Windows Azure Learning Series

The Windows Azure Learning Series takes you through examples utilizing the features in Windows Azure Caching and Service Bus.

Project Description
This is a video series which demonstrates to developers and architects the basics of Windows Azure.

The videos are hosted on Microsoft Showcase and the following content below will be posted here:

• Sample Code (if necessary)
• Overview Document
  • Link to Video on Microsoft Showcase
  • Abstract of Lab/Video
  • Links to relevant downloads to follow video walkthroughs
  
  http://windowsazurelearning.codeplex.com/

Windows Azure - Screencasts

1. Building Cloud Applications with the Windows Azure Platform

Session 01: Windows Azure Overview
Session 02: Introduction to Compute
Session 03: Windows Azure Lifecycle, Part 1
Session 04: Windows Azure Lifecycle, Part 2
Session 05: Windows Azure Storage, Part 1
Session 06: Windows Azure Storage, Part 2
Session 07: Introduction to SQL Azure
Session 08: Windows Azure Diagnostics
Session 09: Windows Azure Security, Part 1
Session 10: Windows Azure Security, Part 2
Session 11: Scalability, Caching & Elasticity, Part 1
Session 12: Scalability, Caching & Elasticity, Part 2, and Q&A

http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Windows-Azure-Jump-Start-01-Windows-Azure-Overview

2. Windows Azure Cloud Cover Show

http://channel9.msdn.com/Shows/Cloud+Cover

3. Windows Azure Podcasts

http://www.developerfusion.com/t/azure/media/
http://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/DevRadio
http://azurecast.blogspot.in/

Windows Azure - Free ebooks

Upscaling to Windows Azure - http://jeanpaulva.com/2011/11/12/ebook-on-windows-azure/

Windows Azure Platform: Articles from the Trenches Volume One - http://geekswithblogs.net/iupdateable/archive/2010/06/23/free-96-page-book---windows-azure-platform-articles-from.aspx

Windows Azure Service Bus Developer Guide   - http://www.cloudcasts.net/devguide/

Free Windows Azure Ebooks - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/umits/archive/2012/11/06/free-windows-azure-ebooks.aspx

David Chappel Whitepapers on Azure - http://www.davidchappell.com/writing/white_papers.php

Windows Azure Learning Resources

Windows Azure Training Kit

Download Windows Azure Training Kit - December 2012

What is Cloud Computing

 NIST Cloud Computing Definition

After years in the works and 15 drafts, the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) working definition of cloud computing, the 16th and final definition has been published as The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing (NIST Special Publication 800-145).

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

This cloud model is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models.

 
Link to Download:
The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing


Wikipedia Definition of Cloud Computing:

    Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet). The name comes from the use of a cloud-shaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data, software and computation.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing