Azure Container Instances (Aci): A Complete Guide

A Comprehensive and Practical Course: Containers, Networking, Security, Storage, Monitoring, HA, AKS, ACR and others

What you'll learn

Containerization basics

What Azure Container Instances (ACI) is, related terminologies and general best practices

How to deploy and configure containers running in ACI

How to configure the networking, security, identity, governance and storage in ACI

Integration with other Azure services like AKS and ACR

How to monitor and troubleshoot ACI

Configuration for reliability and high availability (HA)

Requirements

It is good to have basic knowledge of Containerization, Linux, Networking, and Azure, but I am explaining most of the concepts at specific points in the course

Description

Welcome to the comprehensive and practical course on Azure Container Instances (ACI)! In this course, you will learn all about Azure's lightweight and serverless container solution that allows you to run Docker containers without the need to manage underlying infrastructure.Whether you are new to containerization or an experienced developer, this course will provide you with a solid understanding of ACI's core concepts, deployment options, and integration with other Azure services. You will delve into topics such as container deployment, configuration, integration with other services like Azure Container Registry (ACR) and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), networking, identity, security, governance, storage, monitoring, troubleshooting, reliability, and high availability within the ACI environment.By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills to leverage Azure Container Instances effectively, enabling you to deploy and manage containers quickly and professionally in the cloud. Join us now and take a leap forward in your journey towards mastering containerization with Azure.Key Topics Covered:Starting with Azure Container Instances (ACI)Deploying and managing containers in ACINetworking and security options in ACI including Azure VNET, NSG, NAT Gateway, Azure Firewall, Application Gateway, Azure Front DoorExposing applications running in ACI using built-in and custom domains and via HTTPSMonitoring and troubleshooting ACIStorage and volumes in ACIIntegrating ACI with other Azure services like Azure Container Registry (ACR) and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)Reliability and High Availability in ACIEnroll now and unlock the power of Azure Container Instances for your container deployments!

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction about instructor and course

Lecture 2 Good to know / Recommended background

Lecture 3 Connect with me

Section 2: Understanding containers, images and registries

Lecture 4 What is a container and how is it different from a VM?

Lecture 5 Microservices architecture

Lecture 6 Install Docker and Azure CLI on an Ubuntu VM and other considerations

Lecture 7 What are Docker, Dockerfile, and Docker Hub?

Lecture 8 Create our 1st container (web app), push it to Docker Hub and run it

Lecture 9 Create our 2nd container (troubleshooting app), push it to Docker Hub and run it

Lecture 10 Understand registry and image related terminologies

Lecture 11 Why we need a serverless solution, like Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Section 3: Starting with Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Lecture 12 What are Azure Container Instances (ACI)?

Lecture 13 Container groups in Azure Container Instances

Lecture 14 Resource availability, quota limits and other considerations for ACI

Lecture 15 Azure free account and ACI pricing

Lecture 16 Container registries that are available and compatible for deploying to ACI

Lecture 17 Available options to deploy an ACI and discover Azure Cloud Shell

Lecture 18 Deploy an ACI with a quick image using the Azure Portal

Lecture 19 Deploy an ACI with an image from a Docker Hub repo using the Azure CLI

Lecture 20 Deploy an ACI with an image from a private Docker Hub repo using Azure Bicep

Lecture 21 Deploy an ACI with an image from MCR using the Docker CLI

Lecture 22 Deploy a multi-container group using YAML

Lecture 23 Deploy a multi-container group using an ARM template

Lecture 24 Explore an Azure Container Instance

Lecture 25 Explore container logs and events in ACI

Lecture 26 Connect to or execute a command in a container

Lecture 27 Stop, start, and restart ACI

Lecture 28 Understand and use restart policies in ACI

Lecture 29 Understand ACI states

Lecture 30 Understand Windows support and deploy a Windows ACI

Lecture 31 Deploy a GPU ACI

Lecture 32 Export a container group's configuration in YAML or JSON format

Section 4: Other configurations for containers in Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Lecture 33 Set a startup command (entrypoint) for a container

Lecture 34 Set environment variables

Lecture 35 Understand and configure limits (and requests)

Lecture 36 Understand and configure an init container

Lecture 37 Understand and configure readiness and liveness probes

Lecture 38 Update running container groups

Section 5: Deploy from Azure Container Registry (ACR)

Lecture 39 What is Azure Container Registry (ACR)?

