DEV Community: Ebhomien Oserieme

How to Create an App Service on Microsoft Azure

Ebhomien Oserieme — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:42:30 +0000

Introduction

Cloud computing has become an important part of modern technology, allowing individuals and organizations to build, deploy, and manage applications over the internet without having to maintain all the physical infrastructure themselves. One of the services that makes this possible is Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing platform that provides different tools for hosting websites and web applications.

Azure App Service is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) offering that allows developers to host web applications without having to manage the underlying servers or operating systems. It supports several programming languages and frameworks, making it useful for both beginners and experienced developers who want to deploy applications to the cloud.

In this article, I will walk through the process of creating an Azure App Service using the Microsoft Azure Portal. I will explain the configuration steps, show how to create the resource, and demonstrate how to access the deployed service. This practical guide is intended for beginners who want to gain hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure and understand how web applications can be hosted in the cloud.

Prerequisites

Before creating an App Service on Microsoft Azure, make sure you have the following:

A Microsoft Azure account: You need an account to access the Azure Portal.
An active Azure subscription: This allows you to create and manage resources on Azure.
A web browser: You can use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or any supported browser to access the Azure Portal.
An internet connection: A stable internet connection is required to access and manage your Azure resources.

Once these requirements are ready, you can proceed to create your first App Service using the Microsoft Azure Portal.

Step 1: Sign in to the Microsoft Azure Portal

To get started, open your web browser and visit the Microsoft Azure Portal. Sign in using your Microsoft account credentials. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one before proceeding.

After signing in successfully, the Azure Portal dashboard will appear. From here, you can access and manage the different cloud services provided by Microsoft Azure.

Step 2: Create a Resource Group

Before creating an App Service, I first created a Resource Group in Microsoft Azure. A Resource Group is a logical container used to organize and manage related Azure resources.

To create a Resource Group, I used the search bar at the top of the Azure Portal and searched for Resource groups. I selected the service from the search results and clicked Create.

On the creation page, I selected my Azure subscription and entered a name for the Resource Group. I also selected a region available to my subscription.

After entering the required details, I clicked Review + create to validate the configuration. Once validation was successful, I clicked Create to deploy the Resource Group.

After the deployment was complete, I opened the Resource Group to confirm that it had been created successfully.

Step 3: Create an App Service

After creating the Resource Group, the next step is to create an App Service in Microsoft Azure.

To do this, I used the search bar at the top of the Azure Portal and searched for App Services. I selected App Services from the search results and clicked Create, then selected Web App.

On the creation page, I started configuring the web application by entering the required details. I selected my Azure subscription and chose the Resource Group I created in the previous step.

Next, I entered a unique name for the web application and selected the appropriate publishing option, operating system, and runtime stack based on the application I wanted to host. I also selected an available region and configured the App Service Plan.

After completing the required settings, I proceeded to the next stage to review the configuration before creating the App Service.

Step 4: Verify the App Service Deployment

After reviewing the configuration and clicking the Create button, Azure began deploying the App Service. I waited for the deployment process to complete.

Once the deployment was successful, Azure displayed a notification confirming that the resource had been created. I then clicked Go to resource to open the App Service Overview page.

On the Overview page, I could see the details of my newly created App Service, including its name, resource group, and other configuration information.

This step helped me confirm that the App Service had been created successfully and was available for further configuration.

Step 5: Access the App Service

After confirming that the App Service was created successfully, the next step was to access it through the Microsoft Azure Portal.

On the App Service Overview page, I located the Default domain link, which provides the URL for accessing the web application. I clicked the link to open the website in my browser.

This allowed me to check whether the web application could be accessed through its Azure URL. The page displayed depends on whether application code has been deployed to the App Service.

This step helped me understand how Azure provides a web address through which a hosted application can be accessed over the internet.

Step 6: Open Advanced Tools

After creating the App Service, the next step was to access Advanced Tools in Microsoft Azure. These tools provide access to additional management and diagnostic features for the web application.

