DEV Community: Henry

Creating a Linux Virtual Machine on Azure Using Custom Templates

Henry — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:27:48 +0000

Azure, Microsoft's cloud computing platform, provides a seamless experience for creating and managing virtual machines (VMs). With Azure's flexibility, you can leverage custom templates to streamline the process of provisioning Linux-based VMs. In this blog post, we will guide you through the steps to create a Linux virtual machine on Azure using custom templates.

Step 1: Prepare the Custom Template.

Begin by logging into your Azure account and search for Deploy a custom template then create or obtain a custom template that defines the configuration of your Linux VM. Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates are written in JSON and allow you to define the desired state of your infrastructure. You can either create your own template or leverage existing templates from Azure Quickstart Templates or the Azure Marketplace. Today we will be working with the Quickstart Templates.

Step 2: Then select 'create a linux virtual machine'
You can decide to edit the template, edit the parameters or visualize depending on your desired customization.

step 3: Add Your Admin name, select authentication type as password for a quick connection the input your chosen password.Then click the review+create button.

Step 4: once validation is passed, click on the create button.

Once you have successfully deployed, go to the resource group.

Step 5: Then click on the VM named simplelinuxvm.

Then click on connect which is on the upper left side of the VM screen.

To connect to your linux you created on Azure, go to powershell terminal or input the following command in your linux terminal.
ssh and then click enter.

Once the details are entered properly, You will be connected to your VM.

A Step-by-Step Guide: Adding and Initializing a Data Disk for a Virtual Machine for Azure

Henry — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:31:24 +0000

As businesses and individuals increasingly rely on virtual machines (VMs) for their computing needs, the need to expand storage capacity becomes inevitable. Fortunately, virtualization platforms like Azure, AWS, and VMware offer the flexibility to add data disks to VMs effortlessly. In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of adding a data disk to a virtual machine and initializing it for use. Let's dive in!

Step 1: Identify the Virtual Machine and Disk Specifications
First and foremost, identify the virtual machine to which you want to add a data disk. Then from the menu on the left hand side select the disk option,

Step 2: Once selected then from the options available select create and attach new disk.

Step 3: Now give the new disk a name and a select a number to identify with the new disk then click save.If it displays an extra space for a new disk just go to the extreme right and click the x to close before you save.

Step 4: connect to your VM and then download the RDP file. Follow the prompt and input username and password.

Step 5: Access your VM and click on the windows a
icon and select disk management.

Step 6: select the required disk and click ok.

Step 7: right click on the selected new disk and from the munu choose extend or shrink depending on your requirement.

Step 8: Click on next to set up the wizard.

Step 9: select the size that you require then click next.

Step 10: Then click on finish to complete set up

The new disk how now been set up.

You can view your new disk as shown below. It is now available for use.

A Step-by-Step Guide: Hosting a Static Website on Azure Blob Storage

Henry — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 08:02:54 +0000

we are in an era of digital presence,where having a website has become an essential aspect of any business or personal brand. Azure Blob Storage, a cloud-based object storage solution provided by Microsoft Azure, offers a cost-effective and reliable way to host static websites. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the process of hosting a static website on Azure Blob Storage, enabling you to share your content with the world.

Step 1: Create an Azure Storage Account:
To begin, you need an Azure Storage account to host your static website. If you don't have an Azure subscription, you can sign up for a free account. Once you have an account, navigate to the Azure portal and create a new Storage Account.See the link for more information create an Azure storage

Step 2: Enable the Static Website feature:
Once your Storage Account is created, go to the "Static website" blade under the "Settings" section. Enable the static website feature by specifying the index document name (e.g., "index.html") and, optionally, the error document path. This allows Azure to serve the specified index page when a user visits your website.

Step 3: Upload your website content:
Now, you can upload your website content to the Azure Blob Storage web container which will be automatically created under the container section and labelled as $web.Now navigate to it and upload your HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other static files. Make sure to include the index.html file as specified in the static website configuration.

