Day-4-devops

Creating Virtual Machines on AWS and Azure: A Comprehensive Guide

Recap of Previous Lessons

In our earlier sessions, we discussed the evolution of virtual machines, the differences between physical servers and virtual machines, and the shift from traditional data centers to cloud platforms like AWS and Azure. Today, we will delve deeper into the practical aspects of creating virtual machines.

Understanding Virtual Machines

Virtual machines are essential components in cloud computing, allowing users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical server. They provide flexibility, scalability, and efficient resource utilization. In this session, we will focus on how to create VMs on AWS and Azure, as well as on-premise scenarios for organizations that have not yet migrated to the cloud.

Creating Virtual Machines on AWS

Step 1: Accessing the AWS Console

To create a virtual machine on AWS, you first need to log into the AWS Management Console. If you do not have an account, you can create one by visiting the AWS website and following the sign-up process.

Step 2: Launching an EC2 Instance

Once logged in, navigate to the EC2 service. Here’s how to launch an instance:

  1. Click on Launch Instance.

  2. Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI). For beginners, Ubuntu is recommended due to its popularity in the DevOps community.

  3. Select an instance type. Ensure you choose a Free Tier eligible option to avoid charges.

  4. Create a key pair, which is essential for accessing your instance later. Download this key pair and keep it secure.

  5. Configure any additional settings as needed, then click Launch Instance.

Step 3: Accessing Your Instance

After a few minutes, your EC2 instance will be up and running. You can access it using the key pair you created earlier. This can be done through the terminal or SSH client.

Creating Virtual Machines on Microsoft Azure

Step 1: Accessing the Azure Portal

Similar to AWS, you need to log into the Azure portal. If you do not have an account, you can sign up for a free account.

Step 2: Creating a Virtual Machine

  1. Click on Create a Resource or directly select Virtual Machines.

  2. Fill in the required details, including the operating system and instance size. Azure also offers a free tier for new users, but it is typically shorter than AWS's free tier.

  3. Follow the prompts to complete the setup.

Step 3: Accessing Your Azure VM

Once your Azure VM is created, you can access it similarly to AWS, using the credentials you set up during the creation process.

Automation in Creating Virtual Machines

As a DevOps engineer, efficiency is key. Instead of manually creating VMs for every request, automation can save time and reduce errors. Both AWS and Azure provide APIs that allow you to automate the creation of virtual machines.

Using AWS API for Automation

AWS offers the EC2 API, which allows you to write scripts to automate VM creation. You can use the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) or programming languages like Python with the Boto3 library to interact with the API. This enables you to create multiple instances with a single command, enhancing efficiency.

Using Azure API for Automation

Similarly, Azure provides APIs for automation. You can use Azure CLI or Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates to automate the deployment of resources.

Conclusion

Creating virtual machines on AWS and Azure is a straightforward process that can be done through their respective consoles. However, as organizations scale, automation becomes crucial for efficiency. By leveraging APIs and scripting, DevOps engineers can streamline the process of managing cloud resources.

In our next session, we will dive deeper into automation techniques and explore how to manage these virtual machines effectively. If you found this guide helpful, please share it with others who are interested in learning DevOps. Thank you for following along, and I look forward to seeing you in the next class!