To do this, I opened my App Service in the Azure Portal and navigated to the Development Tools section in the left-hand menu. I selected Advanced Tools and clicked Go to open the Kudu management interface in a new browser tab.

This interface provides tools for inspecting and managing files associated with the App Service.

Step 7: Access the Website Root Directory

After opening the Advanced Tools interface, I navigated to the website's root directory, where the application's files are stored.

I opened the Debug Console and selected the appropriate console option available for my App Service. I then navigated to the site folder and opened the wwwroot folder.

The wwwroot directory is commonly used as the website's content directory in a Windows Azure App Service. It is where the website's main files, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files, can be stored.

Step 8: Add and Save the Website Code

After locating the website's root directory, I added the HTML code for my web application. The HTML code defines the structure of the webpage, while CSS can be used to style its appearance and JavaScript can provide interactive functionality.

I saved the website file in the appropriate directory so that the App Service could serve the content when the website was accessed through its default domain.

After saving the file, I returned to the website's URL in my browser and refreshed the page to check whether the changes were visible.

Step 9: Test the Website

After saving the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, I returned to my Azure App Service's default domain and refreshed the webpage. The Gen Z Bible application appeared successfully in the browser.

I tested the application to confirm that the page loaded correctly and that its features were working as expected. This confirmed that my website content was accessible through the Azure App Service URL.

This practical exercise helped me understand how to host a web application on Microsoft Azure and make it accessible through the internet.

Conclusion

Creating an App Service on Microsoft Azure was a practical learning experience that helped me understand how web applications can be hosted in the cloud. I learned how to create a resource group, configure and deploy an App Service, access Advanced Tools, and upload my website files to the wwwroot folder.

After saving my Gen Z Bible application, I visited the App Service's default domain and confirmed that the website was running successfully.

This practical exercise has improved my understanding of Microsoft Azure and cloud computing. It also gave me more confidence in exploring other Azure services and deploying web applications in the future.

How to Create a Linux Virtual Machine in Microsoft Azure: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ebhomien Oserieme — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:53:24 +0000

Introduction

Cloud computing has become an important part of modern technology, allowing individuals and organizations to create and manage computing resources over the internet. One of the services that makes this possible is Microsoft Azure, which allows users to create virtual machines running different operating systems, including Windows and Linux.

In my previous practical exercise, I created a Windows Virtual Machine on Microsoft Azure. After completing that exercise, I decided to explore how to create a Linux Virtual Machine as well.

In this article, I will walk you through the steps I followed to create a Linux Virtual Machine on Microsoft Azure. I will cover the configuration process, how to connect to the virtual machine, and how to perform basic Linux commands. This guide is intended for beginners who want to gain practical experience with cloud computing and virtual machines.

What Is a Linux Virtual Machine?

A Linux Virtual Machine (VM) is a virtual computer that runs a Linux operating system on a physical computer or a cloud platform. It behaves like a regular computer, with its own operating system, memory, storage, and processing resources.

Microsoft Azure allows users to create Linux Virtual Machines in the cloud without needing to install Linux directly on their personal computers. This makes it possible to practise Linux commands, host websites, install software, and learn about server administration remotely.

For this practical exercise, I used Microsoft Azure to create a Linux Virtual Machine running Ubuntu. This helped me understand how Linux servers can be deployed and managed in a cloud environment.

Prerequisites

Before creating a Linux Virtual Machine on Microsoft Azure, there are a few things you need to have in place:

A Microsoft Azure account: You need an account to access the Azure Portal and create virtual machines.
A stable internet connection: This allows you to access the Azure Portal and manage your virtual machine.
Basic computer knowledge: Familiarity with using a web browser and navigating websites will be helpful.
A Linux operating system image: For this practical exercise, I used Ubuntu as the operating system for my virtual machine.

Once these requirements are in place, you can proceed to the Azure Portal and begin creating your Linux Virtual Machine.