Step 4: Set the container's access level:
To make your website content publicly accessible, you need to set the container's access level. In the container's "Access policy" blade, select the "Blob (anonymous read access for blobs only)" option. This allows anyone to view the files in the container without requiring authentication.

Step 5: Configure a custom domain (optional):
If you want to use a custom domain for your static website, you can configure it in the Azure portal. Under the "Static website" blade, find the "Custom domain" section, enter your domain name, and follow the provided instructions to set up the required DNS records.

Step 6: Verify and access your website:
After completing the previous steps, your static website should be ready to go. Azure Blob Storage provides you with a URL (e.g., https://yourstorageaccount.z22.web.core.windows.net) to access your website. You can test the website by opening the URL in a web browser and navigating through the pages.

Conclusion:
Hosting a static website on Azure Blob Storage is a straightforward process that provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for sharing your content with the world. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly get your static website up and running on the Azure cloud platform. Embrace the power of Azure Blob Storage to showcase your brand, blog, or portfolio efficiently and reliably.

Guide To Create an Azure Storage Account; Blob Storage

Henry — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:51:47 +0000

Intro:
We all know that Azure is a powerful cloud computing platform provided by Microsoft and they offer a wide range of services for building, deploying, and managing applications and infrastructure. Creating an Azure account is the first step towards exploring its capabilities.

Azure Storage provides a scalable and secure cloud storage solution for various data types.
Now let me will walk you through the process of creating an Azure storage account and enabling access to start leveraging this feature.

Step 1: Visit the Azure Portal at https//portal.azure.com To get started by signing if you already have an account or you create a free account if you do not have one.

Step 2: Navigate to Storage Accounts.
Once you are signed in to the Azure portal, locate the navigation menu on the left-hand side. Scroll down or search for "Storage Accounts" and click on it. This will take you to the Storage Accounts page.

Step 3: Create a new storage account. On the Storage Accounts page, click on the "create" button to create a new storage account.

Step 4: Right under the project details Provide the necessary information required(see Checked marks) e.g Subscription, resource group, Storage account name, region, configure advanced settings(optional).

Step 5: Review and create:
Once you have filled in the required details, review your settings to ensure everything is correct. Click on "Review then create" at the bottom of the page.

Azure will validate your settings and create the storage account. This process may take a few moments. Once the account is created successfully, you will see a notification.

Step 6: Now select the storage account you created and search for 'containers' from the left side menu.

Step 7: click on containers and then click the '+container' button. a mini tab on the right opens up when you do that.

Step 8: Now input the name you would like to call your container and then change the public access level from private to Blob. This way it guarantees that your storage can be view by external 3rd parties.
Step 9: The click the create button on the lower right side on the same tab.This will process for some few seconds then you will see 'Successfully created storage container'.

Congratulations!!! You have successfully created a storage account and also added a blob storage with public access.

Step 10: To Upload a file into the storage container. First is to click on the container you have created and then select upload.

A tab opens up on the right side of the screen that gives you access to either 'drag and drop' files or 'browse' the file you would like to upload.

Step 11: Now select the file you would like to upload on your container blob storage and the click the upload button.

Congratulations!!! You have successfully uploaded a file into your storage account.

Now let me show you how to share your file to the public viewer by just given them the URL for the file in your storage account.

Step 1. Click the file you successfully uploaded in your storage container.

Click on this icon to copy the link to the file and share it to whoever you would like to show what you have successfully uploaded into your container storage.

Now the link can be Pasted on any of your favorite browsers and it will instantly direct the viewer to the saved file.

Azure Storage also has different storage Tiers, Hot Tier, Cool Tier and Archive Tier.These tiers allow you to choose the most cost-effective storage option based on the frequency of access and the desired level of data availability. Let's explore each tier in more detail:

To change the Tier of level for your uploaded file, First search and open your storage account, Click on the storage name you want to work on;

Then click on containers;

Then select the the container that contains the file you want to change the Tier.

Then go ahead and click on the file that you want to change the Tier.

Once you have done that you can easily toggle btw Tiers from this point on depending on what you want with the file.

