AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam

Understand the Core Concepts of Containers

Containers are a key compute type in Azure, offering a way to encapsulate applications and their dependencies into a single, portable unit. This ensures that the application runs consistently across different environments, from development to production. Containers are lightweight and efficient, making them ideal for microservices architectures and applications that need to scale quickly. Azure provides several services to manage and orchestrate containers. One of the primary services is Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), which simplifies deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications using Kubernetes. AKS handles much of the complexity involved in container orchestration, such as scaling, updates, and monitoring, allowing developers to focus on building their applications. In addition to containers, Azure offers other compute types like virtual machines (VMs) and functions. VMs provide a more traditional approach, offering full control over the operating system and the ability to run any application. They are suitable for applications that require specific OS-level configurations or legacy applications that cannot be containerized. On the other hand, Azure Functions is a serverless compute service that allows you to run code in response to events without managing the underlying infrastructure. This is ideal for event-driven applications and scenarios where you want to pay only for the compute resources you use. Comparing these compute types: Containers are best for applications that need to be portable and scalable, VMs are suitable for applications requiring full control over the environment, and functions are ideal for event-driven, short-lived tasks. Each compute type has its own set of use cases and benefits, and understanding these can help you choose the right solution for your application needs.

In summary, containers offer a modern, efficient way to deploy and manage applications, with Azure providing robust services like AKS to support containerized workloads. By understanding the differences and use cases for containers, VMs, and functions, you can make informed decisions about the best compute type for your applications in Azure.

Evaluate the Advantages and Limitations of Each Compute Type

Virtual Machines (VMs) Virtual Machines (VMs) are a versatile compute type in Azure, providing a full operating system environment. They are ideal for applications that require complete control over the operating system and the ability to run custom software. Advantages of VMs include their flexibility and the ability to run a wide range of applications. They also support various configurations, allowing users to choose the appropriate size and performance level for their needs. However, VMs can be resource-intensive and may incur higher costs due to the need for additional resources like virtual networks, storage, and load balancers.

Containers Containers offer a lightweight alternative to VMs, providing a way to package applications and their dependencies into a single unit that can run consistently across different environments. Containers are known for their fast deployment and efficient resource utilization, making them suitable for microservices and applications that require rapid scaling. They are also easier to manage and update compared to VMs. However, containers may have limitations in terms of isolation and security compared to VMs, and they require a container orchestration service like Kubernetes for managing large-scale deployments.

Functions Azure Functions represent a serverless compute option, where users can run code without managing the underlying infrastructure. This compute type is ideal for event-driven applications and scenarios where the workload is unpredictable. Advantages of Azure Functions include automatic scaling, pay-per-execution pricing, and reduced management overhead. They are particularly useful for tasks that run in response to events, such as processing data from IoT devices or handling HTTP requests. However, functions may have limitations in terms of execution time and resource constraints, making them less suitable for long-running or resource-intensive applications.

Comparison and Use Cases

When comparing these compute types, it’s important to consider factors like deployment speed, resource utilization, scalability, and management complexity. VMs offer the most control and flexibility but come with higher costs and management overhead. Containers provide a balance between performance and resource efficiency, making them suitable for modern, scalable applications. Azure Functions offer the simplest management experience and cost efficiency for event-driven workloads but may not be suitable for all application types.

In summary, the choice between VMs, containers, and functions depends on the specific requirements of the application and business goals. VMs are best for applications needing full OS control, containers are ideal for scalable microservices, and functions are perfect for event-driven, serverless applications. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each compute type helps in making informed decisions to optimize performance, cost, and management efforts in Azure.

