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Available: Windows Azure Platform Training Kit – October 2011 Update

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The October release of the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit (WAPTK) is now available as a free download. The Windows Azure Platform Training Kit includes hands-on labs (HOLs), presentations, and samples to help you understand how to build applications that utilize Windows Azure, SQL Azure, and the Windows Azure AppFabric. Download the full training kit including the hands-on labs, demo scripts, and presentations here. Browse through the individual hands-on labs on MSDN here.

The October 2011 version of the training kit includes the following new and updated content:

  • HOL: SQL Azure Data-tier Applications NEW
  • HOL: SQL Azure Data Sync NEW
  • HOL: SQL Azure Federations NEW
  • DEMO: Provisioning Logical Servers using Cmdlets NEW
  • DEMO: Parallel Computing on Windows Azure - Travelling Salesman NEW
  • SQL Azure Labs and Demos with the new portal and tooling experience UPDATED
  • Applied several minor fixes in content UPDATED

Also available is an updated preview of our web installer, which enables you to select and download just the hands-on labs, demos, and presentations you want instead of downloading the entire training kit. As new or updated hands-on labs, presentations, and demos are available; they will automatically show up in the web installer. Download the training kit web installer preview release here.

You can start building your application on it in 3 simple and easy ‘to-do’ steps:

1. Download the tools:

Get Visual Studio Express and the Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio to start building and debugging applications for the Windows Azure Platform at https://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/sdk/ 
If you have already Visual Studio installed you can download the tools directly from https://tinyurl.com/toolsforazure .

2. Setup an account:

Set up an account and obtain a free subscription for accessing the online portals for Windows Azure, SQL Azure and Windows Azure AppFabric. You can learn more about the accounts at https://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/learn/get-started/ or you can sign up directly and get the trial https://tinyurl.com/getazurefreetrial .

3. Create your first application and deploy it on the Windows Azure Platform:

First learn how to create a simple ASP.NET application in Visual Studio for Windows Azure and deploy it on Windows Azure at https://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/learn/tutorials/getting-started-web-tutorial/

When all steps are executed successfully you should have running your first application on the Windows Azure Platform.