Azure Service Configuration and Definition files

I’m now working towards my 70-533 Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions and one thing that throws me is the difference between what is held in the Service Definition (.csdef) and Service Configuration (.cscfg) files.

A good write up is found here What is the Cloud Service model and how do I package it?

Service Definition Files (.csdef)

These hold

• Web Roles
  • Sites
    • Bindings
  • Endpoints
    • InputEdnpoint
    • InternalEndpoint
  • Certificates
  • Imports
  • LocalResources
    • LocalStorage
  • StartUp
    • Task
• WorkerRole
  • ConfigurationSettings
  • Imports
  •  Endpoints
    • InputEdnpoint
    • InternalEndpoint

Service Configuration Files (.cscfg)

These hold

• Role
  • Instances
• ConfigurationSettigs
• Certificates

Service Package Files (.cspkg)

These hold the packaged application in a single compressed archive file.