Exercise 01: Configure an Azure Linux Virtual Machine

Introduction In this exercise, I learned how to create a Linux-based virtual machine (VM) in Azure, connect to it using SSH, and install the Nginx web server. This exercise helped me gain hands-on experience with the creation and management of Linux VMs, as well as performing basic administrative tasks such as installing OS updates and setting up a web server. Scenario For this task, I was tasked with setting up a web server for a new eCommerce website. This required provisioning a Linux VM, using SSH to securely connect to it, and then installing the Nginx web server. Lastly, I needed to ensure that the virtual machine was up-to-date and properly configured to serve web content. Skills Practiced: Using the Azure portal to create a Linux virtual machine. Connecting to the virtual machine via SSH. Installing the Nginx web service on the VM. Running OS updates on the Linux VM. Step-by-Step Guide Step 1: Use the Azure Portal to Create a Virtual Machine 1️⃣ Sign in to the Azure Portal First, I signed into the Azure portal here. 2️⃣ Create a Virtual Machine In the Azure portal, I searched for "Virtual Machines" and selected Create. I filled out the Basics tab as follows: Setting Value Subscription [Your Azure Subscription] Resource Group RG1 Virtual Machine Name VM1 Region East US Availability Options No infrastructure redundancy required Security Type Standard Image Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS - x64 Gen2 Size Standard_DS2_v2 (2 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM) Authentication Type SSH public key Username adminuser SSH Public Key Source Generate new key pair SSH Key Type RSA SSH Format Key Pair Name VM1_key Public Inbound Ports None 3️⃣ Configure Disks, Networking, and Management For disks, I selected Premium SSD (30 GiB default). For Networking, I chose the default Virtual Network (VNet) and ensured Public IP was selected. I disabled auto-shutdown under Management. 4️⃣ Review and Create After reviewing the settings, I clicked Create and waited for the deployment to complete. Once completed, I clicked on Go to Resource to see the details of my newly created VM. Step 2: Connect to the Virtual Machine and Install OS Updates 1️⃣ Configure Network Security Group (NSG) to Allow SSH Before I could connect via SSH, I needed to configure port 22 (SSH) to allow access. I did this by navigating to the Network settings and adding a new Inbound port rule for SSH. 2️⃣ Connect Using SSH To connect to the VM, I used SSH with the key I generated earlier. Here's how I connected from my Mac terminal: chmod 400 ~/Downloads/VM1_key.pem ssh -i ~/Downloads/VM1_key.pem adminuser@ I replaced with the actual IP address of my VM from the Overview page in Azure. 3️⃣ Update the Operating System Once connected to the VM, I updated the OS by running these commands: sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade I confirmed the installation by typing 'Y' when prompted. Step 3: Install the Nginx Web Service and Test 1️⃣ Install Nginx I installed the Nginx web server with the following command: sudo apt install nginx When prompted, I typed 'Y' to continue with the installation. 2️⃣ Start Nginx I started the Nginx service using the command: sudo systemctl start nginx 3️⃣ Configure Nginx to Launch on Boot I made Nginx start automatically whenever the VM reboots by running: sudo systemctl enable nginx 4️⃣ Check Nginx Status I verified that the Nginx service was running with the command: service nginx status 5️⃣ Test Nginx To test Nginx, I opened a browser and navigated to http://. I should see the default Nginx welcome page. Challenges Encountered and Resolved Permission Issues with SSH Key: When I tried to SSH into the VM, I encountered the error: "Permission denied (publickey)." This was caused by incorrect file permissions for the SSH key. I fixed this by running the following command on my Mac: chmod 400 ~/Downloads/VM1_key.pem This ensured that the key was readable only by me, allowing SSH to work. SSH Connection Issues in Azure Cloud Shell: I initially attempted to connect via Azure Cloud Shell, but ran into issues because Cloud Shell cannot access local private keys. To resolve this, I switched to my Mac's Terminal and connected using the appropriate key file. Key Learnings 1️⃣ Azure Virtual Machines Azure VMs are on-demand scalable computing resources. I learned how to create and configure a Linux-based virtual machine using the Azure portal, specifying details such as size, image, and authentication method. 2️⃣ SSH Access to Linux VMs SSH is a secure method to connect to Linux VMs in Azure. I successfully configured the VM to allow SSH access, created a new SSH key, and connected to the VM from my local machine. 3️⃣ Managing the VM with OS Updates I installed essentia

Mar 25, 2025 - 22:36

Exercise 01: Configure an Azure Linux Virtual Machine

Introduction

In this exercise, I learned how to create a Linux-based virtual machine (VM) in Azure, connect to it using SSH, and install the Nginx web server. This exercise helped me gain hands-on experience with the creation and management of Linux VMs, as well as performing basic administrative tasks such as installing OS updates and setting up a web server.

