Restful WebService in Azure: Web Role or Worker Role?

Question

I'm trying to create a webservice and deploy it to Azure Cloud Services

The scenario is really simple: send a request via http or https to the service and receive some data.

I can't tell from documentation if this should be done in a WebRole or WorkerRole. As far as i understand a worker role can be accessed via http as well as a WebRole which runs in IIS.

can you please tell me what should i pick and why?

Thanks

Dan

Answer 1

You actually have several options here, depending on what you want:

1) An Azure Website.

Here you can host very simply a website, nothing more. It is also cheaper than an IIS role, but you have limited access. You get a pre configured IIS where your website is published on. You can't change any setting in this IIS - you just have your Web.config.

2) A Web Role

You get a maintained Windows machine with a fully installed IIS on. Your application will be installed in this IIS. You can remote access this machine, you can install additionally software using start-up tasks or change the settings of the IIS itself. Microsoft takes care of system updates.

3) A Worker Role

A Worker Role is absolutely equally to a Web Role, except of a missing IIS. If you don't use IIS and use a custom tool to host your website, go for this.

4) A Virtual Machine

Well yeah, just what the name says. A virtual machine where you have to take care of the OS yourself. Install whatever you want, Windows or Linux, and set it up the way you want.

---

If you don't need any special features, go with a WebSite. If you need something that is not available on a WebSite, use a Web Role. It is also very very easy to switch from a WebSite to a WebRole later one.