Lecture 40 Create an Azure Container Registry (ACR) and push/import images into it

Lecture 41 Deploy from ACR using the admin user

Lecture 42 Deploy from ACR using an AAD service principal

Lecture 43 Deploy from ACR using an AAD service principal with credentials in Key Vault

Lecture 44 Deploy from ACR using a Managed Identity

Lecture 45 Automate ACI deployments and updates with ACR Task, ACR Webhook and Logic Apps

Section 6: Networking in Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Lecture 46 Understand ACI deployment in an Azure Virtual Network / Subnet

Lecture 47 Deploy ACI in Azure Virtual Network / Subnet

Lecture 48 Understand and use VNET peering

Lecture 49 Control outbound and inbound traffic using a Network Security Group (NSG)

Lecture 50 Default outbound access in Azure

Lecture 51 Configure a NAT gateway for static IP address for ACI outbound traffic

Lecture 52 Set a single public IP for outbound and inbound ACI traffic with Azure Firewall

Lecture 53 Expose a static IP address for ACI with Application Gateway

Lecture 54 Expose an application running in a public ACI using your own domain

Lecture 55 Expose a private ACI on HTTPS via Application Gateway using your own domain

Lecture 56 Understand and use DNS name reuse policy

Section 7: Identity, Security and Governance in Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Lecture 57 Use managed identities with ACI

Lecture 58 Understand dedicated hosts in ACI

Lecture 59 Understand and deploy a confidential ACI

Lecture 60 Scan container images using Microsoft Defender for Containers

Lecture 61 Implement policies for ACI with Azure Policy

Section 8: Storage and volumes in Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Lecture 62 Mount an Azure file share volume in ACI

Lecture 63 Mount an emptyDir volume in ACI

Lecture 64 Mount a gitRepo volume in ACI

Lecture 65 Mount a secret volume in ACI

Section 9: Monitor and troubleshoot Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Lecture 66 Activity logs in ACI

Lecture 67 Metrics Explorer in ACI

Lecture 68 Store ACI logs and events in Azure Monitor using Log Analytics Workspace

Lecture 69 Understand Alerts in Azure

Lecture 70 Create a metrics-based alert

Lecture 71 Create a log-based alert

Section 10: Use ACI in Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): Virtual nodes addon

Lecture 72 Learn Kubernetes and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) basics

Lecture 73 Understand Virtual nodes add-on for AKS

Lecture 74 Create an AKS cluster with virtual nodes add-on enabled and use it

Section 11: Reliability and High Availability in ACI

Lecture 75 Understand reliability in ACI, including Availability Zones

Lecture 76 Use Azure Front Door to route traffic between multiple ACIs

Lecture 77 Use custom domain and Azure Front Door certificate to expose apps in ACI

Section 12: Continue Your Learning Journey: Special Offer Inside

Lecture 78 Continue Your Learning Journey: Special Offer Inside

Anyone that is new to container world,Developers or users looking for a simple, serverless solution to run containerized applications in Azure,Cloud architects who want to understand the benefits and limitations of Azure Container Instances and how it fits into their cloud architecture or how to integrate it with other Azure services, like Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or Azure Container Registry (ACR),IT professionals or administrators that want to learn how to configure networking, security, storage, HA and others in Azure Container Instances,Anyone who is interested in learning about containerization and how to deploy containerized applications on Azure using Azure Container Instances, regardless of their technical background,Anyone who is looking to learn a new skill