Step 1: Logging in to the Microsoft Azure Portal

The first step in creating a Linux Virtual Machine is to log in to the Microsoft Azure Portal.

Open your web browser.
Visit the Microsoft Azure Portal.
Sign in using your Microsoft account credentials.
Once you have successfully signed in, the Azure Portal dashboard will appear.

Step 2: Searching for Virtual Machines

After logging in to the Microsoft Azure Portal, the next step is to locate the Virtual Machines service.

On the Azure Portal homepage, locate the search bar at the top of the page.

Type Virtual Machines into the search bar.

Select Virtual Machines from the search results.

The Virtual Machines page will open, where you can view and manage your existing virtual machines and create new ones.
From this page, you can begin the process of deploying a Linux Virtual Machine.

Step 3: Creating the Linux Virtual Machine

After opening the Virtual Machines page in the Azure Portal, the next step is to begin creating a new virtual machine.

On the Virtual Machines page, click Create.

Select Azure virtual machine from the available options.

The Create a virtual machine page will open.

This page contains several configuration settings that you need to complete before deploying your Linux virtual machine.

Step 4: Configuring the Linux Virtual Machine

The Azure Portal provides several options that allow users to customize their virtual machines based on their needs.

The following settings need to be configured:

Subscription: Select the Azure subscription you want to use.

Resource group: Select an existing resource group or create a new one to organize your Azure resources.

Virtual machine name: Enter a name for your virtual machine.

Region: Select the Azure region where you want the virtual machine to be deployed.

Image: Choose the Linux operating system you want to install. For this practical exercise, I used Ubuntu.

Size: Select a virtual machine size based on the processing power and memory you need.

After entering the required details, review the configuration to ensure that the selected options meet your requirements.

Step 5: Configuring Authentication and Networking

After configuring the basic settings, the next step is to set up authentication and networking for the Linux Virtual Machine.

Configure the Administrator Account

Azure requires an administrator username and an authentication method for accessing the Linux virtual machine.

Depending on the options available, you can use an SSH public key or a password for authentication. SSH key-based authentication is generally recommended because it provides a secure way to connect to a Linux server.

For this practical exercise, I configured the authentication settings required to access my virtual machine.

Configure Network Settings

Networking determines how the virtual machine communicates with other resources and how users can connect to it.

During configuration, review the network interface, virtual network, subnet, and public IP settings. If you intend to connect remotely using SSH, ensure that TCP port 22 is permitted only from trusted sources where possible.

After reviewing the authentication and networking settings, proceed to the next stage of the virtual machine creation process.

Step 6: Reviewing and Creating the Linux Virtual Machine

After configuring the administrator account and networking settings, the next step is to review the virtual machine configuration before deployment.

Click Review + create at the bottom of the Azure Portal page.

Azure will validate the configuration to check whether the required settings are correct.

If validation succeeds, review the configuration details.

Click Create to begin deploying the Linux Virtual Machine.

Wait for the deployment process to complete.

Once the deployment is successful, Azure will display a confirmation message. You can then open the deployed virtual machine to view its details and connection information.

Step 7: Connecting to the Linux Virtual Machine Using SSH

After the deployment was completed successfully, the next step was to connect to the Linux Virtual Machine.

Secure Shell (SSH) is a network protocol that allows users to securely access and manage a remote computer through a command-line interface.

To connect to my Linux Virtual Machine, I followed these steps:

Open the Virtual Machines page in the Microsoft Azure Portal.

Select the Linux Virtual Machine I created.

Locate the connection details, including the public IP address.

Open a terminal on my computer.

Use the appropriate SSH command to connect to the virtual machine.

Replace both placeholders with your VM's administrator username and public IP address. If you used an SSH private key, you may need the -i option and the path to that key.
Azure's official instructions explain that the username, public IP address, authentication method, and SSH network access must match your VM configuration.

