Azure Web App Plans and Simplified Operations

Azure Web App Plans offer a flexible pricing model that allows you to scale your web application as needed.

With Azure Web App Plans, you can choose from several pricing tiers, including the Basic, Standard, and Premium plans, each with varying levels of resources and features.

The Basic plan is a cost-effective option for small to medium-sized web applications, while the Standard and Premium plans offer more resources and advanced features for larger applications.

Azure Web App Plans also include a free tier, which allows you to host a small web application for free, with a limited number of resources and features.

Azure Web App Plans are a crucial part of hosting your web app on Azure. You can choose from two types of plans: Linux-based and Windows-based, each running on a different operating system.

To create an App Service Plan, you'll need to log in to the Azure portal and navigate to the App Service Plans section. Then, click on the “+ Create” button to create a new plan. You'll need to provide a name, select the appropriate subscription, resource group, and operating system, and choose a pricing tier that fits your needs.

The pricing tier you choose will determine the level of resources and features your app service will have. There are three main pricing tiers: Shared Compute, Dedicated Compute, and Isolated. Here's a brief overview of each:

You have two main options for App Service Plans in Azure: Linux-based and Windows-based. The choice between them depends on your familiarity with the operating system.

If you're more comfortable with Linux, you might want to choose the Linux-based plan, while a Windows background would lead you to choose the Windows-based plan. This decision will determine the operating system your app will run on.

You can create multiple app services within a single App Service Plan, which allows you to test and deploy new features and updates to your app without disrupting the main version.

Each app service can have different deployment slots, which are essentially different versions of your app that you can test and deploy. This feature is particularly useful for testing new updates and features in a staging environment before making them live in production.

You specify the region where you want the compute resources to be created when you create an App Service Plan. This means that all the apps you put in that App Service Plan are hosted on those resources.

Here are the main features you can choose when creating an App Service Plan:

The pricing tier you choose will determine the level of resources your app will have access to. The three main options are Shared Compute, Dedicated Compute, and Isolated.

With built-in monitoring, you can perform intelligent and interactive, live troubleshooting with App Service diagnostics.

This means you can quickly identify and resolve issues without having to dig through logs or wait for feedback from users.

View application performance and health using Azure Monitor and Application Insights to make decisions faster.

By doing so, you can stay on top of your app's performance and catch potential issues before they become major problems.

Build real-time views of application resource usage with Azure Monitor and configure alerts to notify you of unexpected conditions.

This helps you stay proactive and take swift action when something goes wrong, minimizing downtime and data loss.

Gain deeper insights into your app's throughput, response time, downstream dependencies, and error trends using Application Insights.

With this level of visibility, you can refine your app's performance and provide a better user experience.

Azure Web App services are designed to make app deployment and management a breeze. You can represent your Azure Web App as a Harness service, which includes identifying the artifact for the app, configuration settings, and any secrets and configuration variables.

To set up your Harness service, you'll need to specify the artifact, which is required. The other settings are optional and will depend on your specific Web App needs.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you switch your service deployment from Azure DevOps to Harness, your actuator information may not immediately reflect the latest version deployed with Harness. This is because the info is cached from the last Azure DevOps deployment.

Here are some key settings to consider when setting up your Harness service:

Streaming logs limitations can be frustrating, especially when you're working with Azure Web App Plans.

You might face timeout issues due to limitations in streaming Web App slot deployment logs, resulting in errors like java.net.SocketTimeoutException: timeout or other socket errors.

Harness is actively working with the Azure team to resolve this issue, as seen in issue 27221.

To get around this limitation, consider using a Harness HTTP step to verify that your slot is up and ready.

You can scale your Azure Web App using two main options: Scale Up and Scale Out. Scale Up increases the resources like RAM, CPU, or storage that your app service uses, making it suitable for monolithic applications with high resource demands.

To scale out, you can add more instances of your app service to handle more traffic, distributing the load among multiple instances.

Here are the key benefits of scaling your Azure Web App:

Scaling your application is a crucial step in ensuring it can handle increased traffic and demands. You can scale your applications using Azure App Service, which provides two main options: Scale Up and Scale Out.

Scale Up is the process of increasing the amount of resources like RAM, CPU, or storage that your app service uses. This option is best for monolithic applications that have a high demand for resources.

If you choose to Scale Out, you'll be adding more instances of your app service to handle more traffic. This option is best for apps that can adopt to auto-scaling.

To ensure high availability, you can get a service-level agreement (SLA)-backed uptime of 99.95 percent. This means your app will be available most of the time.

Here are the key differences between Scale Up and Scale Out:

By scaling globally across all Azure regions, you can ensure your app is accessible to users worldwide. This is especially useful for businesses with a global presence.

To deploy your application, you'll need to follow a few steps. First, you'll need to install the Azure App Service extension and Azure account in Visual Studio Code by searching for "Azure" in the Extensions marketplace.

