Step 1:
Login to your Microsoft Azure web portal. Your dashboard might look similar to the image shown below. Click on the ‘Virtual Machines’ blade on the left side.
Step 2:
Next click on ‘Create Virtual Machines’
Step 3:
In this scenario, we’ll be selecting the ‘Windows Server’ option.
Then chose which version of Windows you would like to install. For this example, we’ll select ‘Windows Server 2016 DataCenter’
Lastly, agree to the legal terms and click ‘Create’ to start provisioning your new Windows virtual machine.
Step 4:
On the next page in the Azure portal, you’ll be able to configure your Windows machine. Fill in the following details:
- Enter a name for your virtual machine
- Select your disk type (SSD or HDD)
- Username and password (This is important; you will need this info to login to your virtual machine later)
- Your subscription should already be selected here
- Create a new resource group, if you don’t already have one
- Specify a location
Step 5:
On this page, you’ll select your desired machine size. For demonstration purposes, we will select the smallest configuration (A1 Standard). Then click on ‘Select.’
Step 6:
You may wish to further customize optional virtual machine features on this screen. We can leave all these settings as default for our demonstration. Click ‘OK’ to proceed to the last step.
Step 7:
The last page will verify all setting and you’ll see ‘Validation Passed.’ After verifying all the settings, select ‘Create’ to start building your new Windows Virtual Machine.
Step 8:
Your instance will start building and you can review the status on your dashboard.
Once your virtual machine has been deployed, navigate to ‘Virtual machines.’
Step 9:
Select your newly created virtual machine from the list.
Here you can review the details of your Windows Server.
Step 10:
To initiate a remote session to your Windows Server, click on the ‘Connect’ button at the top of the page.
This will download an .RDP file.
Simply open this file and login with the username and password you specified earlier.
Congratulations, you have successfully launched a Windows Server on Microsoft Azure!