Azure In Depth Pt 3: Create a Windows Server 2016 Virtual Machine

Now that we have our virtual network and subnet setup in Azure, the next thing we want to do is create a Windows Server virtual machine.  A virtual machine is a great way to learn Azure because it's a fixed cost.  You can try different things without paying anything extra, also most of the promotional deals that Microsoft gives you should be more than enough to cover your costs for the virtual machine.

The following steps is how you would create a Windows 2016 Server in the Azure Portal:

1. Log into Azure Portal, and mouse over "Virtual Machines", click on "Create"

Azure In Depth Pt. 2: Create A Virtual Network And Subnet

In the previous blog post we created a "Resource Group", in this post we are going to create a "Virtual Network" in that resource group so that we have more control over four Azure network settings.  Azure actually creates a virtual network for us automatically, but we want to have more control over our Azure infrastructure.

The following is how you would create a "Virtual Network" in Azure.

1. Search for "Virtual Network" and click on "Virtual Network", mouse over and click on "Create"

Azure In Depth Pt. 1: Create a Resource Group

The first thing you want to create after you have an Azure account is to create a "Resource Group"  as "Resource Group" as the name implies is an Azure Resource Group, groups all of your resources in a single group so that it's easily managed.

The following steps is how you would create a "Resource Group" in the Azure Portal.

1. Log into Azure portal, and click on "Resource Group" or "More Services" depending on your UI

Connect to Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine With Remote Desktop Connection (RDP)

The best way to connect to a virtual machine in Azure if it's a Windows operating system is through a Remote Desktop Connection or RDP.  In this post I am going to show how to set the Azure portal virtual machine to accept RDP connection from your desktop.

Create a Data Science Virtual Machine on Microsoft Azure

It is time consuming and a lot of work to set up your own data science virtual machine locally.  If you don't mind the cost, the alternative to is to setup a data science Virtual Machine in Azure and let Azure take care of the plumbing such as the hardware requirements and etc, because a data science Virtual Machine is a little beefier than an regular mainstream laptop.

Reset Your Virtual Machines Password In Microsoft Azure

One of the most useful feature in Azure is the ability to reset your virtual machine's password.  There will be times when you create a virtual machine that you put aside for a long time and you forgot the password for the machine.

To reset your password do the following:

Linux CentOS In-Depth: Connect CentOS Deployed In Azure With Putty

In the previous blog we deployed a full stack CentOS Server in Azure.  In this blog we are going to connect the server using a tool call Putty.  You can download Putty at https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html .

Follow the steps below to connect to your Ubuntu Server in Azure:

Create Microsoft Azure Active Directory for NorthwindCafe

With Microsoft Azure, any developer can easily add a membership service immediately when you are ready to use it.  In my other tutorials we started to create the "Northwind Cafe" sample application.  Traditionally, we would store our user information in an SQL Server database.  While that would be the easiest place to store user information.  There are many downsides to doing that, for instance you have to lock down the SQL Server so that hackers are not able to hack into the database.  You also have to worry about network security and so forth.  The beauty of Microsoft Azure Active Directory is that you let Azure take care of all of that.  It also comes with many services already built-in like OAuth, and two-factor authentication.

Before we go on, we need to make the distinction that Azure Active Directory is not the same thing as your on-premise Active Directory.  Your on-premise machines will still be managed by your on-premise Active Directory.  Azure Active Directory is designed to scale your internet-based applications and APIs.

So let's get on with it!

Connect To Microsoft Azure Subscription in Visual Studio 2015

In this blog post I am going to show how to connect to your Azure subscription in Visual Studio 2015.  As a developer it's nice to have the Azure subscription integrated into Visual Studio so that you don't have to log into the Azure portal every time you want to interact with Azure.

Follow the steps below to connect to your Microsoft Azure subscription in Visual Studio:

1.  Open Tools → Connect to Server
2.  On the top of the "Server Explorer" connections list right click on "Azure" and select "Connect to Microsoft Azure Subscription"

Get Azure Subscription Using Secure Certificate Method In Powershell

In this blog post we are going to get the Azure subscription in Powershell using the secure certificate method.

Follow the steps below to get the Azure subscription:

1.  Open Powershell as an Administrator
2. Type Get-AzurePublishSettingsFile once you type the command into the Powershell command line it will pop-up the Azure authentication prompt.  Authenticate into Azure and save the publish file settings into a place that you will remember.

Download and Install The Azure Module for PowerShell

In this blog post we are going to download and install the Azure Module for PowerShell.  This will allow you to interact with your Azure account through PowerShell.

Follow the steps below to download and install the Azure Module for PowerShell:

1. Go to https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/ , scroll down until you see the "PowerShell" section and click on the "Windows install" under the section

Downloading Automation Scripts From An Azure Virtual Machine

In this post I will show how to download the automation scripts that Azure provides when you create a new virtual machine in Azure.  This is great for PowerShell scripting or if you want to interact with your VM in Visual Studio.  You don't have to start from scratch.

Here are the steps to get the automation scripts for your VM in Azure:

1. Log into the Azure portal at https://portal.azure.com
2. Click on "Virtual Machines"

Deploy Windows Server 2016 Virtual Machine With Azure Portal

In this blog we are going to deploy a Windows Server 2016 Datacenter Virtual Machine in Microsoft's Azure Portal.


Follow the steps below to create a Windows Server Virtual Machine:

1. Log into https://portal.azure.com
2. Select "Virtual Machines"

Connect Ubuntu Deployed In Azure

In the previous blog we deployed a full stack Ubuntu Server in Azure.  In this blog we are going to connect the server using a tool call Putty.  You can download Putty at https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html .

Follow the steps below to connect to your Ubuntu Server in Azure:

1.  Log into the Azure Portal at https://portal.azure.com
2.  Click on "Virtual Machines"

Create Azure CentOS Virtual Machine in New Portal

People often get confused when they work with Azure because there are two versions of Azure.  Most people call it the classic mode and the new portal Azure or the more official term is ASM vs ARM.  In this post we will create a CentOS Linux virtual machine in the new Azure portal.

Follow the steps below create a new Azure portal:

1. Go to the URL : https://portal.azure.com
2. Log in with your Azure credentials
3.  Click on "Virtual Machines" make sure it doesn't say classic on the link

Deploy A Ubuntu Linux Virtual Machine To Azure Classic Mode

In this blog post we are going to deploy a Linux virtual machine in Azure.  Most of the steps takes place in the Azure portal.  To get to the Azure portal type in the browser this address https://manage.windowsazure.com

Follow the steps below to create a Linux virtual machine in Azure:

1.  Type into the browser https://manage.windowsazure.com/
2.  Log into Azure with your Azure credentials
3.  On the left hand side of the portal click on the "Virtual Machines" link

Create A Private Virtual Network In Azure

In the previous blog post we created an Azure cloud service.  Now we are going to create a private virtual Azure network.  The importance of this is that when you create a virtual machine in Azure you will use this virtual network to connect to your virtual machine.

Create A New Azure Cloud Service

The first thing you want to do in Azure is to create a new "Cloud Service" which is a deployment service your resources will be deployed in such as a virtual machine or a web site.

Follow the steps below to create a new Azure "Cloud Service":

1.  Once you are logged into the Azure Portal click on the "Coud Services" on left hand side