Microsoft Azure Websites - Streamlined Web Hosting Solutions

Discover how to create, deploy, and manage websites using Azure's Web Apps service, a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering that simplifies web hosting without the need for extensive infrastructure.

Microsoft Azure - Websites

In Azure, the web hosting service is referred to as Web Apps within the management portal. This service allows developers to deploy and manage websites without requiring a full-fledged infrastructure, falling under the Platform as a Service (PaaS) category. Below is a guide on creating, deploying, and managing websites in Azure.

Creating a Website in Azure Management Portal

  1. Login to the Azure Management Portal:
    • Access the management portal by logging in with your Azure credentials.
  2. Create a New Web App:
    • Navigate to the bottom left corner and click on New → Compute → Web Apps → Quick Create.
    • Enter the required details such as the name of the web app and click Create Web App.
  3. Access Your Website:
    • After creation, go to the Web Apps section in your management portal.
    • Click on the URL of the newly created web app to open it.

Deploying a Website from Visual Studio

You can easily publish a website or web application to Azure directly from Visual Studio. Here's how:

  1. Publish from Visual Studio:
    • Open your project in Visual Studio.
    • In the Solution Explorer, right-click on the project name and select Publish.
  2. Connect to Azure:
    • In the publish settings, click Import and then Add Azure Subscription.
    • Download your subscription file (.publishsettings) and import it to connect Visual Studio to your Azure account.
  3. Select Your Website:
    • After connecting, you’ll see a list of websites associated with your subscription.
    • Select the website you created earlier.
  4. Publish the Website:
    • Keep the default settings and use the Web Deploy method.
    • Validate the connection and click Publish.
  5. View the Deployed Website:
    • Once the publish process is complete, you can visit your website’s URL to see it live.

Monitoring Your Website

Azure provides extensive monitoring capabilities for your web apps:

  1. Access the Website Dashboard:
    • Navigate to the website in the management portal and select Dashboard from the top menu.
    • Here, you can monitor various metrics, including site performance, usage, and other statistics.
  2. Monitor Metrics:
    • Select Monitor from the top menu to view real-time metrics related to your website's performance.
  3. Manage Backups and Settings:
    • From the dashboard, you can create backups, configure settings, and scale your website according to demand.

Staged Publishing

Azure supports staged publishing, allowing you to deploy your website in stages to test it before full production:

  1. Create Deployment Slots:
    • Deployment slots enable you to create a staging environment where you can deploy and test updates before pushing them to the production environment.
  2. Test and Swap Slots:
    • Deploy your website to a staging slot and test it thoroughly.
    • Once satisfied, swap the slots to push the tested version live.
    • If issues arise, you can easily revert to the previous version by swapping the slots back.

Staged publishing is particularly useful for minimizing downtime and reducing the risk associated with deploying new updates or features to your website. This feature enhances the overall deployment experience, ensuring smooth and reliable website management in Azure.