What Are Azure Virtual Machines and How Do They Work
Azure Virtual Machines help you run programs and tasks in the cloud. You do not need to buy real servers. You pick the operating system, like Linux or Windows. You can add more resources when you need them. Microsoft Azure has 25% of the cloud market. This makes it a popular choice for many companies.
Microsoft’s cloud data centers use green energy. They are more energy efficient than most servers at your own site.
Key Takeaways
Azure Virtual Machines let you use software online. You do not need to buy real servers. This helps you save money and work.
You can pick from many operating systems and VM types. This helps you find what fits your needs. You can use them for small or big jobs.
It is easy to add or remove resources. Your apps stay quick. You only pay for what you use.
Autoscaling adds or removes VMs when needed. This helps your apps work well when many people use them.
Azure gives you tools to watch and control your VMs. This makes it easy to keep your systems safe and working well.
Core Concepts
Virtualization
Virtualization is what makes Azure Virtual Machines work. It lets one real server act like many smaller computers. Each virtual server works like a real computer. They all share the same hardware. This helps you use only what you need.
Virtualization makes data centers easier to manage. You can make storage and bandwidth bigger or smaller.
You can copy and set up new resources fast. This helps you react quickly to changes.
Virtualization means less IT work. You do not have to fix hardware as much.
You pay only for what you use. This saves money on things you do not need.
You can add or remove virtual machines when things get busy or slow.
Management tools help you watch and change resources. This keeps your virtual machines working well.
Tip: Good monitoring tools help you use the right amount of resources. This keeps your apps quick and your costs down.
Supported OS
Azure Virtual Machines work with many operating systems. You can pick the one that fits your needs. This lets you run different software and jobs.
You can use Linux distributions like Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Debian, SUSE Linux Enterprise, and CentOS.
Windows Server versions are there too.
The Azure Marketplace has many images ready to use. You can choose pre-made or custom images.
You can upload your own Linux images as virtual hard disks.
Other choices are FreeBSD, Flatcar Container Linux, RancherOS, and Docker images.
This means you can run almost any app, from simple web servers to machine learning. Azure Virtual Machines let you use both open-source and Microsoft tools.
VM Types
Azure Virtual Machines have many types. Each type is made for a special job. You can pick the one that fits your work. Here is a table to compare the main VM types:
You can pick a VM type for your needs. If you need lots of memory, pick the E-Series. If you want to save money on small jobs, try the A-Series or B-Series. Azure Virtual Machines help you match your resources to your work. This gives you good speed and value.
Azure Virtual Machines Features
Scalability
Azure Virtual Machines let you change your resources easily. You can add more power when your apps need it. You can use less when things are slow. You do not need to buy new hardware. You just change your settings in the cloud.
Here is a table that shows how Azure Virtual Machines compare to other cloud providers:
You can pick the right size for your work. You can run small websites or big databases. You can also change the size later if you need more.
Tip: You can add more virtual machines to handle more users. This helps your app stay fast and work well.
Autoscaling
Autoscaling changes the number of virtual machines for you. You do not have to watch your system all the time. Azure Virtual Machines use Virtual Machine Scale Sets for this. VMSS manages a group of the same virtual machines. It adds or removes machines when your app gets busy or quiet.
Autoscaling checks things like CPU, memory, and network traffic. If your app gets busy, it adds more machines. When things slow down, it removes extra machines to save money. You can set rules for when to add or remove machines. You can also use schedules if you know when you will need more power.
Autoscaling helps with many jobs. You can use it for web apps, APIs, microservices, and testing new software. It also helps if something goes wrong. Autoscaling keeps your app fast and saves money by using only what you need.
Management Tools
You have many tools to help you manage Azure Virtual Machines. These tools make your work easier and help your systems run well.
Azure Monitor lets you see your virtual machines in real time. You can check CPU, memory, and disk space. It sends alerts if something is wrong.
Azure Automation helps you set up tasks that run by themselves. You can use it to create, set up, or delete virtual machines without doing it by hand.
Azure Arc lets you manage virtual machines outside Azure. You can use the same tools for all your machines, even if they are not in the cloud.
Azure Policy helps you set rules for your virtual machines. It makes sure every machine has the right settings and security.
Data Collection Rules help you collect only the data you need. This keeps your system fast and saves storage.
PowerShell Desired State Configuration keeps your machines set up the way you want. It checks and fixes settings if they change.
Third-party tools like Ansible and Chef work with Azure Virtual Machines. They help you automate tasks and keep your systems in order.
Note: These tools help you save time, make fewer mistakes, and keep your apps safe.
