Azure Weekly Issue 456: 3rd March 2024

A varied selection of articles this week. Let's start with AI; Fine Tuning with Function Calling on Azure OpenAI Service and Cost Optimized hosting of Fine-tuned LLMs in Production.

Lots of Analytics updates this week, highlights include; Introducing Managed Private Endpoints for Microsoft Fabric in Public Preview, What is Eventstream in Microsoft Fabric - Part 1, and a some great Enhanced Performance in Additional Regions: Azure Synapse Analytics Spark Boosted by up to 77%.

In App Dev; Path and hostname-based routing in Azure Container Apps with NGINX, Everything you need to know about Azure Public & Private DNS, and App Configuration: where does it go.

Finally, Backstage is an open platform for building developer portals, we've been using it at endjin for a while now. We use it to put a UI over our large open source estate. We've built a number of plugins for surfacing engineering practices metrics, security and compliance information, like OpenChain. Our instance runs in Azure Container Apps, but there's a great article about Introduction and Deployment of Backstage on Azure Kubernetes Service.

AI + Machine Learning

Covering: Anomaly detector, Azure Bot Service, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Open Datasets, Bing APIs, Cognitive Services, Computer Vision, Content moderator, Custom vision, Data Science Virtual Machines, Face, Form Recogniser, Immersive Reader, Ink Recogniser, Language Understanding (LUIS), Machine Learning Studio, Microsoft Genomics, ML.NET, Personaliser, Project Cortex, QnA Maker, Speaker Recognition, Speech-to-Text, Speech translation, Text Analytics, Text to Speech , Translator Speech, Translator Text

• Joe Weeden explains how to AI transforms the telephone call
• Pamela Fox announces the Winners of the First AI Chat App Hack
• Manoj Bableshwar covers Mistral Large, Mistral AI's flagship LLM, debuts on Azure AI Models-as-a-Service
• On episode 286 of the Azure DevOps podcast, Jeffrey Palermo (@jeffreypalermo) is joined by Michael Washington to talk about Azure OpenAI
• On the Microsoft Mechanics show, Matt McSpirit (@mattmcspirit) explains how to Build your own private ChatGPT style app with enterprise-ready architecture
• Mahsa Rouzbahman writes about Fine Tuning with Function Calling on Azure OpenAI Service
• Lo Kinfey (@Ljh8304) covers Journey Series for Generative AI Application Architecture - Foundation
• Shubham Soni talks about Unleashing the Power of SAM in Azure Machine Learning and Azure AI Studio
• Jyotsna Ravi delves into Cost Optimized hosting of Fine-tuned LLMs in Production
• Deepak Kaaushik talks about Unleashing the Power of Azure AI Prompt Flow & Microsoft Fabric
• On the Microsoft Mechanics show, Mary David Pasch explains Microsoft Copilot personal and work experiences

Analytics

Covering: Apache Spark for HDInsight, Azure Analysis Services, Azure Data Explorer, Azure Data Share, Azure Databricks, Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Factory, Event Hubs, HDInsight, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Fabric

• On Microsoft Fabric Blog, Tzvia Gitlin Troyna blogs about Eventhouse Overview: Handling Real-Time Data with Microsoft Fabric
• Santhosh Kumar Ravindran walks through Introducing Managed Private Endpoints for Microsoft Fabric in Public Preview
• Dandan Zhang announces Azure Private Link Support for Microsoft Fabric in Public Preview
• Trevor Olson explains how to Reduce egress costs with S3 shortcuts in OneLake
• Aaron Merrill talks about Building Common Data Architectures with OneLake in Microsoft Fabric
• Brad Schacht walks through Mapping Azure Synapse dedicated SQL pools to Fabric data warehouse compute
• Meenal Srivastva talks about Introducing Trusted Workspace Access for OneLake Shortcuts
• Olga Molocenco discusses Microsoft Fabric for multitenant SaaS
• Koen Verbeeck (@Ko_Ver) writes about What is Eventstream in Microsoft Fabric - Part 1
• Guy Haycock explains how to Enhanced Performance in Additional Regions: Azure Synapse Analytics Spark Boosted by up to 77%
• David Callaghan covers Data Lake Governance with Tagging in Databricks Unity Catalog and describes Feature Engineering with Databricks and Unity Catalog
• Anna Hoffman (@AnalyticAnna) discusses The ABCs of ADX: Learning the Basics of Azure Data Explorer Data Exposed: MVP Edition
• Nijel S F provides a Migration Guide for HDInsight 5.1 - Hadoop cluster

