Virtual Machines

#cloud #azure #beginners #tutorial

What is a virtual Machine?

A virtual machine is a software-based emulation of a physical computer. It behaves like a real machine, complete with its own CPU, memory, storage, and operating system — but instead of running on physical hardware directly, it runs on top of a virtualization layer called a hypervisor.

With virtualization platforms like VMware Workstation, VirtualBox, or enterprise solutions such as Microsoft Hyper-V, you can create multiple isolated virtual computers on a single physical machine. Each VM can run a different operating system — Windows, Linux, macOS (with limitations), or others — completely independent from your main system.

Step 1: In the Azure portal, search for and select Virtual Machines

Step 2: Select + Create.

Step 3: Select Virtual Machine.

Step 4: Create a new Resource Group and give it a name. This helps to keep your work organized. Then select OK

Step 5: Select Availability zone. Notice you can select more than one zone, but this increases your bill

Step6 Give your virtual machine a name, it must be globally unique. Select a region.

Step 7: Select an image. It's a template that contains everything needed to start a server instantly. We'll choose a windows version because we want to install a windows virtual machine

Step 8: Give your virtual machine a username. Just a your physical computer has a name, the virtual machine also has. Notice the characteristics a username must possess.

Step 9: Provide a password and confirm it.

Step 10: On the inbound port rules section, select Allow selected ports. Notice the caution. We'll select it because we need to test the virtual machine.

If we select None, notice all internet will be blocked.

Configure inbound ports to RDP for windows operating system. HTTP (80) is the port that helps you communicate with the internet.

Step 11: On the Monitoring tab, disable boot diagnostics. Boot Diagnostics takes actual screenshots of the VM's console, it could theoretically capture sensitive information, so it's best practice to disable it.