Networking to and within the Azure cloud, part 1
Hybrid networking is a nice thing, but the question then is how do we define hybrid networking? For me, in the context of the connectivity to virtual networks, ExpressRoute’s private peering or VPN connectivity, it is the ability to connect cross-premises resources to one or more Virtual Networks (VNets). While this all works nicely, and we know how to connect to the cloud, how do we network within the cloud? There are at least 3 Azure built-in ways of doing this. My intent is to briefly explain: 1. Hybrid networking connectivity options 2. Intra-cloud connectivity options 3. Putting all these concepts together Read more on the Azure blog.My exam preparation for Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
Hi Azure Friends, Why should I take a certification? What does this certificate bring me? These are questions I am often asked. In all honesty, there is no exact answer to these questions. Let me explain how it would answer for me. The first question: I'm getting to know a new technology, I invest a lot of time, so why not complete this assignment with a certificate! Question number two: For me it is just a great feeling to learn new things, to keep up with the times and to get a new certificate. It also looks great in the CV (curriculum vitae) ;-)! So now let's look at the next steps together! My exam preparation checklist: 1. Read through the skills measured at your leisure https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/az-104 2.Read the Study Guide by thomasmaurer . This is super helpful information! https://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2020/03/az-104-study-guide-azure-administrator/ 3. Create a free Azure account, if you don't already have one, so that you can do all the exercises in a hands-on manner https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/ 4. Take a close look at the Microsoft learning path, even better work through it right away (the learning paths are listed a little further down on the website) https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/az-104 5. Register for the exam early. This creates some pressure and you stay motivated https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/az-104 6. Now it goes to the Microsoft Learn content. These learn paths (as you can see below) I have worked through completely and "mapped"/reconfigured as much as possible in my test environment. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/az-104-administrator-prerequisites/ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/az-104-manage-identities-governance/ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/az-104-manage-storage/ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/az-104-manage-compute-resources/ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/az-104-manage-virtual-networks/ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/az-104-monitor-backup-resources/ 7. Practice, practice, practice ... With examples from the Microsoft Azure documentation portal https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/?product=compute https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/?product=identity https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/?product=networking https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/?product=storage Perhaps as an additional tip. If you have learned something new, try to explain it to another person (regardless of whether this person is familiar with this topic), if you succeed without effort, you have understood the newly learned super. I do this in a similar way. Not that I explain it to another person, no I create a YouTube video. I hope this information helps you and that you successfully pass the exam. I wish you success! Kind regards, Tom WechslerAzure Speed Test - find the nearest Microsoft Azure Data Center
Hi All, me... new member here from Thailand. Not sure is that anyone share this tip? Before we setup Azure backup, Azure VM, etc. As our site are located around the world. I will run Azure speed test. To find a nearest Microsoft Azure Data Center base on our Server/Site location. This way we will make sure to put Azure Services to the right Microsoft Azure Data Center. To avoid latency and slowness to what we need on Azure. simply go to http://azurespeedtest.azurewebsites.net/ from your site or server that need Azure services. It will show you the nearest Microsoft Azure Data Center. *in photo shown Singapore is the nearest Microsoft Azure Data Center, from Thailand. hope this useful. Cheers, SKIs it possible to PXE Boot a VM in Azure?
Is it possible to PXE Boot a VM in Azure? We have a group using an existing on-premises deployment system that uses PXE boot, but Azure doesn't (unless I haven't found them) have the ability to set the necessary DHCP configuration. I'm aware that we should be using Azure images etc. but for the purposes of onboarding this group quickly (and then migrating to the Azure way later) is this even possible? Thanks.Networking to and within the Azure Cloud, part 2
Before you begin reading, I would suggest reading the first post Networking to and within the Azure Cloud, part 1. Now that your workload is connected to the cloud, what are the native options to communicate within the Azure cloud? There are 3 native options: VNet to VNet via VPN (VNet-to-VNet connection) VNet to VNet via ExpressRoute VNet to VNet via Virtual Network Peering (VNet peering) and VNet transit My intent here is to compare these methods, what they allow, and the kind of topologies you can achieve with these. Read more on the Azure blog.The network as a disruptive driver
Yousef Khalidi, CVP of Azure Network engineering, today kicked off a blog-series, inviting Azure users, fans and other tech savvy individuals on a tour of our network. When we talk about our network, we'd like to also think of all the small pieces that make up the whole - all those internal and quirkier corner items that help build a great experience. The first in the series, focuses on setting the stage for the following articles. Covering how our different technologies and approaches to network design and building, help fuel the disruptive movement of cloud across all of IT. In Yousef's own words: "Ideally, cloud services “are secure, compliant, and just work.” Although you may realize that there is a massive datacenter infrastructure behind them, you may not know that the quality and integrity of the service you get depends on robust and secure networks. No matter how good the underlying server infrastructure is, a slow or low-quality network connection at any point between you, or your customer, and the datacenter will degrade your experience..." Enjoy the series - next one is out tomorrow!How to Learn Microsoft Azure in 2020
How to Learn Microsoft Azure in 2020 🎉☁🎓 The year 2019 is almost over, and usually, we take the time to look back at the year and also to find some New Year’s resolutions for the new year. Why not take all that energy and prepare for the cloud computing era and advance your career by learning Microsoft Azure. In this post, I try to give you a quick look at how you can get started to learn Microsoft Azure in 2020. You can read more here: https://www.thomasmaurer.ch/2019/12/how-to-learn-microsoft-azure-in-2020/New Azure VPN Gateways now 6x faster
Running mission-critical workloads require both performance and reliability. To improve your Azure VPN experience, we are introducing a new generation of VPN gateways with better performance, a better SLA, and at the same price as our older gateways. Many customers with network intensive workloads in Azure Virtual Networks (VNets) are driving the need for increased cross-premises and cross-region VPN performance. To accommodate even more demanding workloads we re-engineered our VPN Gateway service to provide 6X more performance coupled with better reliability and backed by an even stricter SLA. Read about it on the Azure blog.
Port Mapping on new Azure Portal
We needed to access to one of our VM via RDP protocol from a customer location where RDP ports are restricted on Firewall. I searched internet for a way to map default 3389 RDP port to 443 so I can access the VM. Everything is showing the way on the Classical Portal where there was a functionality called End Points. Endpoints were allowing you to map internal and external ports differently. Other resources shows that doing it with Network Security Groups (NSG) not possible. So, if you're new in Azure and started to use Azure Portal only way to map ports is to use a Load Balancer. 1. Add a new Load Balancer. And then add a new inbound NAT rule 2. Configure the nat to ponit to the VM you wish to connect. And give the port 443 as Port number. Thats it!
