Azure Weekly

Issue #223 - 5th May 2019

We've been experimenting with Azure Data Factory Mapping Data Flows recently. It's a new drag-and-drop ETL capability in ADF. Whilst there are still a few rough edges (which is understandable whilst it's still in limited public preview), we believe it has the potential to be an extremely useful tool for easily creating ETL pipelines. Carmel has summarized our experience of the new feature here. Elswhere, Heather Spetalnick has written about Building recommender systems with Azure Machine Learning service, sharing a handy GitHub repository which provides numerous resources to help you get started.

I'm also pleased to announce that endjin has become a Snowflake partner. For those of you who have not heard of Snowflake before, it's a fantastic "designed for the cloud" data platform redefines what a data warehouse can be in the age of cloud. With features such as data sharing, usage based billing, and availability on Microsoft Azure, it has won our hearts. We're currently integrating it into our Modern Data Platform Blueprint - so expect to see more posts about it from us.

The BUILD 2019 conference starts on the 6th May - so expect a BUMPER edition of Azure Weekly next week!

Now for this week's announcements and updates:

⚙️ AI + Machine Learning

On the Azure blog, Eric Boyd (@eric_boyd) writes about Making AI real for every developer and every organization
On the MSSQL Tips site, Ron L'Esteve provides an Azure Vision Service and Face API Example with Python
Also on the Azure blog, Heather Spetalnick (@microheather) describes Building recommender systems with Azure Machine Learning service
On Channel 9, David Aronchick (@aronchick) describes MLOps for managing the end to end life cycle with Azure Machine Learning service
Also on Channel 9, Francesca Lazzeri (@frlazzeri) talks about Time Series Forecasting with Azure Machine Learning
Also on Channel 9, Nilesh Acharya (@Nilesh_Acharya) talks about Automation to accelerate apply and outperform your machine learning models
Also on Channel 9, Eduardo Melo describes how to Build zero code machine learning models with Azure Machine Learning service

🔎 Analytics

On the Azure blog, Ruixin Xu writes about Understanding HDInsight Spark jobs and data through visualizations in the Jupyter Notebook
Also on the Azure blog, Arnab Ganguly (@connect_arnab) discusses Migrating big data workloads to Azure HDInsight
On the endjin blog, Carmel Eve (@Carmel_Eve) explores Azure Data Factory – Mapping Data Flows
tTcalculations with calculation groups in Azure Analysis Services and writes In development: Model many-to-many relationships with Azure Analysis Services

🖥️ Compute

On the Azure blog, Mark Russinovic (@markrussinovich) blogs about Digitizing trust: Azure Blockchain Service simplifies blockchain development
On the Azure blog, Eamon O'Reilly writes about Serverless automation using PowerShell preview in Azure Functions
On Channel 9, Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) talks about Serverless automation using PowerShell in Azure Functions with Eamon O'Reilly
On Code Project, Javier Carrion (@seetechnologic) describes how to Play and test your first Serverless Azure Function
Mark Heath (@mark_heath) writes that Azure Functions Fundamentals Updated for Version 2
On the Kloud blog, Darren Robinson (@darrenjrobinson) writes about Generating and Configuring Free SSL Certs for Azure Windows IaaS Virtual Machines
Tim Anderson (@timanderson) writes A post that can save you money: scheduling Azure Virtual Machines for start/stop
Also on the Azure blog, Troy Shane (@PendletonPhunk) describes the Best practices in migrating SAP applications to Azure – part 3

🚢 Containers

The Azure updates team writes about Azure Kubernetes Service: Kubernetes 1.9 end-of-life notice and highlights the General availability: Azure Kubernetes Service in North Central US and Japan West
Mark Heath (@mark_heath) writes Containerized Activities in Durable Workflows - Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5

🗄️ Databases

On Channel 9, Scott Hanselman & Gaurav Malhotra talk about Code-free modern data warehouse using Azure SQL DW and Data Factory
On the DB Best blog, Bill Ramos (@billramo) writes Beware — Azure SQL Server Database Managed Instance default file growth of 16 MB
On the MSSQL Tips site, John Miner (@JohnMiner3) provides an Azure Data Studio Step By Step Tutorial
On the Tallan blog, Lenni Lobel writes about Horizontal Partitioning in Azure Cosmos DB

