Azure virtual machines
1. Azure virtual machines
Let's explore more details related to virtual machines.2. What is a virtual machine (VM)?
A virtual machine, or VM, is like a computer within your computer. It is a software that allows you to run different operating systems and applications without needing a separate physical device.3. What is a virtual machine (VM)?
Picture your computer as a vast storage unit. Virtual machines are like individual containers within the unit, sharing resources such as location, lighting, and security. Just as separate and secure containers in the storage unit allow different users to store their items without interaction, virtual machines ensures distinct computing activities run independently without interference.4. Traditional virtual machines
Consider your computer running Windows. While it can handle most Windows applications, accessing macOS native applications may be a challenge. Alternatively, you might need to work with various versions of Windows. Virtual machines offer a simple solution. You can create multiple virtual machines on your computer, each with distinct characteristics. These virtual machines share your computer's processor, memory, and disk space.5. Azure virtual machines
Azure offers a cloud based solution for virtual machines. When creating a virtual machine in Azure, various characteristics and components must be specified. Many of these can be modified later to meet specific requirements, making virtual machines an adaptable solution for computing power and cost efficiency.6. Virtual machine components
Some characteristics are associated with the VM itself, such as the number of processors, memory, operating system. Others translate into essential resources the VM relies on. For instance, specifying the number and size of disks results in the creation of Azure disks with the requested configuration. You can also choose between traditional hard-disk drives and more performant solid-state drives. Dependent components include network-related aspects too. For a virtual machine to communicate with other resources, it requires a network interface card connected to a virtual network. If Internet access is needed, a public IP is necessary too.7. Virtual machines use cases
Azure virtual machines can be used for hosting applications, conducting analytics, and handling data-related tasks. They serve purposes in both software testing and production workloads. Additionally, virtual machines are effective for running legacy applications when migration to modern Azure services is not possible.8. Scaling
You can deploy individual VMs for testing, development, or smaller tasks. Alternatively, you can group VMs to ensure high availability, scalability, and redundancy. Azure can manage the grouping of VMs through features like scale sets and availability sets.9. Scale sets
Scale sets is a feature that enables you to deploy and manage a set of identical virtual machines. The number of virtual machines can be automatically adjusted based on workload or a defined schedule. This flexibility guarantees top performance and efficient resource utilization, all while minimizing costs.10. Scale sets use cases
For example, you could choose to have a higher number of VMs when doing a data warehouse load, then go back to the minimum amount of required instances.11. Scale sets use cases
Or you could increase the number of virtual machines hosting an online website to scale up in periods like Black Friday so all customers can place their orders.12. Availability sets
Within an availability set, virtual machines are dispersed in the data center across various physical hardware racks, network switches, and storage units. This distribution protects your virtual machines from possible hardware or maintenance failures.13. Availability sets use cases
If a particular rack or section of the data center encounters an issue, VMs in other racks continue to run, ensuring availability. This feature enables you to guarantee continuous website accessibility for customers, even in the event of infrastructure issues.14. Migration from on-premises
Virtual machines can serve as the initial phase for companies looking to migrate to the Azure cloud. For instance, a company managing numerous databases in its environment might initiate the migration by adopting virtual machines as an Infrastructure as a Service model. Acting as a substitute for traditional hardware, this marks the initial step toward embracing more modern technologies. Subsequently, they can progress towards Azure SQL as a Platform as a Service.15. Future considerations
Platform as a Service solutions are gradually replacing traditional virtual machines by providing a more streamlined approach to application development and deployment. It eliminates the need for managing underlying infrastructure, enabling developers to focus solely on coding and application functionality, accelerating development cycles and improving overall efficiency.16. Let's practice!
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