Virtual Machines

Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide on-demand, scalable computing resources. You can use Azure VMs to deploy and run applications, host websites, extend your datacenter, and more.

Key Concepts

VM Images

VM images are pre-configured operating system templates that you can use to create virtual machines. Azure provides a rich gallery of images, including Windows Server, various Linux distributions, and specialized images for common software stacks.

VM Sizes

VM sizes determine the compute, memory, and storage capacity of your VM. Azure offers a wide range of VM sizes optimized for different workloads, from general-purpose computing to memory-intensive or GPU-accelerated tasks.

Storage

Azure VMs can utilize managed disks for their operating system and data disks. Managed disks offer high availability and durability, and you can choose between Standard HDD, Standard SSD, and Premium SSD options based on your performance needs.

Networking

Virtual Network (VNet) integration allows you to connect your VMs to your on-premises network, other Azure resources, and the internet. Network Security Groups (NSGs) provide firewall capabilities to control inbound and outbound traffic.

Getting Started with Virtual Machines

Here's a high-level overview of creating and managing Azure VMs:

  1. Choose a VM Image: Select an operating system and configuration that suits your needs.
  2. Select a VM Size: Pick a size that balances performance and cost for your workload.
  3. Configure Storage: Decide on the type and size of disks for your VM.
  4. Set Up Networking: Define network connectivity and security rules.
  5. Deploy the VM: Create the VM instance using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, or ARM templates.
  6. Connect to the VM: Access your VM via RDP (for Windows) or SSH (for Linux).

Resource Manager Templates

For automated and repeatable deployments, consider using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates or Bicep to define your VM infrastructure as code.

Example: Creating a Linux VM with Azure CLI

This example demonstrates how to create a simple Ubuntu Linux VM using the Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI).

az vm create \ --resource-group MyResourceGroup \ --name MyLinuxVM \ --image Ubuntu2204 \ --admin-username azureuser \ --generate-ssh-keys

After creation, you can connect to your VM using SSH:

ssh azureuser@

Replace <YOUR_VM_PUBLIC_IP_ADDRESS> with the public IP address of your newly created VM.

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