MS Patterns & Practices : Building Hybrid Applications in the Cloud on Windows Azure – Published

The Microsoft Patterns & Practices team has just published the third volume in a series on Windows Azure.

This guide focuses on the common challenges encountered when building, deploying and operating applications that run partly in the cloud and partly on-premises.

Of particular interests to me is the 2^nd Chapter where data synchronization options are discussed. Likewise, there’s an appendix entry dedicated solely on data synchronization.

This is probably the best documentation/guidance available as of now on SQL Azure Data Sync Service.

I took the liberty of putting up the links that goes directly to the synchronization topics below.

I would suggest you download the entire guide though.

 

Building Hybrid Applications in the Cloud on Windows Azure

 

Chapter 2, "Deploying the Orders Application and Data in the Cloud"

• Synchronizing Data across Cloud and On-Premises Locations
• Choosing a Data Synchronization Solution
  • SQL Azure Data Sync
  • Microsoft Sync Framework
  • Custom or Third Party Synchronization Solution
• How Trey Research Chose the Data Synchronization Solution
• How Trey Research Uses SQL Azure Data Sync

 

Appendix A – Replicating, Distributing, and Synchronizing Data

• Use Cases and Challenges
• Replicating Data across Data Sources in the Cloud and On-Premises
• Synchronizing Data across Data Sources
• Cross-Cutting Concerns
• Data Access Security
• Data Consistency and Application Responsiveness
• Integrity and Reliability
• Windows Azure and Related Technologies
• Replicating and Synchronizing Data Using SQL Azure Data Sync
  • Guidelines for Configuring SQL Azure Data Sync
  • Defining a Sync Group and Sync Dataset
  • Implementing the Database Schema for Member Databases
  • Managing Synchronization Conflicts
  • Locating and Sizing the Hub Database
  • Specifying the Synchronization Schedule for a Sync Group
  • Selecting the Synchronization Direction for a Database
  • Avoiding Sync Loops
  • Guidelines for Using SQL Azure Data Sync
  • SQL Azure Data Sync Security Model
• Implementing Custom Replication and Synchronization Using the Sync Framework SDK
• Replicating and Synchronizing Data Using Service Bus Topics and Subscriptions
  • Guidelines for Using Service Bus Topics and Subscriptions