Explore the Functionality of Azure Functions

Azure Functions is a serverless compute service that allows you to run small pieces of code, or "functions," in the cloud without the need to manage the underlying infrastructure. This service is designed to make development faster and more productive by letting you focus solely on writing the code necessary to solve your specific problem. You can use various programming languages such as C#, Java, JavaScript, PowerShell, Python, and TypeScript. Billing is based on the execution time of your code, and Azure automatically scales the resources as needed. To get started with Azure Functions, you can create your first function directly in the Azure portal. Azure provides rich tools for developing, deploying, and managing serverless apps, including integration with Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code. After building your app, you can deploy it quickly using Azure Resource Manager templates. Azure also offers comprehensive monitoring through Azure Monitor logs and Application Insights, which can be accessed via the Azure portal, APIs, or SDKs. Azure Functions supports a variety of event-driven triggers and bindings that connect your functions to other services without requiring additional code. Common scenarios include processing file uploads, real-time data processing, running scheduled tasks, building scalable web APIs, and creating serverless workflows. These capabilities enable you to build modern, event-driven systems efficiently. The service offers multiple hosting options to suit different business needs and application workloads. The Consumption plan is fully serverless, where you only pay for execution time, while the Premium plan keeps instances warm for faster response times. You can also host functions in an existing App Service plan for predictable scaling and costs, or deploy them in custom containers for complete control over the runtime environment. Azure Functions integrates seamlessly with popular development tools and supports a wide range of programming languages, making it a versatile choice for developers. It simplifies the development lifecycle by providing native support for debugging and deployments, and it integrates with Azure Monitor and Application Insights for runtime telemetry and analysis. This makes Azure Functions an ideal solution for building microservices, data processing tasks, and automation workflows.

Analyze Cost, Performance, and Management Considerations

When analyzing cost, performance, and management considerations for Azure compute types, it’s essential to understand the differences between containers, virtual machines (VMs), and functions. Virtual machines are versatile and can run various operating systems and applications, but they come with higher costs and management overhead. Costs include not only the VM itself but also associated resources like virtual networks, network interface cards, IP addresses, and storage disks. It’s crucial to monitor these resources to avoid unexpected charges, especially after deleting VMs, as some resources may continue to incur costs. Containers offer a lightweight alternative to VMs, providing a consistent environment for applications with less overhead. They are ideal for microservices and applications that need to be deployed quickly and scaled efficiently. Containers share the host OS kernel, which reduces resource usage and costs. However, managing containers requires understanding orchestration tools like Kubernetes, which can add complexity. Functions, or serverless computing, provide an even more granular level of resource management. They automatically scale based on demand and charge only for the execution time, making them cost-effective for intermittent workloads. Functions are ideal for event-driven applications and can significantly reduce management overhead since the infrastructure is managed by Azure. To optimize costs and performance, it’s important to choose the appropriate compute type based on workload patterns and resource needs. Virtual machines are suitable for long-running applications and those requiring full control over the environment. Containers are best for applications needing rapid deployment and scalability. Functions are perfect for short-lived, event-driven tasks.

By understanding these differences, you can make informed decisions to balance cost, performance, and management efforts in Azure.

Examine the Features and Use Cases of Virtual Machines

Virtual machines (VMs) in Azure provide Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) by virtualizing hardware resources. This allows users to run diverse operating systems and applications on virtualized hardware, offering flexibility and scalability. VMs are particularly useful for running legacy applications and isolated workloads that require specific configurations or environments. When creating VMs, several associated resources are also created, such as Virtual Networks, Network Interface Cards (NICs), and Network Security Groups (NSGs). While NICs and NSGs do not incur additional costs, other resources like private and public IPs, OS disks, and load balancers might. It’s important to manage these resources carefully to avoid unnecessary costs, especially after deleting VMs, as some resources might continue to accrue charges. Azure offers various VM sizes and series, such as the Dpsv5-series and Dplsv5-series, which are based on the Arm architecture. These VMs provide a range of vCPU sizes and memory options, catering to different workload requirements. For example, the Dpsv5-series is suitable for general-purpose workloads like web servers and small databases, while the Dplsv5-series is optimized for non-memory-intensive workloads like microservices and gaming servers. To manage costs effectively, Azure provides tools for monitoring and budgeting. Users can set budgets, create alerts for spending anomalies, and export cost data for further analysis. This helps in identifying spending trends and optimizing resource usage. Additionally, Azure offers savings plans and reserved instances, which can significantly reduce costs for long-term VM usage.

In summary, Azure VMs offer a versatile and scalable solution for various computing needs. By understanding the associated costs and utilizing cost management tools, users can optimize their cloud investment and ensure efficient resource usage.