In the previous article we have found how to deploy a new build to staging. In
this article we can explore how things are moved fro staging to production.
Information on Staging and Production
For those who are new to the terms staging and production, I can include a brief
description on them.
Staging Environment
Staging environment will be having a configuration similar to the production
environment. Before an application is released to production (where real users
will be using), the application is test deployed to the staging environment.
This gives us a chance to find potential bugs, security problems, configuration
issues etc. It will save the team from entering into serious problems.
Production Environment
Production Environment will be the actual environment which the real users will
be using. A build which was tested perfect in the staging environment is moved
to the production environment.
The series of operation and the servers involved will be as following for a
typical deployment. Typically, there will be a development machine where the
application is created, deployed to a testing machine for the tester to find any
bugs, deployed to staging and on successful validation deployed to Production
server.
Windows Azure - Staging to Production Deployment
We can deploy a successful staging build to production, using the Swap VIP
button in the Azure portal.
Step 1: Select the Deployment item
Sign in to the Azure Portal and select the appropriate item to deploy. In our
case, the Deployment 1 is the item to be selected.
Step 2: Click on the Swap VIP
Click on the Swap VIP button from the top toolbar after selecting the deployment
item. The following dialog box appears
Step 3: Click on the production url
Now the status of the deployment selected changes to Ready as shown below.
Click on the production url shown on the right pane to open the web role in a
browser. The web role is shown below. Please note the url of the browser. The
previous staging GUID urls are replaced by the production url.
Summary
That concludes the deployment from staging to production in the Windows Azure
Portal. The web role is now deployed and available to the public.
More Information
The Swap VIP option does not actually deploy a new build. Instead, it will
switch the production and staging builds by switching the DNS addresses
internally. Thus the deployment seems to be faster as there is only switching of
addresses internally.
Warning
The billing of the service will be there for both staging and production
deployments. If the usage exceeds the trial limit charges will be levied on your
credit card. Please take care.