VM commands (create, start, stop) in Azure - Mini Project: Build & Apply

VM commands (create, start, stop)

📖 Scenario: You are managing virtual machines (VMs) in Microsoft Azure. You need to create a VM, then start it, and finally stop it using Azure CLI commands.

🎯 Goal: Learn how to use Azure CLI commands to create a VM, start it, and stop it step-by-step.

📋 What You'll Learn

Use Azure CLI commands exactly as specified

Create a VM named myVM in resource group myResourceGroup

Start the VM named myVM

Stop the VM named myVM

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Managing virtual machines in Azure is a common task for cloud administrators and developers to control compute resources.

💼 Career

Knowing how to create, start, and stop VMs using Azure CLI is essential for cloud engineers and system administrators working with Azure.

1

Create a VM

Write the Azure CLI command to create a virtual machine named myVM in the resource group myResourceGroup with the image UbuntuLTS.

Azure

# Your code here

Hint

Use az vm create with --resource-group, --name, and --image options.

2

Add a configuration variable

Create a variable called vm_name and set it to myVM to use in later commands.

Azure

az vm create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myVM --image UbuntuLTS --generate-ssh-keys
# Your code here

Hint

Assign the string myVM to the variable vm_name.

3

Start the VM

Write the Azure CLI command to start the VM using the variable vm_name and resource group myResourceGroup.

Azure

az vm create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myVM --image UbuntuLTS --generate-ssh-keys
vm_name=myVM
# Your code here

Hint

Use az vm start with --resource-group and --name using the variable vm_name.

4

Stop the VM

Write the Azure CLI command to stop the VM using the variable vm_name and resource group myResourceGroup.

Azure

az vm create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myVM --image UbuntuLTS --generate-ssh-keys
vm_name=myVM
az vm start --resource-group myResourceGroup --name $vm_name
# Your code here

Hint

Use az vm stop with --resource-group and --name using the variable vm_name.

Practice

1. What does the az vm create command do in Azure?

easy

A. It starts an existing virtual machine.

B. It stops a running virtual machine.

C. It creates a new virtual machine in Azure.

D. It deletes a virtual machine.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the command purpose

   The az vm create command is used to make a new virtual machine in Azure.

2. Step 2: Compare with other commands

   az vm start starts a VM, az vm stop stops it, and az vm delete removes it.

3. Final Answer:

   It creates a new virtual machine in Azure. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   az vm create = create VM [OK]

Hint: Create means make new VM, start means turn on, stop means turn off [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing create with start or stop commands
• Thinking create also starts the VM automatically
• Mixing stop with delete

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to start a VM named myVM in resource group myGroup?

easy

A. az vm create --name myVM --resource-group myGroup

B. az vm start --name myVM --resource-group myGroup

C. az vm stop --name myVM --resource-group myGroup

D. az vm delete --name myVM --resource-group myGroup

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the command to start a VM

   The command to start a VM is az vm start.

2. Step 2: Check the syntax for name and resource group

   The correct flags are --name for VM name and --resource-group for the group.

3. Final Answer:

   az vm start --name myVM --resource-group myGroup -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Start VM syntax = az vm start [OK]

Hint: Start VM uses 'az vm start' with --name and --resource-group [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using create instead of start to power on VM
• Forgetting to specify resource group
• Using stop or delete commands by mistake

3. What will happen if you run this command?

az vm stop --name testVM --resource-group testGroup

medium

A. The VM named testVM will be stopped (powered off).

B. The VM named testVM will be deleted.

C. The VM named testVM will be started.

D. The command will show a syntax error.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the command action

   az vm stop stops (powers off) the specified VM.

2. Step 2: Confirm the VM and resource group names

   The VM name is testVM and resource group is testGroup, both valid inputs.

3. Final Answer:

   The VM named testVM will be stopped (powered off). -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   az vm stop = stop VM [OK]

Hint: Stop command powers off VM, does not delete or start it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing stop with delete
• Thinking stop starts the VM
• Assuming syntax error due to names

4. You tried to start a VM with this command:

az vm start -n myVM -g myGroup

The command failed with an error. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The VM name or resource group might be misspelled or does not exist.

B. You must stop the VM before starting it.

C. The flags -n and -g are incorrect; use full names instead.

D. The az vm start command cannot use short flags.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check command flags

   -n and -g are valid short forms for --name and --resource-group.

2. Step 2: Consider common errors

   Errors usually happen if the VM or resource group name is wrong or missing in Azure.

3. Final Answer:

   The VM name or resource group might be misspelled or does not exist. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Invalid names cause start errors, not flags [OK]

Hint: Check VM and group names carefully if start fails [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming short flags are invalid
• Thinking VM must be stopped before starting
• Confusing start errors with syntax errors

5. You want to save money by stopping a VM but keep its data intact. Which command should you use and why?

hard

A. Use az vm stop because it powers off the VM but keeps the disk data.

B. Use az vm delete because it stops and removes the VM and data.

C. Use az vm restart because it stops and starts the VM quickly.

D. Use az vm deallocate because it stops the VM and releases compute resources but keeps data.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand stopping vs deallocating

   az vm stop powers off the VM but does not release compute resources, so charges continue.

2. Step 2: Identify the command to save costs

   az vm deallocate stops the VM and releases compute resources, saving money while keeping disk data.

3. Final Answer:

   Use az vm deallocate because it stops the VM and releases compute resources but keeps data. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Deallocate = stop + release resources + keep data [OK]

Hint: Deallocate stops VM and saves cost without deleting data [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using stop only and expecting cost savings
• Deleting VM to save money loses data
• Restarting does not save costs