What is a Virtual Machine

Creating a virtual machine (VM) in Microsoft Azure is a fundamental skill for developers, IT professionals, and cloud enthusiasts. Whether you're setting up a development environment, deploying an application, or exploring cloud computing, Azure VMs provide a flexible and scalable solution. In this article, we'll walk through the step-by-step process of creating a virtual machine in Azure using the Azure Portal.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • An active Azure account. You can sign up for a free trial if you don’t have one.
  • Basic understanding of cloud computing concepts.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Virtual Machine

Step 1: Sign in to the Azure Portal

Go to https://portal.azure.com and sign in with your Azure credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to Virtual Machines

In the left-hand navigation pane, click on "Virtual Machines". If it’s not visible, use the search bar at the top to search for “Virtual Machines.”

Step 3: Click on "Create"

Click the "+ Create" button and select "Azure virtual machine".

Step 4: Configure the Basics

On the "Basics" tab, fill in the required information:

  • Subscription: Choose the appropriate subscription.
  • Resource group: Select an existing resource group or create a new one.
  • Virtual machine name: Give your VM a unique name.
  • Region: Choose the region closest to your users.
  • Availability options: Select the availability zone or availability set based on your need.
  • Image: Choose the OS image (e.g., Windows Server, Ubuntu).
  • Size: Click on “Change size” to select the desired VM size.
  • Administrator account: Enter username and password or SSH public key.
  • Inbound port rules: Allow selected ports (e.g., SSH for Linux, RDP for Windows).

Step 5: Disks Configuration

Choose the OS disk type:

  • Standard HDD (cost-effective)
  • Standard SSD (better performance)
  • Premium SSD (best performance)

Optionally, add data disks.

Step 6: Networking

Under the Networking tab:

  • Configure the Virtual Network or create a new one.
  • Set up a Subnet.
  • Assign a Public IP if you want to connect to the VM from the internet.
  • Configure NIC network security group (NSG) to manage traffic rules.

Step 7: Management, Monitoring, and Advanced Settings

  • Enable Boot diagnostics to help troubleshoot startup issues.
  • Choose Monitoring options like enabling Azure Monitor and Log Analytics.
  • Configure auto-shutdown and backup if needed.

Step 8: Review + Create

After completing all configurations, click on "Review + create".

Azure will validate your settings. If everything is correct, click "Create" to deploy the virtual machine.

Step 9: Access Your Virtual Machine

Once deployment is complete:

  • For Windows VMs, connect using Remote Desktop (RDP).
  • For Linux VMs, connect using SSH.

Click on the "Connect" button on the VM overview page and follow the connection instructions.

Final Thoughts

Creating a virtual machine in Azure is straightforward but powerful. It’s your gateway to running applications, hosting services, or practicing configurations in the cloud. As you get more comfortable, explore using Azure CLI or ARM templates for automation.

Feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions in the comments. Happy building in the cloud! ☁️

Author: Alioke Emmanuel N.

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