Azure WebSites and Distributed caching

Question

What is the right way to implement azure websites (not webroles) that use distributed caching? Does Azure have anything built in or a 3-rd party has to be involved?

Edit:

I have been struggling with suggested Windows Azure Caching. The server kept responding with error ErrorCode<ERRCA0019>:SubStatus<ES0001>:Check the client version. It should be within the allowed version range on the server. If necessary, upgrade the client to the allowed version.

After looooong search I have stumbled upon this link that fixed it all.

Bottom line, when looking for NuGet package, DO NOT use Windows Azure Caching, but Windows Azure Shared Caching v1.7.

Answer 1

Windows Azure Cache Service (Preview) has just been released. That is the best way to use distributed caching with Azure Websites.

The Shared Caching service is being deprecated!

Answer 2

Well the easiest way is to just use Azure Shared Caching for distributed caching. You will have to provision the caching in the Azure Management Portal but then after that the API is pretty straightforward.

Here is a link to the Nuget package for the libraries: Windows Azure Caching

The prices for distributed caching are pretty outrageous still: Azure Cache Pricing