Compute

Covering: Azure CycleCloud, Azure Dedicated Host, Azure Functions, Azure VMware Solution by CloudSimple, Batch, Cloud Services, Linux Virtual Machines, SAP HANA on Azure Large Instances, Service Fabric, Virtual Machines, Virtual Machine Scale Sets

• The Azure Updates Team announces Public preview: Azure Functions Support for HTTP Streams in Node.js
• Andy Howard announces the release of CycleCloud 8.6
• Kent Altena talks about Scaling Up in the Cloud: The WEKA Data Platform and Azure HPC Windows Grid Integration

Containers

Covering: Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Red Hat OpenShift, CNAB, CNCF, Container Instances, Container Registry, Porter, WSL, Web App for Containers

• The Azure Updates Team announces Generally Available: Capacity Reservations support in AKS, also GA: Istio-based service mesh add-on for Azure Kubernetes Service, and Public preview: Kubernetes 1.29 support in AKS, and Public preview: AKS support for node soak duration for upgrades and Public preview: Disable network policy in AKS for migration
• Noah Whitehead discusses Zero-trust Security for Windows Container-based application with Calico
• On Diagrid Blog, Bilgin Ibryam covers Dapr as a 10x Platform
• The Diagrid Team announce that Diagrid Conductor on the Azure Marketplace
• Cary Chai covers Path and hostname-based routing in Azure Container Apps with NGINX
• Pranay Bakre explains how to Deploy an Application to Azure Kubernetes Service

Databases

Covering: Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Database for MariaDB, Azure Database for MySQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Database Edge, Azure Cache for Redis, SQL Data Warehouse, SQL Server on virtual machines, SQL Server Stretch Database, Table storage

• The Azure Updates Team announces General availability: Azure SDKs support for Azure Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL, and General availability: Azure CLI support for Azure Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL and General availability: Latest PostgreSQL minor versions supported by Azure Database for PostgreSQL - Flexible Server
• The Azure Updates Team announces Public Preview: Azure SQL updates for late-February 2024
• Arvind Shyamsundar (@arvisam) covers Public Preview: Zone redundancy for Azure SQL Database Hyperscale elastic pools
• Aditi Gupta discusses Azure Database for MySQL Import supports Percona XtraBackup for migrations to Flexible Server
• John Miner explains how to Deploy and Configure Azure SQL Database for PostgreSQL using Azure Portal
• Assaf Fraenkel discusses Relational Data Synchronization between environments
• Claire Giordano (@clairegiordano) writes about The azureai extension to Azure Database for PostgreSQL, definition and demo
• Yochanan Rachamim (@ryochanan) covers Azure SQL DB - Failed to add database to failover group - find out why
• Jonas Ekerhovd (@jonastalks) shares Mastering Azure SQL Encryption for Better Data Protection

Developer Tools

Covering: App Configuration, Azure Lab Services, CLIs, Developer tool integrations, SDKs, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio Online

