everything talks via REST in Azure, sorry SOAP folks, nothing to see! REST is removing all the fluff you get with SOAP. SOAP just doesn't scale when you're trying to consume services over constrained low-bandwidth networks such as EDGE and GPRS. As we have a ever so increasing breadth of varied connected devices, i.e. net books, smart phones, laptops, PDAs, tablets etc this is a very big deal. So I'm glad the Microsoft Azure architects stuck with REST in Azure. Anyway, I think this is a big subject and one we could discuss at a future LWAUG event(s).

See here for documentation around Service Management REST API's in Azure: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/ee460812.aspx it seems fairly extensive, those messages can easily be sent via Fiddler so you don't need to write anything to play around with the API.

You can download Richards slides here: http://lwaugbe.blob.core.windows.net/talks/Service%20Management%20Dec%2011.pptx (again from blob storage)

Also Richard has uploaded his code used in his demo's here: http://lwaugbe.blob.core.windows.net/talks/HostedServices.etc.zip definitely worth looking at if you want to auto-deploy your Windows Azure services into Azure Compute via mechanisms like continuous deployment for seamless integration for your testers and developers.

I'm looking forward to the next meet.

London Azure User Group first meeting - 6th December

Tomorrow night (6th December 2011) I'll be attending the new London Windows Azure User Group meeting near Liverpool Street.

I learn't about it when I attended the recent Windows Azure Bootcamp run by Steve Planky due to the fact that the person that was mean't to go couldn't due to sickness, so I went instead.

I plan to do future presentations for this group and looking forward to it.

There is another Azure user group called UK AzureNet that started in 2009. Lately it has been rather quiet so it's good to see some interest in Azure once again in the community.

If you are quick there seems to be a couple places left, register here: http://www.lwaug.net/

TechNet UK Virtual Conference 2009

Another virtual conference will be taking place tomorrow (Friday 19th June) which is the TechNet UK Virtual Conference.

Please find more information here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/dd819085.aspx

Microsoft patterns & practices Summit 2009

Microsoft are hosting the patterns & practices Summit Oct 12th - 16th 2009 at the Microsoft Conference Centre on Microsoft Campus in Redmond, WA.

To learn more about this event, see here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/practices/dd578307.aspx

Microsoft Architect Insight Conference May 8th 2009 Mobile Decks for download

As promised to the delegates at the recent Microsoft Architect Insight Conference held on 8th May 2009 at Microsoft London Victoria, I have uploaded the decks from my breakout which was presented with Dave Baker from the Developer and Platform Group at Microsoft and my interactive session for download.

The two decks were used in the sessions Extending the Enterprise through Mobile and Mobile Implementation Patterns. Please note: the interactive Mobile Implementation Patterns deck is very light and the session was very much a chalk and talk session. I opened it up for debate for just about anything mobile. This deck contains some information about Hitachi Consulting who we are, our clients we've worked with which may interest you.

Thanks to Dave for giving a great session and also thanks to all the delegates in the interactive who made it a good discussion session.

You can download the decks here.

Microsoft TechDays Developer 2009 - 24hr Virtual Event

On April 1st 2009, be part of Microsoft history and join developers all over the world for the first ever 24-hour day of technology learning.

Participate in 95 live sessions anywhere, at anytime or on-demand at your convenience.

It is a free event.

To register for this event, click here: http://www.msfttechdays.com/public/home.aspx

To view the sessions, click here: http://www.msfttechdays.com/public/sessionlist.aspx

Microsoft are still calling for content so not all sessions are visible. Also you will be able to build you're own schedule in due course.

I'm not aware of any mobility tracks as yet, but my best guess is there will be some.

Oracle Day 2009 - Smart Strategies for Uncertain Times

On March 5th 2009 in London, Oracle is holding an event "Oracle 2009 - Smart Strategies for Uncertain Times" to which Edenbrook is a key sponsor. A snip from the event website:

The Oracle Day 2009 will cover the Oracle Technology stack from the Database and Middleware through to SOA, Enterprise 2.0, Business Intelligence and Security. This event will bring together IT professionals across industry sectors to address the real challenges faced by IT today - consolidating, cutting costs and innovating. After the keynote speaker presentations the event will break into two distinct tracks, one for IT Management and one for IT professionals and architects, providing the opportunity to select the sessions most relevant to you.