To deploy your application, you'll need to right-click on the project in the Explorer pane and select "Deploy to Web App". This will start the deployment process.

Here are the deployment requirements you'll need to meet: An existing Azure Web App using a Docker image or non-containerized artifactA Docker image or non-containerized artifactAzure account connection informationApp Service Plan

You can create an existing Azure Web App in minutes using Azure, and it's a good idea to have a Docker image or non-containerized artifact ready to go. Make sure you have the necessary Azure account connection information and App Service Plan set up.

Once the deployment is complete, you'll be provided with a publicly available endpoint for your App Service Plan. You can open your browser and navigate to the endpoint to test your application.

To deploy your Azure Web App, you'll need to install the Azure App Service extension and Azure account in Visual Studio Code. This can be done by searching for "Azure" in the Extensions marketplace.

You'll also need an existing Azure Web App using a Docker image or non-containerized artifact, which can be created in minutes in Azure. Additionally, you'll need a Docker image or non-containerized artifact, Azure account connection information, and an App Service Plan.

Here's a step-by-step guide to deploying your Azure Web App:

To deploy your Azure Web App, you'll need to follow these steps:

Create an App Service Plan, which can be done in minutes, and provides a scalable and secure environment for your app.

To create a new App Service, navigate to the App Services section in the Azure portal, click on the "Create" button, and provide a name for the App Service, select the subscription, resource group, and App Service Plan you created earlier.

Once you've created the App Service, you can deploy your app to it by right-clicking on the project in the Explorer pane and selecting "Deploy to Web App" in Visual Studio Code.

To set up a canary deployment, you'll need to collect the existing Deployment slots from your Azure Web App, which can be done by selecting your Web App, and then selecting Deployment slots in the Azure portal.

A canary deployment shifts traffic from one deployment slot to another incrementally, and can be set up by adding Traffic Shift steps to incrementally shift traffic from the production slot to the deployment slot.

Here are the steps to set up a canary deployment:

To ensure a successful deployment, it's a good practice to add a health check after slot deployment, which can be done using a Shell Script step or Harness Approval steps.

A blue green deployment swaps traffic from one deployment slot to another, and can be set up by collecting the existing Deployment slots from your Azure Web App and adding the necessary steps to the deployment process.

Here are the requirements for Azure Web App deployments:

In Azure deployments, a CD stage is used with the deployment type Azure Web App. This is the pipeline stage that handles the deployment process.

The CD stage is a crucial part of the pipeline, ensuring that your application is deployed to Azure Web App correctly.

Azure Web App offers a scalable and secure platform for enterprise applications. It supports up to 10,000 instances per app.

With Azure Web App, you can create custom domains and SSL certificates for a professional online presence. This feature allows you to map a custom domain to your web app for a seamless user experience.

Azure Web App provides built-in support for automated deployment from Azure DevOps, GitHub, or Bitbucket. This feature enables continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.

You can also use Azure Web App's built-in load balancer to distribute traffic across multiple instances for high availability. This ensures that your web app remains accessible even during high traffic periods.

Azure Web App integrates with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for secure authentication and authorization. This feature provides single sign-on (SSO) capabilities for users.

Azure Web App supports a wide range of programming languages, including .NET, Java, Python, and Node.js. This makes it a versatile platform for developing web applications.

You can migrate your ASP.NET apps to the cloud to achieve scalability, optimize costs, increase operational efficiencies, improve security, and ship new features faster.

Azure provides a managed service built from the ground up to support .NET workloads, making it ideal for creating ASP.NET apps.

To quickly build web apps and APIs in the cloud, you can bring your code or container using the framework language of your choice.

Some of the benefits of using Azure for web app development include:

To build with .NET, you can create an ASP.NET app in Azure, or use the .NET Portability Analyzer to analyze assemblies for .NET Core, and then convert your .NET code to .NET Core with .NET Core porting guidance.

Azure Web App deployment strategies allow you to test new updates and features in a staging environment before making them live in production. This is achieved through deployment slots, which are publicly available endpoints that can be swapped on demand.

There are three main deployment strategies: basic, canary, and blue green. The basic strategy is useful for learning Harness and non-mission critical workflows, but it's recommended to use canary or blue green strategies for more complex deployments. Canary deployments shift traffic incrementally from one deployment slot to another, while blue green deployments swap traffic between two slots.

Here are the key features of each strategy:

In a canary deployment, the Slot Deployment step has specific settings, including a minimum timeout of 10m and the need to enter the name of the Azure Web App and the deployment slot. A health check is also recommended after Slot Deployment to ensure the new app is accessible.

A canary strategy deployment is a great way to reduce the risk of deploying new updates and features to your app. It involves incrementally shifting traffic from the production slot to the deployment slot.

To set up a canary deployment, you need to collect the existing deployment slots from your Azure Web App. This can be done by selecting your Web App in the Azure portal and then selecting Deployment slots.