• On Visual Studio Magazine, David Ramel (@dramel) writes about Some 5 Years In, 'New' WinForms Designer Still Not There and writes about New in VS Code: Voice Dictation, Improved Copilot AI
• Derek Comartin discusses App Configuration: where does it go
• On the Visual Studio blog, Shyam Gupta discusses WinForms Designer Selection for 32-bit .NET Framework Projects
• Elio Struyf (@eliostruyf) walks through Running .NET Azure Functions on macOS and Visual Studio Code and explains how to Add a support link for a VSCode extension on the marketplace
• On IT Next, Saeed Zarinfam writes Can NetBeans bring us a decent Java Extension for VS Code
• Drew Skwiers-Koballa covers Updates from 162.1 and 162.2 releases of SqlPackage and the DacFx ecosystem
• Owain Osborne-Walsh covers Introduction and Deployment of Backstage on Azure Kubernetes Service
• On the Q Sharp blog, Ivan Basov covers Exploring space-time tradeoffs with Azure Quantum Resource Estimator
• David Levy announces Azure Data Studio 1.48 is now available

DevOps

Covering: Azure Artifacts, Azure Boards, Azure DevOps, Azure Pipelines, Azure Repos, Azure Test Plans, Azure DevTest Labs, DevOps tool integrations

• Eric Starker talks about Azure DevOps blog closing - moving to DevBlogs
• Elijah Weber walks through Building Re-Usable Pipeline Templates in GitHub Actions Workflows
• Dhruv Muttaraju writes Accelerate developer onboarding with the configuration-as-code customization in Microsoft Dev Box
• Steven Ma explains how to Terraform on Azure February 2024 Update

Hybrid + Multicloud

Covering: Azure Arc, Azure Stack

• Charley Wen blogs about Azure Operator Nexus – The Ultimate Cloud-Native Solution for Mobile Workloads
• Deepak Garg blogs about Introducing Azure Operator 5G Core
• Venkata Raj Pochiraju writes SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc, now assists in selecting the best Azure SQL target

Identity

Covering: Azure Active Directory (AD), Azure Active Directory B2C, Azure Active Directory Domain Services

• Gyanendra Kumar Gautam covers February 26, 2024 Weekly Update on Microsoft Integration Platform & Azure iPaaS
• Alex Weinert writes about Prompt users for reauthentication on sensitive apps and high-risk actions with Conditional Access
• Daniel Söderholm explains how to Refreshed Identity and Access Management CAF documentation
• On the Redmond magazine site, Kurt Mackie (@kurmac) describes Microsoft Previews Conditional Access Policy To Compel Reauthentications
• Aquib Qureshi covers Azure Permissions 101: How to manage Azure access effectively

Integration

Covering: Azure API for FHIR, Event Grid, Logic Apps, Service Bus

• Eldert Grootenboer (@egrootenboer) describes IP address changes for Azure Service Bus and IP/DNS Changes for Azure Relay
• Sandro Pereira (@sandro_asp) covers BizTalk Server to Azure Integration Services: Validate XML messages before executing the business logic
• Nikita Nallamothu blogs about Load Testing Azure Service Bus
• Jose Barreto provides Links about Microsoft Graph Data Connect for SharePoint
• Jose Barreto provides a Step-by-step: Gather a detailed dataset on SharePoint Sites using the Microsoft Graph Data Connect

Internet of Things

Covering: Azure Digital Twins, Azure IoT Central, Azure IoT Edge, Azure IoT Hub, Azure IoT solution accelerators, Azure Maps, Azure Sphere, Azure Time Series Insights, IoT DevKit, WildernessLabs, Windows 10 IoT Core Services

• The Azure Sphere Team talks about Azure Sphere OS version 24.03 is now available for evaluation

Learning

Covering: Microsoft Certifications, Azure Certifications, Microsoft Learning Paths, Certification Pathway Information

• Vinicius Apolinario (@vrapolinario) writes about New Storage and Networking MS Learn modules for Windows containers on AKS
• Megan Pennie explains how to Optimize and secure your cloud with new Azure Optimization skilling events
• Paul DeCarlo blogs about Microsoft Fabric AI Hack Together: Create, Evaluate, and Score a Churn Prediction Model
• On episode 227 of the Ctrl+Alt+Azure podcast, Tobias Zimmergren & Jussi Roine are joined by Mustafa Toroman (@CtrlAltAzure) to talk about Experiences in Azure 
• Daniel Calbimonte discusses AI-102 Exam: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution Study Guide