Scenario

For this task, I was tasked with setting up a web server for a new eCommerce website. This required provisioning a Linux VM, using SSH to securely connect to it, and then installing the Nginx web server. Lastly, I needed to ensure that the virtual machine was up-to-date and properly configured to serve web content.

Skills Practiced:

Using the Azure portal to create a Linux virtual machine.
Connecting to the virtual machine via SSH.
Installing the Nginx web service on the VM.
Running OS updates on the Linux VM.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Use the Azure Portal to Create a Virtual Machine

1️⃣ Sign in to the Azure Portal

First, I signed into the Azure portal here.

2️⃣ Create a Virtual Machine

In the Azure portal, I searched for "Virtual Machines" and selected Create. I filled out the Basics tab as follows:

Setting	Value
Subscription	[Your Azure Subscription]
Resource Group	RG1
Virtual Machine Name	VM1
Region	East US
Availability Options	No infrastructure redundancy required
Security Type	Standard
Image	Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS - x64 Gen2
Size	Standard_DS2_v2 (2 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM)
Authentication Type	SSH public key
Username	adminuser
SSH Public Key Source	Generate new key pair
SSH Key Type	RSA SSH Format
Key Pair Name	VM1_key
Public Inbound Ports	None

3️⃣ Configure Disks, Networking, and Management

For disks, I selected Premium SSD (30 GiB default).
For Networking, I chose the default Virtual Network (VNet) and ensured Public IP was selected.
I disabled auto-shutdown under Management.

4️⃣ Review and Create

After reviewing the settings, I clicked Create and waited for the deployment to complete. Once completed, I clicked on Go to Resource to see the details of my newly created VM.

Step 2: Connect to the Virtual Machine and Install OS Updates

1️⃣ Configure Network Security Group (NSG) to Allow SSH

Before I could connect via SSH, I needed to configure port 22 (SSH) to allow access. I did this by navigating to the Network settings and adding a new Inbound port rule for SSH.

2️⃣ Connect Using SSH

To connect to the VM, I used SSH with the key I generated earlier. Here's how I connected from my Mac terminal:

   chmod 400 ~/Downloads/VM1_key.pem
   ssh -i ~/Downloads/VM1_key.pem adminuser@

I replaced with the actual IP address of my VM from the Overview page in Azure.

3️⃣ Update the Operating System

Once connected to the VM, I updated the OS by running these commands:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade

I confirmed the installation by typing 'Y' when prompted.

Step 3: Install the Nginx Web Service and Test

1️⃣ Install Nginx

I installed the Nginx web server with the following command:

   sudo apt install nginx

When prompted, I typed 'Y' to continue with the installation.

2️⃣ Start Nginx

I started the Nginx service using the command:

   sudo systemctl start nginx

3️⃣ Configure Nginx to Launch on Boot

I made Nginx start automatically whenever the VM reboots by running:

   sudo systemctl enable nginx

4️⃣ Check Nginx Status

I verified that the Nginx service was running with the command:

   service nginx status

5️⃣ Test Nginx

To test Nginx, I opened a browser and navigated to http://. I should see the default Nginx welcome page.

Challenges Encountered and Resolved

Permission Issues with SSH Key: When I tried to SSH into the VM, I encountered the error: "Permission denied (publickey)." This was caused by incorrect file permissions for the SSH key. I fixed this by running the following command on my Mac:

   chmod 400 ~/Downloads/VM1_key.pem

This ensured that the key was readable only by me, allowing SSH to work.

SSH Connection Issues in Azure Cloud Shell: I initially attempted to connect via Azure Cloud Shell, but ran into issues because Cloud Shell cannot access local private keys. To resolve this, I switched to my Mac's Terminal and connected using the appropriate key file.

Key Learnings

1️⃣ Azure Virtual Machines

Azure VMs are on-demand scalable computing resources. I learned how to create and configure a Linux-based virtual machine using the Azure portal, specifying details such as size, image, and authentication method.

2️⃣ SSH Access to Linux VMs

SSH is a secure method to connect to Linux VMs in Azure. I successfully configured the VM to allow SSH access, created a new SSH key, and connected to the VM from my local machine.

3️⃣ Managing the VM with OS Updates

I installed essential OS updates to keep the system secure and up-to-date. This is a crucial task for maintaining the health of the virtual machine.

4️⃣ Web Server Deployment

I learned how to install the Nginx web server and configured it to start automatically when the VM boots up. This is an essential skill for setting up web applications in a production environment.

Conclusion

This exercise provided me with practical experience in deploying and managing a Linux-based virtual machine in Azure. I gained hands-on skills in using SSH to securely connect to the VM, updating the operating system, and setting up the Nginx web server to serve content.

Through this, I now have a solid understanding of provisioning, managing, and securing a Linux VM in Azure, a key skill for deploying web applications in the cloud.