Windows Azure Caching: Difference between revisions

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{{Uncategorized|date=February 2013}}

'''Windows Azure Caching''' is an in-memory, [[Distributed cache|distributed caching]] feature designed for [[Windows Azure]] applications<ref name=CachingMain>{{cite web|title=Caching in Windows Azure|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg278356.aspx|work=MSDN Library|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=12 February 2013}}</ref>. Caching is currently available as a part of the [http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/develop/net/#/ Windows Azure SDK].

==Architecture==

Windows Azure Caching allows a cloud service to host Caching on a Windows Azure role<ref name=CachingMain/>. The cache is distributed across all running instances of that role. Therefore, the amount of available memory in the cache is determined by the number of running instances of the role that hosts Caching and the amount of physical memory reserved for Caching on each instance<ref name=CachingCapacityPlanning>{{cite web|title=Capacity Planning Considerations for Windows Azure Caching|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh914129.aspx|work=MSDN Library|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref>.

There are two deployment topologies for Caching:

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==Shared Caching==

Windows Azure Shared Caching provides caching as a managed service<ref name=SharedCaching>{{cite web|title=About Windows Azure Shared Caching|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh697519.aspx|work=MSDN Library|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref>. Unlike co-located or dedicated topologies, the cache is not hosted on Windows Azure roles in a single cloud service deployment. Instead, the cache is provided as a multitenant service with usage quotas<ref name=SharedCachingQuotas>{{cite web|title=Understanding Quotas for Windows Azure Shared Caching|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg185683.aspx|work=MSDN Library|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref>. The service is divided into tiers that range from 128 MB to 4 GB<ref name=SharedCachingFAQ>{{cite web|title=Windows Azure Shared Caching FAQ|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh697522.aspx|work=MSDN Library|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref>. In addition to storage capacity, each tier provides increasing processor and network capabilities<ref name=SharedCachingFAQ/>. Shared Caching provides a way for multiple cloud services to access the same cache.

==History==

Windows Azure Caching has its roots in an on-premises technology, [[AppFabric]]. It was originally released as one of several Windows Azure AppFabric services, but the AppFabric designation in Windows Azure has since been abandoned. Many of the assembly names, namespaces, and APIs are identical between Windows Azure Caching and AppFabric Caching<ref name=CachingOnPremisesAndCloud>{{cite web|title=Differences Between Caching On-Premises and in the Cloud|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg185678.aspx|work=MSDN Library|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref>. The first release of Caching for Windows Azure in April 2011 provided caching as a managed service in Windows Azure<ref name=Caching2011Release>{{cite web|title=Introducing the Windows Azure Caching Service|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/gg983488.aspx|work=MSDN Magazine|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref>. This offering is now called Shared Caching.

In October 2012, support was added for hosting Caching on roles within a cloud service deployment<ref name=CachingRelNotes>{{cite web|title=Windows Azure Caching Release Notes (October 2012)|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/jj651667.aspx|work=MSDN Library|publisher=Microsoft|accessdate=13 February 2013}}</ref>. This is now called Window Azure Caching.