The address for this event is:

Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel
252 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EN

To register see here or see here for more information.

Tech-Ed Developers EMEA 2008

As I mentioned a few weeks ago Tech-Ed Developers EMEA 2008 is open for registration. I thought I'd mention that I'll be doing an interactive session on Windows Mobile push technology using all the latest cool developments in the mobile space.

I was supposed to do Tech-Ed in Orlando just gone but this didn't happen due to a confusion in the type of track I was going to do.

But I'm really looking forward to this event as Tech-Ed is Microsoft's biggest event of the year and should be really interesting to see what new developments are coming to market.

I know a few people from Edenbrook are going to attend Tech-Ed so it should be fun.

You can register here.

MSDN Roadshow Re-Run - London 24th Oct

If like myself you missed the last one in April this year, then fear not as there will be a re-run on Oct 24th in London.

Register here.

I have been told by Microsoft that this will not be as large as the last one.

Tech-Ed Developers EMEA 2008

Tech-Ed Developers EMEA 2008 has recently been opened for registration.

Super early bird is available until 31st July. It's still early days so the sessions haven't been announced yet.

MEDC 2008

I recently wrote a blog regarding the coming TechEd 2008 in Orlando FL containing a Windows Mobile track and that there will no longer be a MEDC (Mobile & Embedded DevCon) event in the U.S nor in any other location worldwide. The reason is because Windows Mobile technology are now considered mainstream solutions - Microsoft confirmed today.

In the past, the Windows Embedded and Windows Mobile organizations have hosted separate and joint events.

This news is offical that I heard from Microsoft clarified today - just to put any questions to bed ;)

This is a good thing as it makes the TechEd from this date forward even bigger and now mobile devices are becoming more mainstream is good news for all involved in mobile technology.

TechEd Developers 3 - 6 June 2008

I will be speaking at the coming TechEd 2008 hosted in Orlando FL, USA June 3 - 6 2008. I will be doing a series of hands-on-labs covering various common mobility challenges in the enterprise seen today using all the latest technologies. Namely; VS 2008, SQL Server 2008, SQL Server CE 3.5, C# 3.0, Windows Mobile 6 and .NET Compact Framework 3.5.

As I mentioned in an earlier post MEDC will be replaced with the TechEd Developers conference which now includes a mobility track (among others of course).

There will be over 145 hand-on-labs sessions, over 340 breakout sessions, more than 220 interactive theaters and 16 technical tracks which are as follows:

Architecture
Business Intelligence
Database Platform
Developer Tools and Languages
Development Practices
Dynamics
Infrastructure for Developers
Microsoft IT
Office and SharePoint
SOA and Business Processes
Software Plus Services
Unified Communications
Web and User Experience
Windows and Frameworks
Windows Embedded
Windows Mobile

See here for more information.

Developer UK Launch –Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008

I have been asked by Microsoft to help out on the Ask the Experts panel for the Developer UK Launch conference held at the ICC in Birmingham on the 19th March 2008 - an all day event.

I will be helping out with the Visual Studio 2008 team, so if you are attending be sure to ask not just mobility questions but any VS related questions.

It seems this event is now full but it is possible to put your name on the waiting list by calling: 0870 166 6640. See here for more info.

TechEd 2008

There will not be a MEDC conference next spring (2008), instead the MEDC conference will be integrated into the new Tech Ed Developers conference.

What is TechEd?

TechEd is Microsoft’s premier global conference designed to provide Developers and IT Professionals with the technical education, product evaluation and community resources for architecting, developing, managing, securing, and mobilizing state-of-the-art software solutions for a connected enterprise.

TechEd U.S. 2008 Expands!

To better serve the distinct needs of the developer and IT professional communities in the United States, Tech·Ed U.S. is evolving from a one week conference to two separate back-to-back conferences: Tech·Ed U.S. 2008 Developers, June 3-6, and Tech·Ed U.S. 2008 IT Professionals, June 10-13, in Orlando, FL.

The two week format is designed to provide the same Tech·Ed experience, but with expanded learning opportunities for attendees, which means more sessions and the need for more speakers.

For more information, see here: http://www.microsoft.com/events/teched2007/default.mspx