Get Started with Azure Virtual Machines

Welcome to Azure Virtual Machines! This guide will walk you through the essential steps to create and manage your first virtual machine (VM) in Azure. VMs provide on-demand, scalable computing resources, offering the flexibility of a virtualized environment.

Step 1: Create Your First Virtual Machine

The most common way to get started is by deploying a VM from the Azure portal. This visual interface simplifies the creation process.

Using the Azure Portal

1. Sign in to the Azure portal.
2. In the portal's search bar, type "Virtual machines" and select it from the results.
3. Click the + Create button and select Virtual machine.
4. Fill out the required fields in the "Basics" tab:
   • Subscription and Resource group
   • Virtual machine name
   • Region (e.g., East US, West Europe)
   • Image (choose an operating system like Ubuntu Server, Windows Server, etc.)
   • Size (select a VM size based on your performance needs)
   • Administrator account (username and password or SSH public key)
   • Inbound port rules (e.g., allow SSH (22) or RDP (3389))
5. Configure other settings like disks, networking, and management as needed, or accept the defaults for a quick start.
6. Click Review + create and then Create to deploy your VM.

The deployment process typically takes a few minutes. You can monitor its progress in the Azure portal.

Step 2: Connect to Your Virtual Machine

Once your VM is deployed, you'll need to connect to it to start using it.

Connecting to a Linux VM

Use an SSH client (like OpenSSH, PuTTY) to connect to your Linux VM using its public IP address and the credentials you configured during creation.

ssh your_username@

Connecting to a Windows VM

Use a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client to connect to your Windows VM using its public IP address and the credentials you configured.

In Windows, search for "Remote Desktop Connection", enter the VM's public IP address, and click Connect.

Step 3: Explore and Manage Your VM

After connecting, you can install applications, configure services, and manage your VM's resources.

Key Management Tasks

• Monitoring: Keep an eye on your VM's performance metrics (CPU, memory, disk usage) in the Azure portal.
• Stopping/Starting: You can stop your VM to save costs when not in use and start it again when needed.
• Resizing: Adjust your VM's size if your workload requirements change.
• Disk Management: Add, detach, or resize disks attached to your VM.
• Networking: Configure network security groups (NSGs) and virtual network settings.

This is just the beginning. Azure Virtual Machines offers a vast array of features to meet your computing needs. Explore the documentation further to unlock the full potential of Azure VMs.