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Cover image for How To Deploy An Azure Virtual Machine
Anthony Iwuchukwu
Anthony Iwuchukwu

Posted on โ€ข Edited on

How To Deploy An Azure Virtual Machine

*"Step 1: Create an Azure Free Trial Account *
To use Azure, you need an account. Visit portal.azure.com and sign up for a free trial. Azure gives you $200 in free credits to test its services.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? You need an account before creating anything in Azure.
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Step 2: Log in to Your Azure Account
Go to the Azure portal and log in with your email and password. You will see the Azure Dashboard, where you can manage everything.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This is the main control centre where you create and manage services.
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Step 3: Search for "Virtual Machines"
At the top of the Azure portal, there is a search bar. Type "Virtual Machines" and select the option when it appears.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? Instead of searching manually, this helps you quickly find what you need.
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Step 4: Click on "Virtual Machine"
From the search results, click on "Virtual Machine" to open the page where you can create one.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This takes you to the section where you can set up a new Virtual Machine.
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Step 5: Click "Create" to Start the Process
Click the "Create" button. Choose "Create a Virtual Machine" from the options.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? You need to start the setup process before selecting details for your VM.
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Step 6: Select a Subscription & Resource Group
Azure asks for a Subscription and a Resource Group.
โ€ข A subscription is your Azure account type (Free Trial, Pay-as-you-go, etc.).
โ€ข A resource group is a folder where you organize related items. Click "Create new" to make one if needed.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This keeps your resources organized and helps manage billing.
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Step 7: Enter Virtual Machine Details
Now, you need to provide some details about your VM:
โ€ข VM Name โ€“ Choose a name (e.g., "MyFirstVM").
โ€ข Size โ€“ Keep the default option unless you have specific needs.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? The VM needs a name and an operating system before it can be created.
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Step 8: Create an Admin Account
Choose a username and password for your VM. This will be used to log in later.
โ€ข For Linux: Use SSH authentication.
โ€ข For Windows: Use RDP authentication.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? You need login details to access and control your VM later.
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Step 9: Set Inbound Port Rules
โ€ข If you picked Linux, allow SSH connections.
โ€ข If you picked Windows, allow RDP connections.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This ensures you can connect to your VM remotely.
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Step 10: Check Licensing
By default, licensing is unchecked. Click the checkbox to agree to the terms.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? You need to accept the terms before proceeding.
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Step 11: Disable Boot Diagnostics
Click Next until you reach the Monitoring tab, then disable Boot Diagnostics to speed up deployment.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This reduces unnecessary settings that can slow things down.
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Step 12: Add Tags to an Azure Resource
Select a Resource โ€“ Click on the virtual machine, storage account, or any other resource.
Navigate to "Tags" โ€“ Find the Tags option in the left menu.
Enter Tag Key & Value โ€“ Example: Key = Environment, Value = Production.
Save Changes โ€“ Click Apply to confirm.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? Tags help you organize, track costs, and manage Azure resources efficiently.
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Step 13: Review and Create
Click "Review + Create" to check all details. If everything looks good, click "Create" to start the deployment.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? Azure double-checks your setup before creating the VM.
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Step 14: Wait for Deployment
Azure will take about 3-5 minutes to create your VM. You will see a progress bar.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? Creating a virtual machine takes a little time, just like setting up a new computer.
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Step 15: Check VM Status
Once the VM is created, check its status. If it says "Running", itโ€™s ready to use!
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This confirms that everything is working fine.
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Step 16: Connect to the Virtual Machine
โ€ข Click "Connect" in the Azure portal.
โ€ข If using Windows, download the RDP file.
โ€ข If using Linux, connect using SSH.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This allows you to control the VM from your own computer.
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Step 17: Open the RDP File (For Windows Users)
For Windows, open the downloaded RDP file and click "Connect".
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This opens a remote connection to your VM.
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Step 18: Enter Login Details
Use the username and password you created earlier to log in.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This is required to access the virtual machine.
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Step 19: Follow the Prompts
Click "Continue" if a security warning appears.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? Sometimes Windows shows a warning when connecting to a new remote computer.
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Step 20: Wait for Configuration
The remote desktop will configure itself for first-time use.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? The first connection takes a little time to set up.
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Step 21: Start Using Your Virtual Machine!
Congratulations! Your VM is ready to use. You can now install apps, run programs, and do anything you would on a regular computer.
๐Ÿ”น Why this step? This is the final stepโ€”your VM is now live and ready for work!
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