Deploying Azure Virtual Machines the GUI Way: A Step-by-Step Guide

What is a Virtual Machine?

A Virtual Machine (VM) is like a computer within a computer in the cloud. A VM uses software to create a computer that can run its own operating system separately from your actual device. A VM is basically a software-based computer that runs inside another computer. For example, on a MacBook, you can have your main operating system, and run Windows or Linux inside a virtual machine at the same time, while having its own storage, processing power, memory (RAM), and operating system.

Before deploying a virtual machine on Azure, there are two essential prerequisites to have in place:

• An active Azure account: Log in to the Azure Portal using your credentials. If you do not have an account yet, you can sign up for a free trial account on the Microsoft's Azure website.
• A Resource Group: A resource group serves as a logical container that organizes and holds related Azure resources together. It is the foundation of any Azure workflow, meaning it is always the first thing you set up before anything else.

With everything in place, we will walk through the process step by step, beginning with creating a resource group and then deploying the virtual machine, all through the Azure Portal's Graphical User Interface(GUI).

1. Create and deploy a resource group to hold all your project resources.

• In the Azure portal, search for and select Resource groups.

• Select + Create.

• Give your resource group a name. Select a region. Use this region throughout the project.

• Select Review and create to validate the resource group.

• Select Create to deploy the resource group.

2. Create and deploy a Virtual Machine to host your application in the cloud.

• In the Azure portal, search for and select Virtual Machines.

• Select + Create. Click on Virtual machine. This will take you to the basics tab.

• On the Basics tab, head over to the Project Details section, where you will select your Subscription and the Resource group deployed in the previous step."

• On the Basics tab, scroll down to the Instance Details section and configure the following settings:

i. Virtual Machine Name: Give the virtual machine a name. Every computer has a name, so the next logical thing to do is to give the VM a name.

ii. Region: Select a region where you want the VM to be hosted.

iii. Availability Options: Since it is a free trial account subscription, select No Infrastructure Redundancy Required.

iv. Security Type: Select Trusted Launch Virtual Machine.

v. Image: Select Windows 10. In regards to a VM, the image refers to your choice of operating system.

vi. Leave the rest of the settings under Instance Details at their default values.

• Still on the Basics tab, scroll down to the Administrator Account section and configure the following: Username and Password. Since all computers have a username and password, the next logical thing to do is to give the virtual machine a username and password.

• Further down on the Basics tab, scroll down to the Inbound Port Rules section and configure the following: Select the Public inbound ports, select inbound ports HTTP (80) and the default RDP (3389). These ports will allow you to connect the VM to the internet.

• Further down on the Basics tab, locate the Licensing section and check the box to confirm your licensing agreement before proceeding.

• Having completed the Basics tab, scroll back up and click on the Monitoring tab. Under the Boot Diagnostics blade, select Disable. Disabling boot diagnostics ensures that your local device does not monitor or track the activity on the VM every time it is restarted.

• Select Review and create to validate the Virtual machine.

• Select Create to deploy the Virtual machine.

• Wait for the Virtual machine to deploy and then Go to resource.

3. Configuring the IP Address.

• Once the deployment is complete, click on Go to Resource to open the virtual machine. Navigate to the Networking or Essentials section to locate the IP Address, then click on it to begin configuration.

• Under the IP address settings, locate the Idle Timeout option and change the default time from 4 minutes to 30 minutes. This ensures that the VM does not disconnect or time out prematurely during periods of inactivity, keeping your session active and stable for longer.

• Select Apply.

• With the IP address configured, navigate back to the virtual machine and click the Connect button.

• From the dropdown, click on the Check Access blade, once you are checked in, the VM is good to go.

• Select Download RDP File to download the connection file to your actual device. Note for macOS Users Unlike Windows, macOS does not support RDP files. If you are using a Mac, you will need to download the Windows App from the Apple App Store first before you can open and run the RDP file to connect to your virtual machine.

• Once the RDP file has been downloaded, click on the Download icon located at the top right of your browser. Locate the RDP file you just downloaded and click the Connect button directly in front of it to initiate the connection.

• Enter the username and password you set up earlier in the Administrator Account section. Click Continue to proceed.

• A security certificate warning will appear. Click **Continue **to accept and continue.

• At this point, your virtual machine is fully configured and ready for use.

• Complete with the Start menu confirming that your VM is fully up and running.

Conclusion

Creating a virtual machine on Azure through the graphical user interface is a straightforward process that does not require any command-line experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you have successfully deploy a fully functional Windows 10 virtual machine in the cloud.