How to Spin Up a Virtual Machine in Azure: A Beginner’s Tutorial

In today’s digital landscape, leveraging cloud computing has become essential for businesses and developers alike. Microsoft Azure offers a robust platform for creating and managing virtual machines (VMs) that cater to a variety of requirements, from testing applications to running production workloads. This beginner’s tutorial will guide you through the fundamental steps to spin up a virtual machine in Azure.

What is a Virtual Machine?

A virtual machine is a software-based simulation of a physical computer. It runs its own operating system and applications, allowing users to operate multiple VMs on a single physical server. This capability not only maximises hardware usage but also provides a flexible and efficient way to manage IT resources.

Getting Started with Azure

Before you can create a virtual machine, you will need an Azure account. If you have not yet signed up, Microsoft offers a free account that provides a substantial amount of credits to get you started.

Step 1: Log into the Azure Portal

1. Access the Azure Portal: Go to portal.azure.com.
2. Sign in: Enter your credentials to access your account.

Step 2: Create a Resource Group

Resource groups help in organising your Azure resources. It’s good practice to create one specifically for your virtual machine.

1. In the Azure Portal, click on “Resource groups” from the left-hand menu.
2. Click the “+ Create” button.
3. Fill in the required information:
   • Subscription: Choose your Azure subscription.
   • Resource group: Enter a name for your resource group.
   • Region: Select a geographic location for your resources.
4. Click “Review + Create” and then “Create”.

Step 3: Create a Virtual Machine

Now it’s time to create your virtual machine.

1. In the Azure Portal, click on “Create a resource” in the top left corner.

2. Select “Virtual Machine” from the offerings available.

3. Configure the VM settings:

   • Subscription: Select the same subscription you used for your resource group.
   • Resource group: Choose the resource group you created earlier.
   • Virtual machine name: Give your VM a unique name.
   • Region: Select the same region as your resource group.
   • Image: Choose the operating system you want (e.g., Windows Server, Ubuntu).
   • Size: Select the size that meets your performance requirements (note that Azure will provide a list of available sizes based on your OS choice).
   • Authentication type: You can choose either password or SSH public key for authentication.
   • Username and Password/SSH key: Enter your login credentials.

4. Networking: Azure will automatically create a virtual network for your VM, but you can adjust settings if necessary.

5. Management, Security, and Advanced Options: Review these settings, adjusting them according to your needs, but the defaults will work well for most beginners.

6. Click “Review + Create”, and review all the details to ensure everything is correct.

7. Finally, click “Create” to provision your virtual machine.

Step 4: Access Your Virtual Machine

Once the VM deployment is complete, you can access your virtual machine using the following methods:

• Windows VMs: Use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Click on your VM, find the “Connect” button, and download the RDP file. Open it and log in with the credentials you set up earlier.

• Linux VMs: Use SSH. Open a terminal and enter:
  bash
  ssh username@public_ip_address

  Replace username with your VM’s username and public_ip_address with your VM’s public IP address.

Step 5: Manage and Monitor Your Virtual Machine

Once your VM is up and running, you can manage it through the Azure Portal. Monitor the performance and configure backups, scaling, and other settings as needed.

Conclusion

Setting up a virtual machine in Azure is relatively straightforward, even for beginners, thanks to the intuitive Azure Portal interface. This tutorial has provided you with the basic steps to create and access a VM, opening the door to an array of cloud computing possibilities. As you become more familiar with Azure’s offerings, consider exploring additional features to optimise and secure your virtual machines, ensuring they meet your specific needs. Happy computing!