Introduction to Azure Virtual Machines for Windows
Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide on-demand, scalable computing resources. This documentation focuses on deploying and managing Windows-based virtual machines in Azure, offering flexibility, control, and enterprise-grade performance for your applications and workloads.
Whether you're migrating existing Windows workloads, developing new cloud-native applications, or need a flexible development and testing environment, Azure VMs offer a robust and familiar platform.
Getting Started with Windows VMs
Create your first Windows VM
Learn the essential steps to provision a Windows Server VM in Azure using the Azure portal. Covers choosing an image, sizing your VM, configuring networking, and storage.
Start Now →Connect to your Windows VM
Understand how to establish a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection to your Windows VM from various client machines and operating systems.
Connect →Key Features and Capabilities
VM Images and Galleries
Explore the vast library of Windows Server images available in the Azure Marketplace, including different versions and specialized editions. Learn about custom image creation.
Explore Images →Networking for Windows VMs
Configure virtual networks, subnets, network security groups (NSGs), and public IP addresses to ensure secure and efficient communication for your Windows VMs.
Configure Networking →Storage Options
Understand Azure Managed Disks, including Standard HDD, Standard SSD, and Premium SSD options, to meet different performance and cost requirements for your Windows VM data.
Choose Storage →Management and Monitoring
Learn about tools like Azure Monitor, Azure Automation, and Azure Backup for managing, monitoring, and protecting your Windows VM environments.
Manage VMs →In-Depth Tutorials
Deploy a highly available Windows Server Failover Cluster
Step-by-step guide to setting up a resilient Windows Server Failover Cluster across multiple Azure VMs.
View Tutorial →Migrate an on-premises Windows Server to Azure VM
Detailed instructions for migrating your existing Windows Server workloads to Azure using Azure Migrate.
View Tutorial →API and CLI Reference
Access comprehensive documentation for Azure CLI commands and REST API references related to managing Windows virtual machines.
Azure CLI Reference for VMs
Command-line tools for creating, configuring, and managing Azure resources.
View CLI Reference →Azure REST API Reference
Programmatic access to Azure services for building custom solutions.
View REST API Reference →Troubleshooting Common Issues
VM Boot Errors
Diagnose and resolve common boot problems encountered with Windows VMs in Azure.
Troubleshoot Boot Issues →RDP Connection Problems
Solutions for network, firewall, and configuration issues preventing RDP access.
Troubleshoot RDP →