Azure Virtual Machines - Windows
Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) provide on-demand, scalable computing resources. This document focuses on deploying, managing, and optimizing Windows Server virtual machines in Azure.
Key Concepts
- VM Image: A template that contains the operating system and any pre-installed software. Azure offers a wide variety of Windows Server images.
- Virtual Network (VNet): Your private network in Azure where your VMs reside.
- Subnet: A range of IP addresses within your VNet.
- Public IP Address: Used to connect to your VM from the internet.
- Network Security Group (NSG): Acts as a virtual firewall to control inbound and outbound traffic to network interfaces (NICs).
- Azure Resource Manager (ARM): The deployment and management service for Azure.
Getting Started
Follow these steps to deploy your first Windows VM:
- Navigate to the Azure portal.
- Click "Create a resource".
- Search for "Virtual machine" and select it.
- Click "Create".
- Select a Windows Server image (e.g., Windows Server 2022 Datacenter).
- Configure VM size, username, password, and networking settings.
- Review and create the VM.
Common Tasks
- Connecting to a Windows VM using RDP
- Configuring storage for your VM
- Managing VM lifecycle (start, stop, restart)
- Applying updates and patches
- Monitoring VM performance
For advanced configurations, consider using Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI for scripting and automation.
Best Practices
- Choose the right VM size based on your workload requirements.
- Implement robust security measures, including NSGs and Azure Security Center.
- Regularly back up your VMs using Azure Backup.
- Optimize costs by shutting down VMs when not in use and rightsizing.