How to Create a Virtual Machine in Azure

Today I will explain how to create a Virtual Machine (VM) using Windows Azure. Most of you might have heard what a Virtual Machine or a Virtual PC is. Many guys have used them to try out a new OS, to try out new software, or to hack some apps and so on. If you are not aware of VMs then you can get a better understanding about them by viewing this video.
 
 So I guess now you know what a VM is and what I am going to do is to explain how to create a VM using Azure. (Later I will attach some articles related to Remote Desktop to VM + hosting a PHP site on your VM.)
 
 1. Log in to your Azure management portal.
 

 2. Click New.

 

 

 
 3. Select "Compute" -> "Virtual Machine" -> "From Gallery".
 
 4. Select the Operating System that you would like to install on the VM. In this scenario we will install a Ubuntu server 13.04 because then it will be easy for me to continue with the later posts on creating a PHP app on our new VM.


 
 5. The next window will ask you about user details, VM RAM and number of cores and a name for the VM. Fill them in as you wish. I will use a password instead of a SSH key.


 

 6. This window ask you about cloud configuration (DNS Setting) and Storage account and Region. Except for region leave the rest as it is unless you know what you are doing.

 

 

 

 7. Now we will need to create end points for us to access the VM. For now let's keep SSH access only. In a later article, I'll explain about remote desktop

 

 

 

 8. Then the VM will be created and will be running after a few minutes. You can see it in your Azure portal

 

 

 
Congratulations! Now you own a VM in the Azure cloud. But you might be wondering how to use it. Don't worry. You can log into your VM via SSH. We will use "Putty" to connect to the VM.
 

 9. Open putty and provide a DNS name as Host name and public PORT of Azure VM as Port. Then connect to the VM by pressing the Open button. During the process you will be prompted to enter your security credentials. Enter them and you will be logged into the server.

 

 

 

 As you can see now you are logged into the newly created VM.