Microsoft Azure StorSimple architecture

This example of cloud computing system architecture diagram was created on the base of picture in the article "What is StorSimple?" by Sharon Smith from the Microsoft Azure website.
"Microsoft Azure StorSimple is an efficient, cost-effective, and manageable solution that eliminates many of the issues and expense associated with enterprise storage and data protection. It uses a proprietary device (the Microsoft Azure StorSimple device) and integrated management tools to provide a seamless view of all enterprise storage, including cloud storage." [azure.microsoft.com/ en-us/ documentation/ articles/ storsimple-overview/ ]
The diagram example "Microsoft Azure StorSimple architecture" was created using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Azure Architecture solution from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This example of cloud computing system architecture diagram was created on base of the figure "Workflow to distribute workitems to pooled VMs" in the article "Azure Batch technical overview" from the Microsoft Azure website.
"Workitems workflow.
Figure 4 shows a you how to submit an application to a pool where it's distributed for processing. This uses the Batch API. ...
1. Upload input files (such as source data or images) required for a job to an Azure storage account. These files must be in the storage account so that the Batch service can access them. The Batch service loads them onto a TVM when the task runs.
2. Upload the dependent binary files to the storage account. The binary files include the program that is run by the task and the dependent assemblies. These files must also be accessed from storage and are loaded onto the TVM.
3. Create a pool of TVMs, specifying the size of the TVMs in the pool, the OS they run, and other properties. When a task runs, it is assigned a TVM from this pool.
4. Create a workitem. A job will be automatically created when you create a workitem. A workitem enables you to manage a job of tasks.
5. Add tasks to the job. Each task uses the program that you uploaded to process information from a file you uploaded.
6. Run the application and monitor the results of the output." [azure.microsoft.com/ en-us/ documentation/ articles/ batch-technical-overview/ ]
The diagram example "Workitems workflow diagram" was created using ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the Azure Architecture solution from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This Azure cloud architecture pattern diagram template was created on the base of figure in the article "Valet Key Pattern" from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) website.
"Valet Key Pattern.
Use a token or key that provides clients with restricted direct access to a specific resource or service in order to offload data transfer operations from the application code. This pattern is particularly useful in applications that use cloud-hosted storage systems or queues, and can minimize cost and maximize scalability and performance. ...
Client programs and web browsers often need to read and write files or data streams to and from an application’s storage. ...
Data stores have the capability to handle upload and download of data directly, without requiring the application to perform any processing to move this data, but this typically requires the client to have access to the security credentials for the store.
... applications must be able to securely control access to data in a granular way, but still reduce the load on the server by setting up this connection and then allowing the client to communicate directly with the data store to perform the required read or write operations. ...
To resolve the problem of controlling access to a data store where the store itself cannot manage authentication and authorization of clients, one typical solution is to restrict access to the data store’s public connection and provide the client with a key or token that the data store itself can validate.
This key or token is usually referred to as a valet key. It provides time-limited access to specific resources and allows only predefined operations such as reading and writing to storage or queues, or uploading and downloading in a web browser. Applications can create and issue valet keys to client devices and web browsers quickly and easily, allowing clients to perform the required operations without requiring the application to directly handle the data transfer. This removes the processing overhead, and the consequent impact on performance and scalability, from the application and the server." [msdn.microsoft.com/ ru-RU/ library/ dn568102.aspx]
The Azure cloud system architecture diagram template "Valet key pattern" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the Azure Architecture solutin from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This Azure cloud architecture pattern diagram template was created on the base of figure in the article "External Configuration Store Pattern" from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) website.
"External Configuration Store Pattern.
Move configuration information out of the application deployment package to a centralized location. This pattern can provide opportunities for easier management and control of configuration data, and for sharing configuration data across applications and application instances. ...
The majority of application runtime environments include configuration information that is held in files deployed with the application, located within the application folders. In some cases it is possible to edit these files to change the behavior of the application after it has been deployed. However, in many cases, changes to the configuration require the application to be redeployed, resulting in unacceptable downtime and additional administrative overhead. ...
Store the configuration information in external storage, and provide an interface that can be used to quickly and efficiently read and update configuration settings. The type of external store depends on the hosting and runtime environment of the application. In a cloud-hosted scenario it is typically a cloud-based storage service, but could be a hosted database or other system.
