Azure.. Love it or hate it's here

So what is Azure??

This post I thought I'd share what Azure is and what it is good for. Azure has become a new Windows buzz word that is all over the internet with little explanation, so here it goes.

Azure is Microsoft's attempt at taking hardware from the Data center and placing it into the cloud. So what does this mean? This means that the Software Engineer and IT team no longer have to worry about things like SQL server and Windows server set up. This is all done within the cloud. Obviously there are pros and like there is with everything else. It's kind of like when host providers started to host websites. Same thing. The process of building the web server ( memory, hard drive space and such), as well as getting upload bandwidth speeds to handle the amount of traffic you hope to get is placed in the hands of the hosting provider. Providers such as go daddy or network solutions. Azure takes the same hosting concepts and applies them to software / database development. An excellent place to start to discover the benefits to this new Microsoft platform is this website: Learn about Azure

Who is this good for and why?

Azure is good for a wide range of people for a variety of reasons. Even if you are a bigger company, you still can utilize the power of Azure with the power of lack of knowledge so to speak. You software development team can spend less time worrying about the set up of SQL or setting up Windows server and more time on the project at hand. On the downside this also gives the company less control and thus can cause issues where there are complicated scenarios with things like permissions and such.
A lot of this in the end will depend on how well Microsoft support is and how the handle companies needs. I'm sure it will no doubt be support based on a big fat monetary scale.

Great Home Networking Devices

nullIn the market to update or create your own at home network?? Below are some of my favorite network routers in order! Click the picture to pick one up.

3.) This first one is an almost obsolete one due to no wireless, but has always been an old faithful! It can act as your Cable modem and Network appliance. It has basic security features, and a few parental controls.



2.) This is the newer Linksys models. They have been getting a few criticisms because of the lac of antennas and whether or not they provide enough signal strength. I have tested this model and it works great. I have a few obstacle walls and the signal seems to reach 3 stories down just fine!! A always, it has the Linksys pantient easy setup with accompanying CD. Great for a newbie at setting these guys up. This is also an "N ready router with the newest edge wireless signal technology! I added a direct Buy button for this one below!!

Wireless Freedom Wireless-N technology lets you surf the web from the living room, play on-line games from the bedroom, and listen to your digital music in the kitchen. The extra speed lets you connect more devices, and move files faster. And Wireless-N works great with your older devices, too.

Device Connectivity Keep your digital files in one place, and share them from any computer on your network. Four built-in 10/100 Ethernet ports make it easy to connect additional wired computers, storage, printers, and other wired devices to your network.

Security Made Simple Wireless security and firewall protection help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.

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Wireless-N Home Router WRT120N Step up to the speed of Wireless-N! Get connected without wires. The Wireless-N Home Router gives you a wireless connection that's twice the speed of Wireless-G so your whole family can share a broadband Internet connection and access files from almost anywhere in the house.

1.) The best one at the moment that I use for customers and in my own home when not testing other models is this one...


REFURBISHED Wireless-G Broadband Router WRT54G2-RM

The one above has no picture, but has B and G capability and is great for home use... Easy to set up, nothing too fancy, and gets you up and running in minuites