Microsoft Azure provides a scalable and flexible infrastructure platform that is cloud-based. It is an excellent tool for deploying and scaling virtual machines when compared to traditional in-house IT infrastructures. When deploying virtual machines with Azure, you can streamline, automate, and manage your infrastructure’s resources under the Microsoft cloud. This tutorial describes the steps involved in deploying virtual machines with Azure.
Prerequisites
Before deploying virtual machines with Azure, you should have the following:
- A valid Microsoft Azure account
- A basic understanding of Azure-based virtual machines
- Familiarity with virtual machines deployed over other cloud platforms
- Some basic knowledge about the operating system you plan to install within the virtual machine
- Basic knowledge of network security
Creating a Virtual Machine
Creating a virtual machine in Azure requires a few simple steps that can be completed through the Azure portal.
Step 1: Login to Azure and Create a Resource Group
Login to the Azure portal using your credentials.
Click on “Resource Group” from the menu buttons and then click on “Create a Resource Group”.
Enter the name of the group, set the region to a geographical location of your choice, and then click on “Create”.
Step 2: Create a Virtual Machine
Click on the “Virtual machines” menu from the left-hand navigation pane, and then click on “+Add” to create a new virtual machine.
In the “Basics” tab, enter the virtual machine’s name, select the subscription, and choose the appropriate resource group that you want to use. From the “Image” section, select the operating system that you want to run with your virtual machine. You have the option of uploading your custom-made image, choosing a pre-built image, or creating an image from an existing disk.
In the “Size” tab, choose the virtual machine type, which includes the appropriate number of compute resources for your workload and budget.
In the “Settings” tab, configure your availability sets, network options, extensions, and disk options.
In the “Summary” tab, review your configurations and then click on “Create” to create the virtual machine.
Step 3: Connect to the Virtual Machine
After the virtual machine has been deployed, connect to the virtual machine using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Secure Shell (SSH). Run RDP on a Windows operating system, while use SSH on a Linux operating system. The Azure portal offers a web-based RDP/SSH connection option directly from your Azure portal.
Strategies for Scaling Virtual Machines with Azure
Virtual machines can be scaled in two ways with Azure: vertical and horizontal scaling.
Vertical Scaling
Vertical scaling entails modifying the virtual machine’s resources, such as memory, CPU, or disk space, to handle more workloads. You may deploy your virtual machine on Azure by starting with lower instance types, then upgrading them as your workload demand grows.
To modify a virtual machine’s resources, follow these steps:
- Go to the “Virtual machines” menu from the left-hand navigation pane and click on your virtual machine’s name.
- Click on the “Size” option on the left-hand navigation pane.
- Select the desired Azure instance type.
Horizontal Scaling
In horizontal scaling, you increase your virtual machine capacity by increasing the number of instances running in parallel. Azure offers multiple strategies to horizontally scale your Virtual Machines, including:
- Scale Set: A fully-managed feature that enables you to distribute and run identical virtual machines on-demand and automatically based on custom metrics and target corporate rules.
- Virtual Machines Scale Sets: It is a platform service that lets you automate the usage of many virtual machines identical to each other.
Backing Up Virtual Machines with Azure
It is necessary to make backup copies of any computer system, including a virtual machine deployed over Azure. We will show you how to back up a virtual machine on Azure in this part.
Step 1: Create a Recovery Services Vault
A recovery services vault is needed before you can back up virtual machines. To create a recovery services vault, follow these steps:
- Go to the “Recovery Services” menu and press the “+Add” tab.
- Select “Recovery Services Vault” by clicking on “+Add” and then click on “Create”.
Step 2: Backup Virtual Machines
After the recovery services vault has been created, you can now go ahead to back up the virtual machine by following the steps below:
- Go to your virtual machine’s “Backup” option under the “Operations” tab.
- Click on “Backup”.
- Select the recovery service vault that you created earlier and click “OK”.
- Configure the backup settings according to your needs.
- Click on “Enable Backup” to start the backup.
Conclusion
Deploying virtual machines with Azure is an easy process that can be done through the Azure portal. With Azure, you are provided with an environment scalable and efficient enough to manage your virtual machines. You can scale your virtual machines and make backups using Azure’s simple tools. Start deploying your virtual machines over Azure today.