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Louis Oodo
Louis Oodo

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how to create azure resources via azure cli

#tutorial #cloud #azure #vscode

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for setting up an Azure environment from your Mac. Whether you are prepping for a certification or building a personal lab, these steps will take you from a blank terminal to a running Linux server.

1. Install Azure CLI & Login

On macOS, the most efficient way to manage the Azure CLI is through Homebrew.

Step-by-Step Installation:

  1. Open Terminal: Press Cmd + Space, type "Terminal," and hit Enter.
  2. Update Homebrew: Ensure your package manager is current. 
brew update
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  1. Install Azure CLI: 
brew install azure-cli
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  1. Login to Azure: Run the following command. It will automatically open your default web browser (Safari/Chrome). 
az login
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  • Pro Tip: If your browser doesn't open or you are on a remote server, use az login --use-device-code.
  1. Set your Subscription: If you have multiple accounts, list them and select the correct one: 
az account list --output table
az account set --subscription "Your-Subscription-Name"
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2. Create a Resource Group

A Resource Group (RG) is a logical container. Deleting the RG later will automatically clean up all resources inside it, preventing "ghost" charges on your bill.

Run this command:

az group create --name MyLabGroup --location eastus
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  • --name: The identifier for your group.
  • --location: Choose a region close to you (e.g., eastus, westeurope, southeastasia).

3. Build a Virtual Network (VNet) & Subnet

Before you can drop a VM into Azure, you need a network. We will create a VNet and a Subnet simultaneously.

Run this command:

az network vnet create \
  --resource-group MyLabGroup \
  --name MyVNet \
  --address-prefix 10.0.0.0/16 \
  --subnet-name MySubnet \
  --subnet-prefix 10.0.1.0/24
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  • 10.0.0.0/16: This is your private "building."
  • 10.0.1.0/24: This is a specific "room" (subnet) within that building where your VM will live.

4. Provision a Linux Virtual Machine

Now, let's launch an Ubuntu 22.04 VM. This command handles the compute, creates a Public IP, and secures it with SSH keys.

az vm create \
  --resource-group MyLabGroup \
  --name MyLinuxVM \
  --image Ubuntu2204 \
  --vnet-name MyVNet \
  --subnet MySubnet \
  --admin-username azureuser \
  --generate-ssh-keys \
  --public-ip-sku Standard
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What's happening here?

  • --generate-ssh-keys: This is the "Magic Mac" flag. It looks in your ~/.ssh folder for a key; if it doesn't find one, it creates one for you automatically.
  • --public-ip-sku Standard: Assigns a static-capable IP so you can reach the machine from your laptop.

5. Verify & Connect

Once the command finishes, you will see a JSON output. Look for the publicIpAddress field.

To connect from your Mac:

ssh azureuser@<YOUR_PUBLIC_IP>
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If this is your first time connecting, type yes when asked about the authenticity of the host.

Summary of Commands

Action Command Snippet
Install brew install azure-cli
Login az login
Create Group az group create -n <name> -l <location>
Create Network az network vnet create ...
Create VM az vm create ...

Would you like me to provide a script to automatically shut down or delete these resources so you don't get charged when you're finished with your lab?

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