VM images and marketplace in Azure - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Create and Configure an Azure VM Using Marketplace Images

📖 Scenario: You are setting up a virtual machine (VM) in Microsoft Azure for a small business. You want to use a ready-made VM image from the Azure Marketplace to save time and ensure security.

🎯 Goal: Build an Azure VM configuration using a specific Marketplace image and customize its size and resource group.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a variable for the resource group name

Create a variable for the VM size

Use a Marketplace image reference with publisher, offer, sku, and version

Combine these into a VM configuration dictionary

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Using Marketplace images speeds up VM setup by providing pre-configured operating systems and software.

💼 Career

Cloud engineers often configure VMs using Marketplace images to ensure consistency and security in deployments.

1

Create the resource group variable

Create a variable called resource_group and set it to the string "MyResourceGroup".

Azure

# Create a variable called resource_group and set it to "MyResourceGroup"
# Your code here

Hint

Think of the resource group as a folder to keep your Azure resources organized.

2

Create the VM size variable

Create a variable called vm_size and set it to the string "Standard_DS1_v2".

Azure

resource_group = "MyResourceGroup"
# Create a variable called vm_size and set it to "Standard_DS1_v2"
# Your code here

Hint

The VM size defines the CPU, memory, and other resources your VM will have.

3

Define the Marketplace image reference

Create a dictionary called image_reference with these exact keys and values: publisher set to "Canonical", offer set to "UbuntuServer", sku set to "18.04-LTS", and version set to "latest".

Azure

resource_group = "MyResourceGroup"
vm_size = "Standard_DS1_v2"
# Create a dictionary called image_reference with publisher, offer, sku, and version keys
# Your code here

Hint

This dictionary tells Azure which VM image from the Marketplace to use.

4

Create the VM configuration dictionary

Create a dictionary called vm_config with keys resource_group, vm_size, and image_reference. Assign the variables resource_group, vm_size, and image_reference to these keys respectively.

Azure

resource_group = "MyResourceGroup"
vm_size = "Standard_DS1_v2"
image_reference = {
    "publisher": "Canonical",
    "offer": "UbuntuServer",
    "sku": "18.04-LTS",
    "version": "latest"
}
# Create a dictionary called vm_config with keys resource_group, vm_size, and image_reference
# Your code here

Hint

This dictionary combines all your VM settings into one place for deployment.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using VM images in Azure?

easy

A. To monitor network traffic

B. To store data backups securely

C. To quickly create virtual machines with pre-installed software

D. To manage user permissions

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand VM images

   VM images are templates that include an operating system and software to create VMs quickly.

2. Step 2: Identify the main use

   They save time by avoiding manual setup of software on new VMs.

3. Final Answer:

   To quickly create virtual machines with pre-installed software -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   VM images = quick VM setup [OK]

Hint: VM images = ready-made VMs for fast deployment [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing VM images with data backups
• Thinking VM images manage network or permissions

2. Which Azure CLI command option specifies the VM image when creating a virtual machine?

easy

A. --image

B. --template-image

C. --os-image

D. --vm-image

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Azure CLI VM creation syntax

   The option to specify the image is --image.

2. Step 2: Confirm correct option

   Other options like --vm-image or --os-image are incorrect or do not exist.

3. Final Answer:

   --image -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use --image to set VM image [OK]

Hint: Use --image option to pick VM image in Azure CLI [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using --vm-image or --os-image which are invalid
• Confusing image option with template options

3. What will happen if you run this Azure CLI command?

az vm create --resource-group myGroup --name myVM --image UbuntuLTS --admin-username azureuser

medium

A. Fails because the image name is incorrect

B. Creates a VM named myVM with the latest Ubuntu LTS image

C. Creates a VM but without an operating system

D. Creates a VM with Windows Server image

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the command parameters

   The command uses --image UbuntuLTS, which is a valid alias for the latest Ubuntu LTS image.

2. Step 2: Understand the effect

   The VM named myVM will be created in myGroup with Ubuntu OS and admin user azureuser.

3. Final Answer:

   Creates a VM named myVM with the latest Ubuntu LTS image -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   UbuntuLTS image creates Ubuntu VM [OK]

Hint: UbuntuLTS is a valid image alias for Ubuntu VMs [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming UbuntuLTS is invalid image name
• Thinking VM will have Windows OS
• Believing VM will be created without OS

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

az vm create --resource-group myGroup --name myVM --image Ubuntu --admin-username azureuser

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

medium

A. The admin username is invalid

B. The VM name contains invalid characters

C. The resource group does not exist

D. The image name 'Ubuntu' is not a valid marketplace image alias

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the image name validity

   'Ubuntu' alone is not a valid image alias; the correct alias is 'UbuntuLTS' or a full image reference.

2. Step 2: Confirm other parameters

   The admin username, resource group, and VM name are likely valid or would cause different errors.

3. Final Answer:

   The image name 'Ubuntu' is not a valid marketplace image alias -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use correct image alias like UbuntuLTS [OK]

Hint: Use exact image aliases like UbuntuLTS, not partial names [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming admin username caused error
• Ignoring image name format rules
• Not verifying resource group existence

5. You want to deploy a VM using a custom image from the Azure Marketplace that requires accepting terms before use. Which step must you perform before creating the VM?

hard

A. Run az vm image accept-terms for the image publisher, offer, and SKU

B. Create a resource group with the same name as the image

C. Manually download the image to your local machine

D. Disable the Azure Marketplace in your subscription

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Marketplace image terms

   Some Marketplace images require accepting terms before use to comply with licensing.

2. Step 2: Use Azure CLI to accept terms

   You must run az vm image accept-terms with the image details to accept terms before VM creation.

3. Final Answer:

   Run az vm image accept-terms for the image publisher, offer, and SKU -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Accept terms before using Marketplace images [OK]

Hint: Accept Marketplace image terms with az vm image accept-terms [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Skipping terms acceptance causing deployment failure
• Trying to download images manually
• Disabling Marketplace instead of accepting terms