Step 8: Updating Linux and Installing NGINX

After connecting to the Linux Virtual Machine, the next step is to update the system and install the software needed for the practical exercise.

Ubuntu uses the APT package manager to install, update, and manage software packages.

Update the Package List

First, I used the following command to update the package list:

sudo apt update

This command retrieves information about available packages from the configured software repositories.

Upgrade Installed Packages

To upgrade installed packages when updates are available, run:

sudo apt upgrade

Review the prompt and confirm the upgrade if required.

Install NGINX

NGINX is a web server that can be used to serve web pages and web applications.

To install NGINX on Ubuntu, run:

sudo apt install nginx

If prompted to continue, type Y and press Enter.

Verify the Installation

After the installation, check whether the NGINX service is running:

sudo systemctl status nginx

If the service is active, NGINX is running on the virtual machine.

Conclusion

Creating a Linux Virtual Machine on Microsoft Azure was a valuable hands-on learning experience for me. Through this practical exercise, I learned how to configure a virtual machine, select Ubuntu as the operating system, review networking and authentication settings, and access a Linux environment in the cloud.

I also explored basic Linux commands and the process of installing software using the APT package manager. These skills are useful for anyone interested in cloud computing, Linux system administration, and DevOps.

This exercise has encouraged me to continue learning about cloud technologies and practising more Linux commands. I hope this guide helps other beginners who want to create their first Linux Virtual Machine on Microsoft Azure.

How to create a virtual machines in azure : A Step-by-Step Guide

Ebhomien Oserieme — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:09:28 +0000

What Is a Virtual Machine?
A Virtual Machine (VM) is a software-based computer that runs inside a physical computer or a cloud environment. It behaves like a real computer and can have its own operating system, storage, memory, applications, and network settings. However, instead of being a separate physical machine, its resources are provided by the underlying physical computer or cloud infrastructure. in this article I will guide you on various steps on required to write a virtual machine in azure

Step 1: login into the azure portal
First, open the Microsoft Azure Portal using a web browser. Log in with a Microsoft account that has an active Azure subscription. After successfully signing in, the Azure Portal dashboard will be displayed.

Step 2: Search for Virtual Machines in the Azure Portal

Step 3: Create Azure virtual machine
After logging into the Azure Portal, search for Virtual Machines and select the service from the search results. On the Virtual Machines page, click Create and then select Azure virtual machine.

This opens the Create a virtual machine page, where the required settings for the virtual machine can be configured before it is deployed.

Step 4: Configure the Basic Settings of the Virtual Machine

After selecting Create Azure virtual machine, the Create a virtual machine page is displayed. This page contains several settings that determine how the virtual machine will be created.

The first section requires you to select an Azure subscription and a Resource group. A resource group is used to organize and manage related Azure resources.

Next, enter a name for the virtual machine and select the Region where the virtual machine will be created.

The next important setting is the Image. The image determines the operating system that will be installed on the virtual machine. Azure provides different operating system images, including Windows Server and Ubuntu Linux.

After selecting these basic settings, the remaining options can be configured before creating the virtual machine.

Step 5: Select the Operating System Image

The next step is to select the operating system that will run on the virtual machine. In Azure, this is done by choosing an Image.

Azure provides different operating system images, including Windows Server and Linux distributions such as Ubuntu. Select the image that matches the purpose of the virtual machine.

For this example, select the required operating system image from the available options. The selected image will determine the operating system that is installed when the virtual machine is created.

Step 6: Select the Virtual Machine Size

After selecting the operating system image, the next step is to choose the size of the virtual machine. The VM size determines the computing resources available to the virtual machine, such as the number of virtual CPUs, memory, and overall performance.

Azure provides different VM sizes for different workloads. Choose a size that meets the requirements of the task you want the virtual machine to perform.

After selecting the appropriate size, continue to the next section of the virtual machine configuration.

Step 7: Configure the Administrator Account

The next step is to create the administrator account that will be used to access the virtual machine. In this section, enter an appropriate username and select the authentication method required by Azure.