🛠️ Developer Tools

On MSDN, the Service Fabric Team highlights the Azure Service Fabric 6.4 Refresh Release
On the Visual Studio blog, Craig Dunn (@conceptdev) discusses Getting hands on with Visual Studio for Mac, containers, and serverless code in the cloud
Also on the Visual Studio blog, Xiaokai He (@XiaokaiHe) highlights the Java on Visual Studio Code April Update
Also on the Visual Studio blog, Pratik Nadagouda talks about Redesigning the New Project Dialog
James van den Berg (@JamesvandenBerg) writes Microsoft SQL Always-On Cluster vs SQL Managed Instance in Azure
On the Sharegate blog, Leigh Ryan writes Azure Solutions Architect vs. Azure Administrator: what's the difference, and which certification is right for you
On TechNet, Chris Walden writes about Your first project in Azure
On Microsoft Cloud Show, Andrew Connell and Chris Johnson (@mscloudshow) present Episode 300 | Not your Everyday Episode
Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) highlights the Microsoft Ignite The Tour 2019 Azure Hybrid Session Recordings
On the Azure blog, Michael Crump (@mbcrump) writes about Azure Tips and Tricks - Become more productive with Azure
On the Xamarin blog, Jayme Singleton (@JaymeSingleton1) highlights the Xamarin and .NET Developer Events in May

🔩 DevOps

The Azure updates team writes about the Azure Pipelines app for Teams, improved GitHub and Azure Boards integration: Sprint 151 Update
On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Edward Thomson (@ethomson) lists the Top Stories from the Microsoft DevOps Community – 2019.04.26
Also on the Microsoft DevOps blog, Erin Dormier announces the Azure DevOps Server 2019.0.1 RC
Also on the Microsoft DevOps blog, Gloridel Morales provides the Azure DevOps Roadmap update for 2019 Q2
Gregor Suttie (@gregor_suttie) talks about Azure Devops Pass Variables between Tasks
On Channel 9, Jeremy Likness and Abel Wang present DevOps For ASP.NET Developers Pt.7 - Templates and Scaffolding Tools and present DevOps For ASP.NET Developers Pt. 8 - Azure DevOps Integration with GitHub
On Code Project, Lee P Richardson (@lprichar) describes how to Share Code Like a Boss: Part 1 - Private NuGet Feeds in Azure DevOps
On the Black Marble blog, Richard Fennell (@richardfennell) discusses Migrating a GUI based build to YAML in Azure DevOps Pipelines

🎭 Identity

On the Revolution Analytics blog, Hong Ooi introduces AzureGraph: an interface to Microsoft Graph
On MSDN, Deva Gnanam (@devagnanam) writes Azure Developer: Submit your Feature requests for Microsoft Graph API User Voice
On TechNet, Aaron Guilmette (@aaronguilmette) provides an Update to the AAD Network Testing Tool and writes about the Update to the AAD Connect Advanced Permissions tool

💡 Internet of Things

On the Azure blog, Julia White (@julwhite) writes about Intelligent edge innovation across data, IoT, and mixed reality
On Channel 9, Olivier Bloch (@obloch) tells us that The Azure IoT team gets ready for Microsoft Build 2019
Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) writes Did I leave the garage door open? A no-code project with Azure IoT Central and the MXChip DevKit

⚖️ Management and Governance

Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) shares a Video: Mastering Azure using Cloud Shell, PowerShell and Bash
On the Azure blog, Mayuri Gupta highlights the Monitoring enhancements for VMware and physical workloads protected with Azure Site Recovery
The Azure updates team highlights a number of updates: General availability: Azure Log Analytics in Central US, East US 2, East ASIA, West US and South Central US, Switch API preference for Log Alerts, The Azure US Gov Iowa region is being retired April 30, 2020 and Application Insights Availability in Azure US Gov Virginia Region
On the Codit blog, Tom Kerkhove (@TomKerkhove) highlights 3 Azure Monitor Hidden Gems You Should Use
Michael Crump (@mbcrump) posts Tip 195 - Use Azure Monitor to track custom events
Stanislav Zhelyazkov (@StanZhelyazkov) tells us to Go with the Cloud’s Native Management

⚙️ Microsoft Azure Stack

On the Azure blog, David Armour (@Darmour_MSFT) writes Azure Stack IaaS – part seven

🚌 Migration

On TechNet, Joe Carlyle (@wedoAzure) discusses Azure Migrate – Where Should I Start?

📱 Mobile

On Channel 9, James Montemagno (@JamesMontemagno) talks about Installing Visual Studio 2019 for Mobile Development with .NET & Xamarin and talks about Detect Shake (Xamarin.Essentials API of the Week)

🌐 Networking

The Azure updates team highlights that Azure Application Gateway Standard v2 and WAF v2 SKUs generally available
Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) describes how to Run your VMware natively on Azure with Azure VMware Solutions
On the Azure podcast, The Azure podcast team (@AzurePodcast) presents Episode 277 - Automating Network Security with Nills Franssens

🔐 Security

The Azure updates team writes about Retire and replace specific Security Center features on July 31, 2019

📦 Storage

On the Azure blog, Kevin Raines describes how to Accelerate supercomputing in the cloud with Cray ClusterStor
On the Azure blog, The Azure updates team announces the General availability of AzCopy v10
Charbel Nemnom (@charbelnemnom) explains How To Install Azure File Sync on Windows Server Core

🔗 Web

Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) describes how to Preview Web Apps with Azure Cloud Shell Web Preview
On the Azure blog, Michael Hansen describes how to Deploy a FHIR sandbox in Azure