Azure For Web Hosting

Question

User-1900345072 posted

Hello,

This is not a technical question, but I'd love to get some advice for hosting a medium size ASP.net with SQL server.  I've had a demo/work in progress site running for months now with no hitches.  Deploying my demo site is a breeze and I love the Azure platform.  

I'm running a web app (ASP.NET/MVC site) and one MSSQL server database on a basic plan.  My concerns are:

1) Tech support-I have just the standard $29/mo tech support option.  They do not recommend running a production site at this level but I'm thinking it might be just fine as long as I have access to forums and email tech support.  Should this be a large concern?  Any errors should be a result of my code and techs probably wouldn't be much help there anyway.

2) Cost-the cost is very reasonable at about $145/mo for all my options.  Are there cases where this might shoot up well beyond that amount or is the billing consistently in the ballpark?  I don't fully understand the pricing structure.

3) A similar shared vm setup on another hosting provider has been quote at over $400/mo.  Deployment would be a bigger pain but they have phone support included.

If anyone reads this who currently runs production sites on azure I'd love to hear your thoughts.  I really want to pull the trigger but am hesitant.

Thanks!

Mike

Answer 1

User-646145796 posted

Hi,

mswhat

 They do not recommend running a production site at this level but I'm thinking it might be just fine as long as I have access to forums and email tech support

You could try it, if you get any issues, please try to submit a ticket to tech support, or create new thread at MSDN azure forum: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/azure/en-US/home?category=windowsazureplatform or Stackoverflow forum with related tags.

mswhat

2) Cost-the cost is very reasonable at about $145/mo for all my options.  Are there cases where this might shoot up well beyond that amount or is the billing consistently in the ballpark?  I don't fully understand the pricing structure.

Please try to use Pricing calculator to calculate how much will it cost. Here is the link: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/

mswhat

3) A similar shared vm setup on another hosting provider has been quote at over $400/mo.  Deployment would be a bigger pain but they have phone support included.

It depend on your choice.

Best Regards,

Jambor 

Answer 2

User-1900345072 posted

Thank you Jamobors for you answers.

Regarding the price, I have used the pricing calculator and it's very helpful.  However, I am concerned that my "estimate" will be $150 a month but then in production the actual bill might be much more than that like $800 or more.  Is that possible or are the pricing estimates accurate?

Mike

Answer 3

User-646145796 posted

Hi，

The pricing that calculator provide is what you need to spend. If your estimate is less than the actual bill. I would suggest your change your application design mode. For further issue, I would suggest you move to azure forums: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/forums/.  It is appropriate and more experts will assist you.

Best Regards,

Jambor

Answer 4

User1972643553 posted

Hi,

I have the same problem for calculating my needed hosting package's price. I had a look at the page below:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator

When using the azure pricing calculator I want to to know if the price for things billed for hours (VMs) are:

 - hypothetical prices is case you use the service every hour of the month

or

- real prices independently of the use

Also I have the same doubt with bandwidth.

Answer 5

User-1900345072 posted

@psa58...you may find these links helpful.  Sounds like we're in the same boat on making a decision on Azure.  I really love the platform but I need to better understand usage and billing before I jump on board.  If you find anything helpful feel free to post and I'll do the same.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21387706/estimating-azure-costs-for-an-asp-net-website-db 

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/azure/en-US/38f750a6-d3eb-4ba2-a0e0-ff1dd757d509/smallmedium-mvc-site-price-estimate-advice?forum=windowsazurepurchasing#5dde1237-fb71-4df7-bb09-c24a42ca4bae (shortened url: http://bit.ly/1Rq68vC)

Answer 6

User-1369005874 posted

Hi PSA58,

The Azure pricing calculator is est of your actual hourly usage but billed per min.

So if you use 45 hours and 30 mins you pay only for 45 hours + 30 mins prorated.

For VMs if you stop them you are not using them and not being billed for them.

Keep in mind that 744 hours is for 24 hours for 31 days.

Some months only have 28,29,30 days.

So better to calculate avg for an entire year.

365 days --> 24 Hours per day --> 8,760 hours per year

8,760 hours / 12 months  --> 730 hours per month avg.