The backing store chosen for configuration information should be fronted by a suitable interface that provides consistent and easy to use access in a controlled way that enables reuse. Ideally, it should expose the information in a correctly typed and structured format. The implementation may also need to authorize users’ access in order to protect configuration data, and be flexible enough to allow multiple versions of the configuration (such as development, staging, or production, and multiple release versions of each one) to be stored." [msdn.microsoft.com/ ru-RU/ library/ dn589803.aspx]
The Azure cloud system architecture diagram template "External Configuration Store Pattern" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the Azure Architecture solutin from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This Azure cloud architecture pattern diagram template was created on the base of figure in the article "Competing Consumers Pattern" from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) website.
"Competing Consumers Pattern.
Enable multiple concurrent consumers to process messages received on the same messaging channel. This pattern enables a system to process multiple messages concurrently to optimize throughput, to improve scalability and availability, and to balance the workload. ...
An application running in the cloud may be expected to handle a large number of requests. Rather than process each request synchronously, a common technique is for the application to pass them through a messaging system to another service (a consumer service) that handles them asynchronously. This strategy helps to ensure that the business logic in the application is not blocked while the requests are being processed. ...
Use a message queue to implement the communication channel between the application and the instances of the consumer service. The application posts requests in the form of messages to the queue, and the consumer service instances receive messages from the queue and process them. This approach enables the same pool of consumer service instances to handle messages from any instance of the application." [msdn.microsoft.com/ ru-RU/ library/ dn568101.aspx]
The Azure cloud system architecture diagram template "Competing consumers pattern" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the Azure Architecture solutin from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This Azure cloud architecture pattern diagram template was created on the base of figure in the article "Health Endpoint Monitoring Pattern" from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) website.
"Health Endpoint Monitoring Pattern.
Implement functional checks within an application that external tools can access through exposed endpoints at regular intervals. This pattern can help to verify that applications and services are performing correctly. ...
It is good practice—and often a business requirement—to monitor web applications, and middle-tier and shared services, to ensure that they are available and performing correctly. However, it is more difficult to monitor services running in the cloud than it is to monitor on-premises services. ...
Implement health monitoring by sending requests to an endpoint on the application. The application should perform the necessary checks, and return an indication of its status.
A health monitoring check typically combines two factors: the checks (if any) performed by the application or service in response to the request to the health verification endpoint, and analysis of the result by the tool or framework that is performing the health verification check. The response code indicates the status of the application and, optionally, any components or services it uses. The latency or response time check is performed by the monitoring tool or framework." [msdn.microsoft.com/ ru-RU/ library/ dn589789.aspx]
The Azure cloud system architecture diagram template "Health endpoint monitoring pattern" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the Azure Architecture solutin from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.

This Azure cloud architecture pattern diagram template was created on the base of figure in the article "Scheduler Agent Supervisor Pattern" from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) website.
"Scheduler Agent Supervisor Pattern.
Coordinate a set of actions across a distributed set of services and other remote resources, attempt to transparently handle faults if any of these actions fail, or undo the effects of the work performed if the system cannot recover from a fault. This pattern can add resiliency to a distributed system by enabling it to recover and retry actions that fail due to transient exceptions, long-lasting faults, and process failures. ...
An application performs tasks that comprise a number of steps, some of which may invoke remote services or access remote resources. The individual steps may be independent of each other, but they are orchestrated by the application logic that implements the task.
Whenever possible, the application should ensure that the task runs to completion and resolve any failures that might occur when accessing remote services or resources. ...
If the application detects a more permanent fault from which it cannot easily recover, it must be able to restore the system to a consistent state and ensure integrity of the entire end-to-end operation. ...
The Scheduler Agent Supervisor pattern defines the following actors. These actors orchestrate the steps (individual items of work) to be performed as part of the task (the overall process):
- The Scheduler arranges for the individual steps that comprise the overall task to be executed and orchestrates their operation. ...
- The Agent contains logic that encapsulates a call to a remote service, or access to a remote resource referenced by a step in a task. ...
- The Supervisor monitors the status of the steps in the task being performed by the Scheduler. ...
The Scheduler, Agent, and Supervisor are logical components and their physical implementation depends on the technology being used." [msdn.microsoft.com/ ru-RU/ library/ dn589780.aspx]
The Azure cloud system architecture diagram template "Scheduler agent supervisor pattern" for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the Azure Architecture solutin from the Computer and Networks area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.