You'll use these slot names in your Harness steps. For a canary deployment, Harness adds the following steps: Slot Deployment, Traffic Shift, and Swap Slot.

The Slot Deployment step is where you specify the Source slot for the deployment. Make sure the slot you enter is running. This step also requires you to enter the Web App Name and a minimum timeout of 10 minutes.

Traffic Shift steps are not cumulative, meaning that if you set 25% in one step and 25% in the next, only 25% of traffic will be routed. You can use multiple Traffic Shift steps to incrementally increase traffic.

The final step in the phase is Swap Slot. This step swaps the deployment slot you entered in the Slot Deployment step with the Target Slot mentioned in the Swap Slots step.

Here's a summary of the steps involved in a canary strategy deployment:

By following these steps, you can implement a canary strategy deployment that reduces the risk of deploying new updates and features to your app.

The Rolling strategy isn't suitable for Azure Web App deployments, as they use slots for staging and production environments.

Azure Web Apps deployments have specific requirements that don't align with the Rolling strategy's approach.

In Azure Web App deployments, pipeline stages are used to manage the deployment process, but the Rolling strategy doesn't fit into this structure.

Here are some key differences between Azure Web Apps and the Rolling strategy:

This means that Azure Web Apps deployments can't be easily rolled out using the Rolling strategy, making it less suitable for their needs.

To deploy your Azure Web App, you'll need to install the Azure App Service extension and Azure account in Visual Studio Code. This can be done by searching for "Azure" in the Extensions marketplace.

To deploy your app, right-click on the project in the Explorer pane and select "Deploy to Web App". Then, click on the "Deploy" button to start the deployment process.

Azure Web Apps deployments require an existing Azure Web App, a Docker image or non-containerized artifact, Azure account connection information, and an App Service Plan. These requirements are crucial for a successful deployment.

Here are the specific requirements for Azure Web Apps deployments:

In terms of configuration, you can set Application settings and Connection strings in the Harness Service under App Services Configuration. This can be done using remote Git repos or the Harness File Store.

A deployment slot is a feature of Azure App Service that allows you to run different versions of your app in different environments. Each slot is exposed through a publicly available endpoint and can be swapped on demand.

You can test new updates and features in a staging environment before making them live in production. This is especially useful for learning Harness and non-mission critical workflows.

In a basic deployment, a new service/artifact version is deployed to the deployment slot. This type of deployment is useful for getting started with Harness.

The basic strategy adds the Slot Deployment step automatically, but it does not add other steps like Traffic Shift or Swap Slot. These steps can be added manually, but it's recommended to use the canary or blue green strategies for a more robust deployment process.

A Harness Azure Web App canary deployment shifts traffic from one deployment slot to another incrementally. This is achieved by adding Traffic Shift steps to incrementally shift traffic from the production slot to the deployment slot.

Here are the steps to set up a canary deployment:

You'll use these slot names in your Harness steps. The Slot Deployment step has the following settings:

A health check after slot deployment is a good practice to ensure that the Docker container or non-containerized app is running correctly. This can be performed using a Shell Script step or Harness Approval steps.

You can use the Azure Web Apps service to add a startup script for your app through the Startup Command. This is a crucial step in configuring your app.

The Startup Command is used to specify the command that should run when your app starts. You can use remote Git repos that contain your start command file.

For a Java SE stack, the startup command to start your JAR app is specified in the Azure documentation. This command is essential for getting your Java app up and running.

You can also use Harness to store and manage your startup command files in the Harness File Store. This is a convenient way to keep your files organized and easily accessible.

The startup command is a critical part of configuring your Azure Web App. By specifying the correct command, you can ensure that your app starts correctly and runs smoothly.

In Harness, you have the option of setting Application settings and Connection strings in the Harness Service under App Services Configuration.

Azure Web Apps app services configuration is a crucial step in deployment. You can use remote Git repos that contain your settings files.

Application settings are variables passed as environment variables to the application code. This is similar to setting app settings in the Azure portal.

You can select Harness to use the Harness File Store to add settings to your Harness Project. This is an alternative to using remote Git repos.

In Azure, you can also set app settings using the Azure CLI or the portal. This is useful for the first time you set up an Azure Web App deployment.

In Azure Web Apps, artifacts are a crucial part of the deployment process. You'll need to add the same Docker image or non-containerized artifact you use in your Azure Web App.

For Azure Web Apps artifacts, you'll select or create a Harness connector to the artifact registry. This is a step you'll take in the Harness service Artifacts.

The settings for the Harness connector and artifact details are a combination of the container settings in your Azure Web App. You'll need to fill out the Artifact Details settings after setting up the connector.

Here are some key settings you'll need to consider:

For Docker image deployments, Harness will use the Web App details (artifact, app settings, connection strings, startup script) of the existing slot to bring the slot to its previous state. This is part of the rollback process.

Harness saves deployment details after a successful deployment and uses this data for rollback in the next deployment. This ensures that you can easily recover the state before deployment.