Guided Lab: Launching an Azure Virtual Machine (VM)
Description
Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) is a cloud service that provides flexible, on-demand compute resources for running Windows or Linux servers. It supports workloads such as application hosting, testing, and disaster recovery. The service offers scalability, high availability, and integration with Azure networking and storage while removing the need to manage physical hardware.
Objectives
In this lab, you will:
- Learn how to provision a Virtual Machine in the Azure portal.
- Configure basic settings such as resource group, region, size, image, and networking.
- Verify the deployment to confirm the Virtual Machine is created.
Subscribe to access Azure PlayCloud LabsLab Steps
Creating a Virtual Machine
1. Navigate to the Virtual machines service by clicking the service on the homepage or via the search bar.
2. Start creating a VM by clicking Create → virtual machine at the top bar or by clicking the Create button at the center of the page.
Configuring the Virtual Machine
1. In the Basics tab, set the following configuration:
- Resource group: azure-lab-rg-66DFVNzG52fy
- Region: (US) Central US
- Availability zone: Zone 1
2. Navigate to Size. The recommended sizes will appear as not allowed. Click “See all sizes” and choose one of the three permitted VM sizes: B1ls, B1ms, or B1s.
3. Navigate to Image. Select one of the following:
- Canonical (Ubuntu)
- Debian
- AlmaLinux (no Pro versions)
4. Go to the Disks tab, select the OS disk type, and choose either Standard HDD or Standard SSD only.
5. Configure the virtual network:
- Go to the Networking tab, then Create new virtual network.
- A “Create virtual network” panel will show up. Just give your virtual network a unique name, then click “OK”
6. Once done, click Review + create button at the bottom.
Finalize and Deploy the Virtual Machine
1. Wait for the “Validation passed” message to show up, then review if all configurations are correct. Once done, click Create.
- If the validation fails, an X will highlight the error, such as a missing value or an incorrect configuration. Carefully review the settings from the previous steps, update any fields that need to be fixed, and re-run the validation until it passes.
2. A prompt will show up asking you to generate a new key pair. Select the “download private key to create resource” button. Then save the pem key in your desired location locally.
3. Wait for the deployment to be successful. Once done, check the new VM that you created.
Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Guided Lab on creating an Azure Virtual Machine. Through this exercise, you learned how to configure the important settings, validate your configuration, and deploy a VM in the Azure portal. This accomplishment is a foundational step in developing your Azure compute skills and preparing for more advanced cloud solutions.