Azure Virtual Machines work with many developer environments and workloads. You can run Windows and Linux apps. You can use them for web servers, databases, analytics, and video rendering. You have full control over the operating system and hardware settings. You can build custom test environments or run old apps that do not work in containers. You can also use different VM types for memory-heavy, compute-heavy, or GPU tasks. This flexibility helps you match your resources to your project.
Use Cases
Application Hosting
Cloud-based virtual machines can run many kinds of apps. You can use them for websites, business tools, or old software that needs a special setup. Many companies pick virtual machines because they give more choices and control. You can pick the best size and type for your job.
Tip: You can link your apps to other cloud services, like databases or analytics, using private networks for better safety.
Development and Testing
Virtual machines let you build and test new software in safe places. You can make a different setup for each project. This keeps your main systems safe from bugs or mistakes. Developers use these machines to try new things or fix problems before updates.
You can make or remove test setups fast when you need to.
Each setup is separate, so mistakes do not hurt your main apps.
You can save money by turning off machines you are not using or getting special prices for testing.
Teams use these machines to test software on different operating systems.
You can watch your spending and set alerts so you do not go over budget.
Note: Using cloud-based virtual machines for testing helps you save money and finish work faster.
Disaster Recovery
Virtual machines are important for disaster recovery plans. They help your business keep going during bad events, like cyberattacks or storms. You can back up your data and apps to the cloud. If something happens, you can get your systems back fast.
Some companies got their data back from ransomware by using backups instead of paying hackers.
Hospitals in flood areas keep their data safe by using cloud backups in other places.
You can use services that copy your data to other regions for extra safety.
Automatic failover and failback help you switch to backup systems with little downtime.
Testing and watching your plan often makes sure it works when you need it.
Remember: Keeping backups in different places and testing your plan often helps protect your business from losing data.
Pricing and Getting Started
Pricing Models
You can choose from different pricing models when you use Azure Virtual Machines. The most popular option is Pay-As-You-Go. This model charges you only for the resources you use. You do not need to sign a long-term contract or pay upfront. This helps you save money if your workload changes often. Many startups and seasonal businesses use this model because it lets them scale up or down as needed. You avoid paying for extra resources you do not use.
Pay-As-You-Go: Pay only for what you use.
No upfront costs or long-term contracts.
Easy to scale resources up or down.
Good for projects with changing needs.
Helps you avoid over-provisioning.
You can estimate your costs using the Azure Pricing Calculator. This tool lets you pick your VM size, region, and usage hours. You can also try Nerdio’s Azure Cost Estimator for more detailed planning.
Free Tier
Azure Virtual Machines offer a free tier for new users. You get 750 hours each month of B1S VM for both Windows and Linux for one year. This means you can run two VMs all month without paying. You also get a $200 credit for the first 30 days to try other services. The free tier lets you test and learn about virtualization without buying hardware.
You need to watch your usage. Only certain VM sizes are free, and storage or network use may cost extra. Some users have seen small charges for storage or network, so check your resources often.
Tip: Delete unused resources and monitor your usage in the Azure portal to avoid surprise charges.
Quick Setup
You can set up an Azure Virtual Machine in a few steps:
Make sure you have an Azure account.
Log in to the Azure Portal.
Go to "Virtual machines" and select "+ Add".
Fill in details like VM name, region, and operating system.
Pick a VM size that fits your needs.
Choose how you want to log in (SSH key or password).
Set up disks and storage.
Configure networking and security rules.
Turn on monitoring if you want.
Review your settings and create the VM.
Many beginners find network settings and authentication confusing. Make sure you pick the right login method and set up your network rules carefully. Avoid using old VM types or the wrong disk for your workload. Always check your security settings to keep your VM safe.
Azure Virtual Machines help your business in many ways.
You do not have to buy real servers or take care of them.
You can make your resources bigger or smaller when you need to.
You get help for Windows and Linux, plus security and updates.
You can spend less money with pay-as-you-go plans and special credits for new users, students, and nonprofits.
You can try Azure Virtual Machines with a free account or student credit. This lets you see how simple cloud computing is.
FAQ
What is an Azure Virtual Machine used for?
You can use an Azure Virtual Machine to run apps in the cloud. It is good for testing software or hosting websites. It acts like a real computer but is in Microsoft’s data centers.
What happens if you stop an Azure Virtual Machine?
If you stop a VM, it shuts down and does not use resources. You do not pay for compute time, but you still pay for storage.
What types of operating systems can you run on Azure Virtual Machines?
You can use Windows or Linux operating systems. Azure supports many versions, like Ubuntu, Red Hat, and Windows Server.
What is a Virtual Machine Scale Set?
A Virtual Machine Scale Set helps you manage many VMs together. You can add or remove VMs automatically when you need to.