Getting Started with NCache Cloud Azure

This guide provides the basic steps you should follow to get started with NCache Cloud on Azure. For the purpose of this guide, we'll be using a Flexible Plan and deploying NCache using the NCache Cloud Portal as a new user.

Step 1: Get from Azure Marketplace

Go to Azure Portal, log in, and from the Azure Services menu, select Marketplace.
In the resulting search box, type NCache in the Discover Products section and choose NCache Cloud.
After clicking this option, a new screen will appear where you will have to pick the Flexible plan from the dropdown menu. After making your choice, click on Subscribe. This will redirect you to the NCache Cloud Portal.

Step 2: Register at NCache Cloud Portal

Next, you need to fill out the New User form and click on Register to link your credentials to your NCache cloud subscription.
Once you've verified your email, click Confirm & Send OTP.
Retrieve the OTP from the email you provided in the New User form, enter it, and click Verify.
You’ll receive a prompt confirming your subscription creation. Click Continue to proceed to the Subscription Dashboard on the NCache Cloud Portal.

Step 3: Install and Initialize PowerShell Module

To begin, you need to install the NCache Azure PowerShell module:

Install-Module -Name NCache.Azure

Warning

If your PowerShell packages haven't been updated, run the following commands and then restart PowerShell:

Install-Module -Name PackageManagement -Repository PSGallery -Force -AllowClobber

Install-Module -Name PowerShellGet -Repository PSGallery -Force -AllowClobber

Next, connect your Azure account using the following cmdlet:

Connect-AzAccount

Step 4: Create an Environment

Copy the Evaluation Key from the Subscription Dashboard on the NCache Cloud Portal as shown below.
Finally, you can create an NCache Environment called "Production", with 2 VMs ("NC-Server-1", "NC-Server-2"), their public IPs, and install NCache using the following command:

New-NCAzEnvironment -Name Production -Plan ENT-16/4 -Email john_smith@alachisoft.com -EvalKey XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX -OS Windows-2025 -Region EASTUS -Zone ZONE1

Executing this command will produce output that is similar to the following:

New Environment Output

Important

The NCache Mangement Center will be accesible on the link provided in the Mangement Link column for each VM.

Step 5: Create a Cache

To get your cluster up and running, you need to create a cache. For example, the following command creates a Partition-Replica distributed cache in the previously established "Production" environment:

New-NCAzCache -EnvName Production -Name demoCache -Size 1024

When you run this command, you should see output similar to the one below:

New Cache Output

Step 6: Start Cache

To use NCache, you need to start it in your Azure environment.

Start-NCAzCache -EnvName Production -Name demoCache

Executing this command will produce output that is similar to the following:

Start Cache Output

Next, you can use the Test-NCAzStress cmdlet to simulate usage by running the following command:

Test-NcAzStress -EnvName Production -CacheName demoCache -Node 10.0.0.4

The output from running this command will look something like this:

Test Cache Usage Output

Step 7: Add Client

After this, you need to install the NCache client software on a VM where you would run your application. This is usually your application or web server. Let's assume, it's name is "NC-Client-1" with private 10.0.0.10 ip-address. Refer to the example provided below:

Install-NCAzClient -VmName "NC-Client-1" -Email "john_smith@alachisoft.com" -ResourceGroupName "NC-Production" -Key XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Then, add that client node, in this case "10.0.0.10" to the cache, using the Add-NCAzClient cmdlet:

Add-NCAzClient -EnvName Production -CacheName demoCache -ClientNode 10.0.0.10

Executing this command will produce output like the following:

Add Client Output

To ensure everything in your cluster is working as intended, use the Test-NCAzStress cmdlet.

Test-NcAzStress -EnvName Production -CacheName demoCache -Node 10.0.0.10

To view the results, navigate to the Client Dashboard in the NCache Monitor which is accesible on the NCache Mangement Center (through the link provided when creating an environment). Once you've verified that it's working, you can start using NCache Cloud as needed.

Tip

You can refer to the NCache Cloud guide to learn more.