Azure Virtual Machines: Overview

Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide on-demand, scalable computing resources. You can use Azure VMs to deploy and run applications, host websites, and develop and test software. With Azure VMs, you get the full compute capacity of a physical computer but with added benefits of virtualization.

What are Azure Virtual Machines?

Azure VMs are on-demand and scalable computing resources that offer the flexibility of virtualization for a wide variety of computing workloads. You can deploy Windows and Linux virtual machines in Azure in minutes. Azure VMs offer:

  • Global Availability: Deploy VMs in data centers across the globe.
  • Scalability: Easily scale your compute resources up or down based on demand.
  • Flexibility: Choose from a wide range of VM sizes and operating systems.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for what you use with pay-as-you-go pricing.
  • Integration: Seamlessly integrate with other Azure services.

Key Features and Capabilities

Compute Power

Select from hundreds of VM sizes, including optimized compute, memory, and I/O configurations.

Operating Systems

Deploy Windows Server, various Linux distributions, and custom images.

High Availability

Achieve high availability with Availability Sets and Availability Zones.

Disaster Recovery

Leverage Azure Site Recovery for robust disaster recovery solutions.

Managed Disks

Use Azure Managed Disks for simplified storage management and higher reliability.

Networking Options

Configure virtual networks, load balancers, and VPN gateways for secure connectivity.

Common Use Cases

Azure Virtual Machines are ideal for a wide range of scenarios:

  • Running Applications: Host enterprise applications, databases, and custom business software.
  • Developing and Testing: Create development and test environments quickly and efficiently.
  • Website Hosting: Deploy and manage web servers for dynamic and static websites.
  • Big Data Analytics: Set up powerful clusters for data processing and analysis.
  • High-Performance Computing (HPC): Run complex simulations and computations.

Getting Started

To start using Azure Virtual Machines:

  1. Create an Azure account if you don't already have one.
  2. Navigate to the Azure portal.
  3. Select "Virtual machines" and then "Create".
  4. Configure your VM settings, including subscription, resource group, VM name, region, image, size, and administrator account.
  5. Review and create your virtual machine.

Explore the detailed guides and tutorials in the documentation to learn more about specific configurations and best practices.