Autoscale a Web App

In this Autoscale a Web App IT Pro Challenge, learners will understand the autoscaling concepts of scaling up and scaling down, how to configure default autoscaling for a web app that experiences higher traffic over the weekends, how to generate and get messages for the web app on the Azure validation page, and using the Azure portal to verify the autoscaling (up and down) was successful. The skills learned in this lab are beneficial for anyone pursuing careers in network or system administration.

Overview

The scenario for this virtual lab is that you work as the system administrator for a company that provides web hosting services, and you need to configure autoscaling for an Azure web app. You need to take into consideration that this app has variable loading and has a demand increase that begins on Fridays and continues increasing during the weekend. To do this, you need to configure the default autoscaling and then implement scaling to accommodate the increased demand (scale up) over the weekend. As a proof of concept, you will then verify that the web app scaled up and down as intended.

Autoscaling is based on the premise of load balancing by providing a means of scaling up/down the computing resources for an application based on need.

Configure default Autoscale settings

To begin, you need to sign in to the Azure portal, and use the menu to select Resource Groups and then Queues. You need to add a queue and then select the web app service under the resource group. Select Scale Out to enable autoscale and configure the default scale condition for the web app.

Configure Autoscale settings for the weekend

Now you’re going to add two more scale conditions with multiple instances for the web app. One will be for Friday, and the other will cover the weekend. Remember to use a 24-hour time format for the scale conditions.

Verify that the Web App Autoscales

In the final part of the lab, you are verifying if the web app scales in and scales out as expected by navigating to the Azure Manage, Monitor, and Secure Platform Services validation page. There, you will generate messages and then verify the autoscaling in the Azure portal by viewing the Run History tab of the web app blade. Then you return to the validation page and get messages and again verify that the web app autoscaled.

Summary Conclusion

By taking this hands-on lab, you will learn the basics of autoscaling using a web app. You will learn how to configure autoscaling, create performance-based and time-based scale rules for a web app, and verify those autoscaling rules in the Azure portal.