Hot Tier:
The Hot Tier is designed for frequently accessed data that requires low-latency access times and high availability. It offers the highest storage cost per gigabyte compared to other tiers but provides faster access and immediate availability of data. The Hot Tier is suitable for applications that require real-time data access, quick retrieval, and frequent updates.

Cool Tier:
The Cool Tier is optimized for infrequently accessed data that can tolerate slightly higher access times and has lower availability requirements. It offers a lower storage cost compared to the Hot Tier but incurs higher retrieval costs. The Cool Tier is suitable for data that is accessed less frequently, such as backups, archives, and long-term storage.

Archive Tier:
The Archive Tier is the most cost-effective option for long-term retention of rarely accessed data that can tolerate longer retrieval times and lower availability. It offers the lowest storage cost but incurs the highest retrieval costs and longer access times. The Archive Tier is suitable for data that needs to be stored for a long time, such as compliance data, regulatory archives, or historical records.

Always click on save once you have finished with the selection.

By choosing the appropriate storage tier based on the access pattern and requirements of your data, you can optimize costs and effectively manage your data storage in Azure Storage.

Creating a resource group using Azure CLI

Henry — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 17:10:12 +0000

The Azure command line interfase (CLI) is a powerful tool that allows developers and IT professionals to manage and interact with Azure resources through the command line. In this beginner's guide, we will explore how to create a resource group using Azure CLI. A resource group is a logical container for organizing and managing Azure resources in a unified manner. Now lets learn the step-by-step process of creating a resource group using Azure CLI.

Step1: Make sure you have installed and set up the Azure CLI on your local machine then log in using the az login command line.

Step2: create a resource group. Use the az group create followed by all other parameters. e.g.

You can choose any name you want and the region you want the resource to be hosted on.
Verify that the resource group has been created.After the resource group has been created, Azure CLI will provide information about the newly created resource group, including its name, location, and ID e.g.

Conclusion:
Congratulations! You have successfully created a resource group using Azure CLI. Resource groups serve as an essential organizational component in Azure, enabling you to manage and group your Azure resources efficiently. By following these simple steps, you can start organizing your resources and leverage the power of Azure CLI to streamline your Azure management tasks.

Uses and benefits of the Azure mobile App

Henry — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 16:22:38 +0000

The Azure mobile app is a powerful tool that provides several benefits and uses for developers and IT professionals working with Microsoft Azure. Here are some key benefits and uses of the Azure mobile app:

Monitoring and troubleshooting: The Azure mobile app allows you to monitor the health and performance of your Azure resources and services from anywhere. You can view metrics, alerts, and logs to identify and troubleshoot issues quickly.

Resource management: With the Azure mobile app, you can manage and control your Azure resources on the go. You can start, stop, and restart virtual machines, scale resources, manage storage accounts, and perform various administrative tasks.

Notifications and alerts: The app enables you to set up custom notifications and alerts for Azure resources. You can receive push notifications for critical events, such as service health incidents, resource failures, or thresholds being reached.

Cost management: Azure mobile app provides insights into your Azure costs, allowing you to track and manage your spending. You can view cost breakdowns, set budgets, and receive cost alerts to avoid unexpected expenses.

Security and identity: It offers a secure way to access your Azure resources with multi-factor authentication and support for Azure Active Directory. You can view and manage access control for your resources, ensuring the security of your cloud infrastructure.

Collaboration and sharing: The app facilitates collaboration among team members by allowing you to share information and collaborate on issues or incidents. You can easily share resource insights, metrics, and logs with your colleagues.

Integration with Azure DevOps: The Azure mobile app integrates with Azure DevOps, enabling you to stay updated on your pipelines, builds, and deployments. You can receive notifications and monitor the progress of your DevOps projects.

On-the-go accessibility: The mobile app provides convenient access to Azure services and resources from your mobile device, allowing you to stay connected and productive while you're away from your computer.

These are just a few examples of the benefits and uses of the Azure mobile app. It's a versatile tool that empowers Azure users to manage and monitor their resources