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RadControls for ASP.NET AJAX on Azure (Part 1)

Monday, April 13, 2009

telerikCloudReady Those of you paying attention to “conference news” are probably aware of Microsoft’s entrance in to the cloud computing space via their platform code-named “Windows Azure.”  This version of “Windows in the cloud” essentially makes it possible to easily build and deploy .NET web applications to Microsoft’s hosted cloud infrastructure. The benefits of deploying your application to the cloud are (potentially) many, but I am going to assume you are already aware of the key “selling points” (such as scalability, scalability, and…oh yeah, scalability).

TELERIK IS CLOUD READY

I’m pleased to report that Telerik is “Cloud Ready.” This is a bit of a funny statement to make, but it is true. The humor is rooted in the fact that there is really nothing special about being “cloud ready.” You can use the exact same RadControls for ASP.NET AJAX that you know and love today to build applications for the cloud. In fact, the process for building your web applications is so familiar, it hardly needs any introduction. Deployment is a little different, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to rapidly build cloud applications with Telerik’s RadControls and have them running happily on the cloud with very little trouble.

HOW DO YOU GET STARTED?

Like I said, the process is very, very familiar if you’ve ever developed a web application in Visual Studio, but just to make sure there is no confusion, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Install the Azure SDK and VS Tools (in other words, get your environment setup)
  2. In Visual Studio, navigate to File > New Project… > Cloud Service > Web Cloud Service and create a new project
  3. Once the project is created, you’ll see a web project with a Default.aspx. Edit this like you “normally” would with  an ASP.NET project, including dragging and dropping RadControls on the page.
  4. Once you’re ready to test your site on the “Cloud Fabric,” simply press F5 and the Azure Tools for VS will automatically spin-up the local developer fabric (that simulates the cloud on your dev PC) and run your web app.
  5. Rinse and repeat until you’re happy with your site.
  6. Once happy, you’re ready to deploy to the “real” cloud fabric (more on this in the future)

And that’s really all there is to it. In the near future, I’ll be composing some videos for Telerik TV showing you the RadControls running on Azure, but I wanted you to know you can start your tests today without any trouble. Unless…

WINDOWS 7 GOTCHA

If you’re like me, you’re exited about Windows 7 and you’re running it as your full-time OS. Unfortunately, Windows 7 currently has a bug that prevents Azure from working properly on your dev PC. Your solution? You only have two choices at this point in time:

It’s unfortunate that these two Microsoft beta/CTP tools don’t yet get along, but I suppose pre-release software can’t be perfect. Fortunately, your RadControls are ready to go, so give ‘em a try and enjoy developing applications for the cloud! Watch for more updates, demos, and videos soon.

Posted by: Todd Anglin

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Azure aspnet RadControls for ASPNET AJAX Cloud

Comments  6

  • 13 Apr

    Todd, a great article to hookup Telerik products with Azure. What I like to know, does Azure already supporting a relational Database like SQL2008 so any app like ASP or Silverlight can run in the cloud with it's data being supported the same way as the app itself? And to take the question one step further, does Azure support Video storage and video streaming?

    Thanks!
    ..Ben

    Ben Hayat

  • 14 Apr

    Too bad that it doesn't work on XP Pro.

    Asit

  • 15 Apr

    Even more 'too bad' that 'cloud computing' is just another means of 'them' stealing 'your data'. Last time I spoke to some high up executive VP-style Microsoft figure, he pretty much admitted that they can access and use your data whenever they please, as per the finalized EULA once all of this goes truly live.

    Awesome that Telerik is ready for it, but, as with Google's 'online business applications', jeopardizing your data in a manner that (any) hosting can access it, is just totally unacceptable, by any standards. This is nothing new though, ISPs do it, SalesForce ACTIVELY does this and doesn't even attempt to deny it, and so on.

    Sadly, this crap is only getting worse. Anyone who is willing to throw their production data onto the web without having absolute and total control over HOW this is done and HOW it is exposed and WHO can access it, needs to find a new job, in an entirely different sector (accounting sounds like a good option, most people can add and substract right?).

    But, Microsoft will probably do the usual anyway, build something, invent some other idea in the middle of development, and subsequently sink the previous idea off the coast to create some more artificial reef, one that rivals the Great Barrier Reef in size by now.

    Mike

  • 17 Apr

    @Ben - Yes, MSFT has announced that they are making SQL Data Services(basically, hosted SQL Server) available in Azure. This is a changefrom their original plans for Azure, but due to demand, they've decidedto make a relational DB optional available.

    @Asit - I'm using VirtualBox to working with Azure running on Vista (hosted on my Win7 PC). That's always an option. :)

    @Mike - You definitely have to weight the security of your data whendeciding to use the cloud. There are some regulated industries that(public) cloud computing just can't serve. For many others, datasecurity is probably not an issue. I imagine the EULAs will have to be"pro data security" to get strong adoption, and all the people I'vetalked to at MSFT seem to understand this. I guess we'll find outtowards the end of year...

    -Todd

    Todd

  • 17 Apr

    Todd,

    While security is certainly an issue (especially considering we're talking about MSFT here, security? where?). I am way more concerned about OWNERSHIP of said data. Many ISPs/hosters/etc have legalese in the EULA that more or less states "whatever you put on our servers is ours".. The law pretty much states the same thing, if you choose to give your data to someone else, 'hoping' to be able to access it whenever you want, you literally hand over your data and stick it on someone elses server, since that server is their property, whatever is on said server automatically becomes their property. The law is somewhat 'confusing' in this regard, but the above is pretty much straight in line with an experience or two i have had with my customers and their data being on someone elses servers.

    Security issues can be fixed, data 'theft', not really, if the right to share 'your personal information' is within the hostings EULA.

    Mike

  • 27 Apr

    @Mike- Clearly, evaluating the EULA that Microsoft publishes with Azure will be important for any business before jumping to the cloud. You've raised good points that businesses should consider before "taking the plunge."

    That said, I've been told by several MSFT reps that MSFT is very aware of contract language that is going to be needed to serve Enterpise customers- including SLAs- so I imagine the experience would be on par with any Enterprise-grade hoster (such as Rackspace). If that level of agreement does not work for a specific business, clearly they'll need to wait for private clouds. :)

    -Todd

    Todd

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