Introduction to Azure Virtual Machines

Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide on-demand, scalable computing resources. You can deploy and run Windows and Linux virtual machines in Azure. Azure VMs offer the full range of computing capabilities, from full Windows and Linux operating systems to the latest application frameworks.

With Azure VMs, you can:

  • Deploy applications quickly and easily.
  • Run software that requires a full OS.
  • Scale computing resources up or down as needed.
  • Choose from a wide variety of VM sizes and configurations.
Tip: Azure provides a vast selection of VM images, including various Linux distributions, Windows Server versions, and specialized images for development, data analytics, and more.

Creating a Virtual Machine

You can create Azure VMs using several methods:

  • Azure Portal: A user-friendly graphical interface for managing Azure resources.
  • Azure CLI: A command-line tool for managing Azure resources.
  • Azure PowerShell: A scripting language for managing Azure resources.
  • ARM Templates / Bicep: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for declarative deployment.

Using the Azure Portal:

The Azure Portal simplifies VM creation with a step-by-step wizard. Key steps include:

  1. Navigate to "Virtual machines" and click "Create".
  2. Select a subscription and resource group.
  3. Choose an operating system image (e.g., Ubuntu, Windows Server).
  4. Select a VM size.
  5. Configure administrator account, networking, and storage.
  6. Review and create.

# Example using Azure CLI to create a Linux VM
az vm create \
  --resource-group MyResourceGroup \
  --name MyVM \
  --image UbuntuLTS \
  --admin-username azureuser \
  --generate-ssh-keys

Understanding VM Sizes

Azure offers a wide range of VM sizes optimized for different workloads. They are categorized into families based on their capabilities:

Family Purpose Key Features
A-series General Purpose Balanced CPU-memory ratio
B-series Burstable Low-cost, for workloads with temporary spikes in usage
D-series General Purpose (Optimized) Higher CPU-to-memory ratio, with faster local storage
E-series Memory Optimized High memory-to-CPU ratio, for in-memory applications
F-series Compute Optimized High CPU-to-memory ratio, for compute-intensive applications
G-series Memory Optimized (High Performance) Largest memory and highest performance SSD storage
M-series SAP HANA Optimized Massive memory capacity for SAP HANA

Choosing the right VM size is crucial for performance and cost-effectiveness. Consider your application's CPU, memory, storage, and network requirements.

Storage Options for VMs

Azure VMs can utilize different types of storage:

  • Managed Disks: Recommended for all production workloads. They are highly available, durable, and managed by Azure. Types include:
    • Standard HDD: Cost-effective for dev/test and non-critical workloads.
    • Standard SSD: Balance of cost and performance for web servers, lightly used apps, and dev/test.
    • Premium SSD: High performance, low latency for production workloads, databases, and critical applications.
    • Ultra Disk: Highest performance storage for I/O-intensive applications like top-tier databases.
  • Unmanaged Disks: Older technology, managed by the user. Not recommended for new deployments.
Note: Data disks store application data and databases, while OS disks store the operating system.

Virtual Machine Networking

Azure VMs connect to networks using Network Interfaces (NICs). Key networking concepts include:

  • Virtual Networks (VNets): Your private network in Azure.
  • Subnets: Divisions of your VNet.
  • Network Security Groups (NSGs): Act as a basic firewall to control inbound and outbound traffic.
  • Public IP Addresses: To connect to your VM from the internet.
  • Load Balancers: Distribute network traffic across multiple VMs.
  • Application Gateways: For web application traffic management.

Proper network configuration is essential for secure and efficient communication.

Security Best Practices

Securing your Azure VMs is paramount. Consider these best practices:

  • Regular Patching: Keep your OS and applications updated.
  • Use NSGs: Restrict network access to only necessary ports and protocols.
  • Enable Azure Security Center: For threat detection and security recommendations.
  • Use Strong Authentication: Implement strong passwords or SSH keys. Consider multi-factor authentication.
  • Encrypt Data: Use disk encryption (e.g., Azure Disk Encryption) for sensitive data.
  • Principle of Least Privilege: Grant only the necessary permissions.
Warning: Exposing RDP (port 3389) or SSH (port 22) directly to the internet is a significant security risk. Use Azure Bastion or VPNs for secure administrative access.

Monitoring and Management

Azure provides robust tools for monitoring and managing your VMs:

  • Azure Monitor: Collects, analyzes, and acts on telemetry from your cloud and on-premises environments. Track performance metrics, logs, and alerts.
  • Azure Resource Health: Provides information about Azure service issues that might affect your VMs.
  • Azure Advisor: Offers personalized recommendations to optimize Azure resource performance, security, reliability, and cost.

SQL Server on Azure VMs

Running SQL Server on Azure VMs offers flexibility and compatibility for your existing SQL Server workloads. Key benefits include:

  • Lift-and-shift existing SQL Server applications with minimal changes.
  • Full control over the OS and SQL Server instance.
  • Choice of Windows or Linux VMs.
  • Benefit from Azure's reliability and scalability.

Azure provides specialized SQL Server images in the marketplace, pre-configured for optimal performance and security.