Creating a Virtual Machine (VM) in Azure

Creating a Virtual Machine (VM) in Azure


Creating a Virtual Machine (VM) in Azure is a straightforward process, but it involves several important steps. Here's a detailed step-by-step guide to creating a VM in Microsoft Azure:

Prerequisites:

  • An active Microsoft Azure subscription.
  • Azure account credentials to log in to the portal.

Step 1: Log into the Azure Portal

  1. Go to the Azure portal: Azure Portal
  2. Sign in with your Azure account credentials (username and password).

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine

  1. Navigate to the 'Virtual Machines' section:
    • On the left-hand side of the Azure portal, click on the "Create a resource" button.
    • In the "Search the Marketplace" box, type "Virtual Machine" and select "Virtual Machine" from the results.
  2. Start the VM creation wizard:
    • Click Create to start the process of creating a new virtual machine.

Step 3: Configure Basic Settings

  1. Subscription:

    • Choose your Azure Subscription (if you have multiple subscriptions).

  2. Resource Group:

    • Choose an existing resource group or create a new one. Resource groups help organize your Azure resources.
    • To create a new group, click "Create new", give it a name, and click OK.

  3. Virtual Machine Name:

    • Provide a name for the VM (e.g., MyVM).

  4. Region:

    • Choose a Region where you want to deploy your VM. Select a region that is geographically close to your location for better performance.

  5. Availability Options:

    • Choose No infrastructure redundancy required (this is the default option), or you can select other availability options like Availability Zone or Availability Set for higher availability (optional).

  6. Image:

    • Choose the OS Image for the VM. The default option is usually Windows Server (e.g., Windows Server 2022 or Ubuntu, if you prefer Linux).
    • Select the OS image that suits your needs.

  7. Size:

    • Choose the size of the VM, which determines its CPU, memory, and storage capacity. Click on Change size to select a VM size based on your requirements.
    • Basic or Standard sizes are available depending on your workload.

  8. Authentication Type:

    • Choose the authentication method for accessing the VM:
      • Password: Enter a username and password.
      • SSH public key: If you're using Linux, you can provide an SSH public key for secure login.
    • For Windows, you'll typically use a username and password.

  9. Username and Password (for Windows):

    • If you selected Password, create a Username (e.g., adminuser) and Password. Ensure that the password is complex (as per Azure password guidelines).

  10. Public inbound ports:

    • Choose the Public inbound ports to allow access to the VM. You can allow None, or select Allow selected ports to open certain ports (e.g., SSH (22) for Linux, RDP (3389) for Windows).

Step 4: Configure Disks

  1. OS Disk Type:

    • Select the OS disk type. The available options are:
      • Standard HDD
      • Standard SSD
      • Premium SSD
    • Choose Standard SSD for a balance between cost and performance.

  2. Data Disks (Optional):

    • You can add Data Disks if you need additional storage for your VM. This step is optional and can be configured later.

Step 5: Configure Networking

  1. Virtual Network (VNet):

    • If you already have a virtual network, select it from the list. If not, create a new VNet by clicking Create new.

  2. Subnet:

    • Select the subnet within the chosen VNet. If you don’t have a subnet, you can create a new one.

  3. Public IP:

    • Decide whether you want to assign a Public IP to the VM. This is optional, but if you need to access the VM from outside the Azure network (e.g., using SSH or RDP), you'll need a public IP.

  4. NIC Network Security Group:

    • Select Basic for a basic firewall or Advanced for a custom network security group (NSG). You can also configure the NSG later.

Step 6: Review and Create

  1. Review all settings:

    • After configuring all the options, you’ll see a summary of your VM configuration. Check everything carefully, including the subscription, resource group, region, VM size, OS, and network settings.

  2. Click 'Create':

    • Once you're satisfied with the configuration, click the Create button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 7: Wait for Deployment

  • Azure will now begin to deploy the virtual machine. This process can take several minutes. You'll be notified once the deployment is complete.

Step 8: Connect to the Virtual Machine

  1. Access the VM:
    • Once the VM is deployed, navigate to the Virtual Machines section in the portal, select your VM from the list.
  2. Connect to the VM:
    • For Windows VM:
      • Click on Connect at the top of the VM details page.
      • Select RDP.
      • Download the RDP file and enter the username and password you created earlier when prompted.
    • For Linux VM:
      • Click on Connect and select SSH.
      • Follow the instructions to connect via SSH using a terminal or command prompt (for example: ssh username@public-ip).

Step 9: Configure VM (Optional)

After the VM is up and running, you can install software, configure settings, and use it just like any other server.

Additional Notes:

  • Scaling: You can resize the VM anytime if the workload grows or if you need more resources.
  • Security: It’s essential to configure your firewall, security groups, and make sure your VM is updated regularly for security.
  • Backup: Consider setting up backup solutions for your VM using Azure Backup for data protection.

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