Table of Contents
The CPU is the brain of the VM, executing instructions and processing data. In Azure, VM sizes determine the amount of CPU available to a VM. For example, the B-Series offers burstable CPU performance suitable for workloads that do not require continuous CPU use, while the F-Series provides a higher CPU-to-memory ratio for more CPU-intensive applications.
The Random Access Memory (RAM) is a form of temporary data storage that is directly accessed by the CPU. VM performance can be significantly affected by the amount of allocated memory. Azure VMs offer a range of memory configurations to fit differing requirements.
Azure classifies VMs into series and sizes that indicate the compute, memory, and storage capabilities of a VM. For example, the Dv4 series is designed for general-purpose workloads, while the Ev4 series is optimized for memory-intensive applications.
VMs require disk storage for the operating system, applications, and data. In Azure, you have options like Azure Blob storage for object storage, managed disks for simplified disk management, and Ultra Disks for high-throughput and low-latency workloads.
The type of disk (Standard HDD, Standard SSD, Premium SSD, and Ultra Disks) you choose affects the performance of your VM. Premium SSDs are often chosen for I/O intensive applications.
VNets enable Azure resources, like VMs, to communicate with each other, the internet, and on-premises networks. It’s essential to configure the VNet and subnets correctly to ensure connectivity and security.
VMs can have public IP addresses for internet access and private IP addresses for internal network communication. In an Azure exam context, understanding the difference between static and dynamic IP addressing in Azure is crucial.
NSGs are used to define network security rules that allow or deny inbound and outbound traffic to VMs or subnets. This is key to protecting VMs from unwanted traffic.
VMs can run various operating systems such as Windows Server, Linux, or others, depending on the workload needs. Choosing the right operating system is crucial for compatibility and performance.
Understanding the scalability options, such as Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets, is vital for managing performance and availability during varying load conditions.
For critical workloads, high availability configurations using Availability Sets or Availability Zones can help ensure minimal downtime.
Tools like Azure Monitor and Azure Automation can help manage VM performance and automate routine tasks, respectively.
Ensuring proper licensing for software used in VMs is crucial from a legal and financial standpoint.
Here’s an example of different Azure VM configurations tailored for various workloads, highlighting the primary resources:
Series | Purpose | Example VM Size | vCPU | RAM | Disk Options |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | Cost-effective, burstable workloads | B2s | 2 | 4 GB | Standard HDD/SSD |
Dv4 | General purpose | D4s_v4 | 4 | 16 GB | Premium SSD |
Ev4 | Memory-intensive applications | E4s_v4 | 4 | 32 GB | Premium SSD |
F | Compute-intensive jobs | F4s_v2 | 4 | 8 GB | Premium SSD |
Deploying a VM in Azure requires thoughtful consideration of these resources to balance performance and cost effectively. Azure’s pricing calculator and documentation can help you estimate costs and select the appropriate resources for your VMs as you prepare for the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals exam.
Azure VMs can be connected to automatically created subnets in Azure Virtual Networks; it is not necessary to have a user-defined subnet for the VM to function.
Virtual machines are an abstraction of physical hardware and are hosted in Microsoft Azure’s data centers, leveraging Azure’s infrastructure.
Answer: D
Managed disks are the recommended storage type for Azure virtual machine OS disks due to their high durability, availability, and ease of management.
Answer: A
Virtual Network (VNet) is a required resource for Azure VMs as it provides the network environment where the VMs are hosted; a physical server and installation media are not required, and an Azure account is not a VM resource, though you need it to access Azure services.
Azure VMs can be created using various methods including the Azure portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, ARM templates, and SDKs.
Answer: C
The size of an Azure VM is determined by the VM size specification (such as B2s, D2v3) chosen, which specifies the CPU, RAM, and other characteristics.
Answer: D
Resource Groups are used to group related resources in Azure for easier management and billing purposes.
Tags can be applied to Azure virtual machines and other resources to organize and track billing and management across resources.
Answer: A
Multiple virtual machines can be connected to the same virtual network to allow for communication between VMs.
Azure Backup is an optional, yet recommended, service that provides backup and recovery solutions for data in Azure VMs.
VMs do not require an internet connection for basic operation; however, an internet connection is necessary for remote management and access unless alternative connectivity options are configured (like VPN or ExpressRoute).
Answer: A and D
Azure Blob Storage is used for unstructured data and can be mounted to VMs as VHDs, and Azure File Storage provides SMB-based file shares that can be mounted to VMs. Queue and Table storage are not typically used for VM storage solutions.
A virtual machine (VM) is a software emulation of a computer system.
A VM is a software emulation of a computer system, while a physical machine is a tangible computer system.
The components of a VM include the virtual hard disk, virtual memory, virtual processor, and a virtual network interface.
A virtual hard disk is a file that represents the virtual machine’s hard disk.
Virtual memory is the amount of memory that the virtual machine has access to.
A virtual processor is a software emulation of a physical CPU.
Virtual networking in a VM uses virtual network interfaces to connect to the host computer’s network.
A VM image is a preconfigured virtual machine that can be deployed as an instance.
The VM agent is a lightweight process that runs on a VM and provides communication between the VM and the Azure platform.
Azure VM Scale Set is a group of load-balanced virtual machines that can automatically increase or decrease in number based on demand.
Azure Backup provides backup and restore services for VMs, allowing for full VM restores and granular file-level recovery.
Azure VM Boot Diagnostics provides a screenshot of the VM’s boot-up process to help troubleshoot any issues.
The Azure VM serial console provides a troubleshooting option for VMs by allowing access to the serial console of a VM.
Azure VM pricing is based on factors such as the type of VM, the location, and the usage time.
The Azure VM marketplace is a collection of preconfigured VM images and virtual appliances that can be deployed as instances.
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