Management and Governance

Covering: Automation, Azure Advisor, Azure Backup, Azure Blueprints, Azure Lighthouse, Azure Managed Applications, Azure mobile app, Azure Monitor, Azure Policy, Azure Resource Manager, Azure Service Health, Azure Site Recovery, Cloud Shell, Cost Management, Microsoft Azure portal, Scheduler, Azure Purview

• The Azure Updates Team explains how to Enable replication for added VMware VM data disks
• Sharon Choi covers Introducing the Microsoft 365 Lighthouse and Microsoft Power Platform Integration Guide
• Giulio Astori talks about Unlocking New Dimensions in Cybersecurity - Advanced Export for Defender for Cloud Attack Insights
• Jonas Ohmsen covers ConfigMgr Windows Update Compliance Reporting FAQ
• The Intune Support Team provide a Support tip: Leveraging PowerShell to view and manage Microsoft Intune Assignment filters
• Jason Cody covers Zero Trust: Rapid off boarding with Intune and Microsoft Entra Id
• Sam Cogan (@samcogan) writes Classic Application Insights Is On Its Way Out
• On episode 371 og the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, Ben & Scott talk about Microsoft Intune

Media

Covering: Azure Media Player, Content Protection, Encoding, Live and On-Demand Streaming, Media Analytics, Media Services, Video Indexer

• Steven Stein talks about Whats New in Microsoft Teams February 2024

Migration

Covering: Azure Database Migration Service, Azure Migrate, Data Box

Networking

Covering: Application Gateway, Azure Bastion, Azure DNS, Azure ExpressRoute, Azure Firewall, Azure Firewall Manager, Azure Front Door, Azure Internet Analyzer, Azure Private Link, Content Delivery Network, Load Balancer, Network Watcher, Traffic Manager, Virtual Network, Virtual WAN, VPN Gateway, Web Application Firewall

• The Azure Updates Team announces General availability: Application Gateway for Containers, and Public preview: Azure Application Gateway introduces support for TLS and TCP protocols and Public preview: Internet inbound for Network Virtual Appliances in Virtual WAN Hubs
• Wessel Loth shares Everything you need to know about Azure Public & Private DNS
• Raman Dhillon blogs about Azure Virtual Network now supports updates without subnet property
• Bozidar Radunovic covers Microsoft and Industry Leaders Enable RAN and Platform Programmability with Project Janus
• Deepti Jain covers Connectivity from IaaS (VM) and PaaS service (ADF) to ADLS account with public network access disabled
• Jason Medina describes Azure VMware Solution with vWAN Routing Intent and Palo Alto Cloud NGFW

Security

Covering: Azure DDoS Protection, Azure Information Protection, Azure Sentinel, Key Vault, Security Center

• On The Azure Podcast, the Podcast team (@AzurePodcast) is joined by Fabian Gonzalez to talk about Tales from the field with Azure Key Vault
• Shabaz Shaik describes Azure DDoS Protection – SecOps Deep Dive

Storage

Covering: Archive Storage, Avere vFXT for Azure, Azure Data Lake Store, Azure FXT Edge Filer, Azure HPC Cache, Azure NetApp Files, Blob Storage, Disk Storage, File Storage, Managed Disks, Queue Storage, Storage Accounts, Storage Explorer, StorSimple

• Damien Bowden (@damien_bod) walks through Delegated read and application write access to blob storage using ASP.NET Core with Entra ID authentication

Web

Covering: API apps, API Management, App Service (Web), Azure Cognitive Search, Azure SignalR Service, Azure Spring Cloud, Web apps

• The Azure Updates Team talks about GA: Azure API Management Developer Portal Unveils Enhanced Features for Increased Developer Productivity
• Jeff Martinez covers Creating Intelligent Apps on App Service with .NET
• Madhura Bharadwaj blogs about Azure Functions: Support for HTTP Streams in Node.js is now in Preview

Azure Virtual Desktop

Covering: Azure Virtual Desktop