AZ-104 Exam EP 36: Creating Virtual Machines

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating virtual machines (VMs) in Azure, as demonstrated in the AZ-104 Exam video. Understanding how to deploy and manage VMs is crucial for Azure Administrators and is a key topic for the AZ-104 certification exam.

Step 1: Overview of Virtual Machines

Before creating a VM, familiarize yourself with the types of virtual machines available in Azure:

• Windows Virtual Machines: Suitable for running Windows-based applications.
• Linux Virtual Machines: Ideal for deploying Linux-based workloads.

Ensure you know the requirements for the applications you plan to run, as this will influence your VM configuration.

Step 2: Creating Virtual Machines in the Azure Portal

To create a VM, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the Azure Portal: Go to the Azure Portal and log in with your credentials.
2. Navigate to Virtual Machines:
   • Click on "Virtual Machines" in the left sidebar.
3. Click on Create:
   • Select "Add" to start the creation process.
4. Configure Basic Settings:
   • Subscription: Choose your Azure subscription.
   • Resource Group: Select an existing resource group or create a new one.
   • VM Name: Enter a name for your virtual machine.
   • Region: Choose the Azure region where you want to deploy the VM.
   • Availability Options: Select availability options based on your needs.
5. Choose an Image:
   • For Windows, select a Windows OS image from the gallery.
   • For Linux, select a Linux distribution from the gallery.
6. Select Size:
   • Choose the VM size based on your workload requirements.
7. Configure Administrator Account:
   • For Windows, create a username and password.
   • For Linux, create a username and choose SSH public key or password for access.
8. Networking Options:
   • Configure the virtual network, subnet, and public IP address.
9. Review and Create:
   • Review your configurations and click "Create" to deploy the VM.

Step 3: Connecting to Windows Virtual Machines

After your Windows VM is created:

1. Locate the VM: Go to the "Virtual Machines" section and select your VM.
2. Connect: Click on the "Connect" button.
3. Download RDP File: Choose "RDP" and download the connection file.
4. Open the RDP File: Launch the downloaded file and enter your credentials to connect.

Step 4: Creating and Connecting to Linux Virtual Machines

For Linux VMs, follow similar steps to create a VM:

1. Create a Linux VM: Follow the same steps as for Windows VMs, selecting a Linux image.
2. Connect Using SSH:
   • Open your terminal (Linux/Mac) or use an SSH client (like PuTTY for Windows).
   • Use the following command to connect:

     ssh username@public-ip-address
     

   • Replace username with your VM username and public-ip-address with the VM's public IP.

Conclusion

You have now learned how to create and connect to both Windows and Linux virtual machines in Azure. This is a fundamental skill for Azure administrators and will be beneficial for your AZ-104 certification preparation.

Next steps may include exploring additional features of VMs, such as configuring storage options, managing VM scaling, or setting up monitoring and diagnostics. Happy cloud computing!