Setup Virtual Machine

To set up a free-tier Ubuntu Linux VM instance in Azure, you can follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an Azure account: If you don't have an Azure account, visit the Azure website (https://azure.microsoft.com/) and sign up for a free account.

2. Access the Azure portal: Once you have an Azure account, go to the Azure portal (https://portal.azure.com) and sign in with your credentials.

3. Create a new resource group: In the Azure portal, click on "Resource groups" in the left-hand menu, then click on "Add" to create a new resource group. Choose a name and location for the resource group and click "Review + create" and then "Create" to create the resource group.

4. Create a new virtual machine: In the Azure portal, click on "Create a resource" in the left-hand menu, then search for "Virtual machine" and select it from the search results. Click on "Create" to start the virtual machine creation process.

5. Configure the basics: In the "Basics" tab of the virtual machine creation process, provide the following details:

   • Subscription: Choose your Azure subscription.
   • Resource group: Select the resource group you created in step 3.
   • Virtual machine name: Choose a name for your virtual machine.
   • Region: Select a region close to your location.
   • Availability options: Leave the default option.
   • Image: Select an LTS Linux image from the available options (e.g., Ubuntu.).
   • Size: Choose a size that is available under the "Free tier eligible" category.
   • Authentication type: Choose SSH public key or password.
   • Username and password/SSH public key: Enter the desired credentials for accessing the virtual machine.

6. Configure networking: In the "Networking" tab, leave the default options unless you have specific networking requirements.

   TIP: Allow access for ports 22, 81, 443 to simplify later configuration.

7. Configure management: In the "Management" tab, leave the default options unless you have specific management requirements.

8. Review and create: Review the configuration settings you provided in the previous steps. If everything looks correct, click on "Review + create" and then click "Create" to start creating the virtual machine.

9. Wait for deployment: Azure will now start deploying your virtual machine. This process may take a few minutes.

10. Access your virtual machine: Once the deployment is complete, go to the Azure portal and navigate to your virtual machine. On the overview page, you'll find the public IP address or DNS name that you can use to access the virtual machine.

11. Connect to the virtual machine: Depending on the authentication type you chose, use an SSH client (such as PuTTY on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux) to connect to the virtual machine using the provided IP address or DNS name and the username/password or SSH key you specified during the setup.

That's it!

You have now set up a free-tier Linux VM instance in Azure and can start using it for your desired purposes.

warning

Remember to manage your usage carefully to stay within the free-tier limits to avoid unexpected charges.