AZ-104 Exam EP 35: Azure Virtual Machine Planning

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide for planning Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) as part of the AZ-104 exam preparation. Understanding how to effectively plan VMs is crucial for optimizing performance, cost, and scalability within Azure. This guide will walk you through the key considerations and processes for planning Azure VMs.

Step 1: Understand IaaS Cloud Services

• Familiarize yourself with Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) which allows you to manage virtualized computing resources over the Internet.
• Key features of IaaS include:
  • On-demand provisioning of resources
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing model
  • Scalability and flexibility

Step 2: Create a Planning Checklist

• Develop a checklist to ensure thorough preparation. Important items to include:
  • Define the purpose of the VM
  • Identify the target workload
  • Determine compliance and security requirements
  • Assess networking requirements

Step 3: Consider Location and Pricing

• Choose the appropriate Azure region for hosting your VMs, keeping in mind:
  • Latency requirements for your users
  • Regulatory compliance that may dictate location
• Evaluate pricing options since costs can vary significantly by region. Use the Azure Pricing Calculator to estimate costs based on:
  • VM size and type
  • Storage options
  • Networking costs

Step 4: Plan Virtual Machine Sizing

• Select the right VM size based on:
  • CPU and memory requirements
  • Expected load and performance needs
• Use Azure’s VM size documentation to find suitable options for your workload.

Step 5: Determine Virtual Machine Disks

• Decide on the type of disks needed for your VMs:
  • Standard HDD
  • Standard SSD
  • Premium SSD
• Consider performance, durability, and cost when choosing disk types.

Step 6: Explore Storage Options

• Understand Azure storage options for your VMs, including:
  • Managed disks versus unmanaged disks
  • Backup and replication strategies
• Choose storage based on performance needs and budget constraints.

Step 7: Identify Supported Operating Systems

• Review the list of supported operating systems for Azure VMs. Common choices include:
  • Windows Server editions
  • Various distributions of Linux
• Ensure that your selected OS meets the application requirements.

Step 8: Plan for Virtual Machine Connections

• Establish how users and applications will connect to your VMs:
  • Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for Windows
  • Secure Shell (SSH) for Linux
• Configure networking settings, including public IP addresses and network security groups, to facilitate secure connections.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will have a comprehensive planning strategy for deploying Azure Virtual Machines. Key takeaways include understanding IaaS services, creating a structured checklist, considering location and pricing, and selecting the right VM configurations. As you prepare for the AZ-104 exam, ensure you are familiar with all aspects of VM planning to effectively manage Azure resources. Next steps could involve hands-on practice with Azure to apply these concepts in real scenarios.