What is Microsoft Azure Stack?

1. Pre-requisite Knowledge –

Before we start with the understanding of what is Microsoft Azure Stack, we should know –

1. Basic knowledge of cloud computing and its services
2. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Azure
3. Basic Knowledge of hybrid and private cloud

2. Background –

In this article, we will explore the Microsoft Azure Stack and its main services.

Before we look into what is Microsoft Azure Stack, let's understand -

• What is cloud computing and Microsoft Azure?

3. Introduction of Microsoft Azure Stack –
   • If an organization wants to utilize the power of the Azure cloud but doesn’t want to utilize the Azure public data center because of factors like latency, intermittent connectivity, and regulations, etc. In such cases, we have a need for a hybrid cloud approach in place.
   • Microsoft has a solution for this need i.e. Azure stack. Azure Stack is an extension of Azure that provides a way to run applications in an on-premises environment and deliver Azure services in your datacenter.

Source – Microsoft Docs

• Microsoft delivers the Azure service to organizational needs from its own data center.
• Azure stack has the same level of standard architecture as Azure public cloud like Azure portal, application model, etc.
• Azure stack integrated system range in size of 4-16 nodes. The Azure Stack Development Kit (ASDK) is a single-node deployment of Azure Stack that you can download and use for free.
• We can process the data in Azure stack and can integrate with Azure public cloud for further analytics. We can even disconnect the internet from Azure stack and disconnect from the Azure public cloud.
• Since Azure stack works on the same model as Azure public cloud, we can easily deploy applications to Azure stack without modifications in the code and approach to manage it.
• Microsoft has trusted hardware partners to rapidly set-up the Azure stack in the on-premise environment.
• We can use the Azure active directory and active directory federation service in Azure stack too.
• We can easily integrate this DevOps for the speedy process of implementing the solutions.
• Azure stack has common operational practices like Azure public cloud to deploy and operate Azure IaaS and PaaS services using the same administrative experiences and tools.
• How to manage Azure stack –
  1. As said, Azure stack having the portal like Azure.
  2. Azure stack operator will deliver the services in Azure stack.

• Using the administrative portal, we can configure services that will be provided to Azure stack tenant like subscription, plans, quotas, etc. it is the process of configuring the Azure stack.

1. Then, once it is ready then Azur stack user (tenant) can consume the services inside it which are provided by Azure stack operator.

• Resource Providers –
  1. This is web service and foundation of all Azure stack IaaS, PaaS services.
  2. Resource providers like –
     1. Compute – Create own virtual machines and its extensions.
     2. Network Resource Provider – It provides software-defined networking and network function virtualization.
     3. Storage Resource Provider – it delivers storage services like a blob, queue, KeyVault, table, etc.
     4. There are other resource providers too like app service, SQL service, MySQL Server, etc.

• Azure stack has also high availability features that allow configuring the fault and update domains for the virtual machines.
• We utilize the power of role-based access security like Azure in Azure stack for security.

4. Azure Stack Development Kit

5. Reference Links –

• https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/overview/azure-stack/
• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure-stack/operator/azure-stack-overview
• https://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/azure-stack.html
• https://www.networkworld.com/article/3037483/truly-understanding-microsoft-s-azure-stack.html

Conclusion – Azure stack is extremely secure and nothing but your cloud, your way. In this article, we have learned the overview of Microsoft Azure Stack and its services.