For a Windows virtual machine, you can create a username and password that will be used when connecting to the VM through Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). For a Linux virtual machine, you can use a username with SSH authentication, depending on the configuration selected.

The login details should be kept secure because they provide access to the virtual machine. After entering the required information, continue to the next configuration section.

Step 8: Configure Networking

The next stage is to configure the network settings for the virtual machine. Azure automatically provides some networking resources when creating a VM, including a Virtual Network, Subnet, Public IP, and Network Security Group.

These settings determine how the virtual machine communicates with other resources and whether it can be accessed from the internet.

For a basic VM setup, the default networking settings can usually be used unless specific networking requirements are needed. Review the settings and make any necessary changes before continuing.

Step 9: Review and Create the Virtual Machine
After completing the required configuration settings, the next step is to review the virtual machine before deployment.

Click the Review + create button at the bottom of the page. Azure will validate the settings that have been entered and check whether the configuration is suitable for deployment.

Review the displayed information carefully, including the virtual machine name, region, operating system image, VM size, administrator settings, and networking configuration.

If the validation is successful and the configuration is correct, click Create to begin deploying the virtual machine.

Step 10: Wait for Deployment and Verify the Virtual Machine

After clicking Create, Azure begins deploying the virtual machine. The deployment process may take a few minutes while Azure creates the required resources.

Once the deployment is complete, Azure displays a message indicating that the deployment was successful. Select Go to resource to open the newly created virtual machine and view its details.

At this point, the virtual machine has been successfully created in Azure.

The deployment was completed successfully, and the virtual machine was created in Microsoft Azure. The VM is now available in the Azure Portal and can be managed from the Virtual Machines section.

This completes the steps required to create a virtual machine in Azure.

Benefits of Using Azure Virtual Machines

Azure Virtual Machines provide several benefits for individuals, developers, and organizations. One major benefit is flexibility, because users can choose the operating system, computing resources, storage, and other configurations based on their needs.

Another benefit is scalability. Users can increase or decrease the resources assigned to a virtual machine when their workload changes. Azure also allows users to create virtual machines without purchasing physical hardware, which can reduce the cost and effort involved in setting up and maintaining physical computers.

Virtual machines are also useful for software development, testing, hosting applications, running websites, and learning about different operating systems and server environments.

Common Challenges When Creating an Azure Virtual Machine

Although creating a virtual machine in Azure is straightforward, users may encounter some challenges during the process. One common issue is insufficient quota, which can prevent a particular virtual machine size from being created in a selected region. In this situation, the user may need to choose another VM size or region, depending on the available resources.

Another challenge is VM size availability. Some virtual machine sizes may not be available for a particular subscription or region. Selecting an alternative size can help resolve this issue.

Users may also experience problems with network configuration or authentication when trying to access a virtual machine. Reviewing the network security settings and ensuring that the correct administrator credentials have been configured can help resolve these problems.

Conclusion

Creating a virtual machine in Microsoft Azure involves several steps, from logging into the Azure Portal and configuring the required settings to selecting an operating system, choosing the appropriate VM size, configuring networking, and deploying the virtual machine.

Following these steps makes it possible to create a functional virtual computer in the cloud without having to purchase or maintain physical hardware. Azure Virtual Machines can be useful for development, testing, hosting applications, learning, and other computing tasks.

Overall, understanding how to create and configure a virtual machine is an important practical skill for anyone learning about cloud computing and Microsoft Azure.

References

Microsoft. (n.d.). What is Azure Virtual Machines? Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-machines/overview

Microsoft. (n.d.). Create a Windows virtual machine in the Azure portal. Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-machines/windows/quick-create-portal

Microsoft. (n.d.). Create a Linux virtual machine in the Azure portal. Microsoft Learn. https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-machines/linux/quick-create-portal

The Start

Ebhomien Oserieme — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 20:10:58 +0000

cloud, azure, devops