How to Install Windows Server 2022 Virtual Machine (VM) on Azure

 In today’s cloud-driven world, businesses are continuously adopting cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure for their virtual infrastructure. Installing a Windows Server 2022 Virtual Machine (VM) on Azure is an efficient way to leverage cloud computing capabilities with minimal hardware overhead. Whether you’re an IT professional or a student exploring Azure, this step-by-step guide will help you create and configure your Windows Server 2022 VM on Azure like a pro.

Why Choose Azure for Windows Server 2022?

Azure provides:

• Scalability: You can easily scale resources up or down as per your requirements.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for what you use.
• High Availability: Ensures uptime and reliability.
• Secure Infrastructure: Offers robust security protocols to protect your virtual machines.

With these advantages, setting up a Windows Server 2022 VM on Azure is both practical and future-proof.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Windows Server 2022 VM on Azure

Step 1: Set Up an Azure Account

If you don’t already have an Azure account:

1. Go to the Azure Portal.
2. Sign in using your Microsoft credentials. If you don’t have an account, click on Start Free and set up a new account with a 12-month free subscription.

Step 2: Navigate to the Virtual Machines Service

1. Once logged in, navigate to the Azure Dashboard.
2. In the search bar at the top, type Virtual Machines and select it.
3. Click on the Create button to launch a new virtual machine.

Step 3: Configure the Basics

You will need to fill out the following details:

1. Subscription: Choose the subscription you’re using.
2. Resource Group: Either create a new resource group or use an existing one. A resource group is like a container that holds related Azure resources.
3. Virtual Machine Name: Give your VM a descriptive name (e.g., WindowsServer2022-VM).
4. Region: Choose a region close to your location for better latency.
5. Image: From the dropdown, select Windows Server 2022 Datacenter.
6. Size: Select the VM size depending on your requirements. A standard size like B2ms is good for testing or small-scale usage.
7. Administrator Account:

• Username: Create an admin username.
• Password: Set a secure password for the VM.

Note: Make sure the password meets Azure’s complexity requirements.

8. Inbound Port Rules: Select RDP (3389) for remote desktop access. This allows you to connect to the server later.

Click Next to proceed.

Step 4: Configure Networking

Azure automatically creates a Virtual Network (VNet) for your VM. However, you can customize:

• Virtual Network: Use the default one or create a new network.
• Subnet: Subnets allow you to isolate VMs within the VNet.
• Public IP: Ensure a Public IP is enabled so you can connect to your VM remotely.
• NSG (Network Security Group): This defines the firewall rules for your VM.

Leave other settings as default and click Next.

Step 5: Disks Configuration

1. Choose OS Disk Type:

• For standard workloads, select Standard SSD.
• For higher performance, choose Premium SSD.

2. You can add additional data disks if needed, but this is optional for a basic setup.

Click Next to proceed.

Step 6: Review and Create

1. Review all the settings you configured.
2. Once satisfied, click Create. Azure will validate your settings and begin provisioning the Windows Server 2022 VM.

The deployment process may take a few minutes. You will see a notification once your VM is successfully created.

Step 7: Connect to Your Windows Server 2022 VM

Once the VM is up and running, here’s how you connect:

1. Go to the Azure Portal and navigate to your newly created VM.
2. Under the Overview tab, find the Public IP Address.
3. Open the Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) tool on your local machine.

• Enter the public IP address of your VM.
• Use the administrator username and password you configured earlier.

4. Accept the security prompt and connect to the VM.

You are now inside your Windows Server 2022 VM!

Post-Installation Tips

Once connected, here are a few essential tasks you should perform:

1. Install Updates: Run Windows Update to ensure the server is up to date.
2. Install Roles and Features: Use the Server Manager to install roles like IIS, Active Directory, or any other feature you need.
3. Enable Security:

• Configure Windows Firewall.
• Install antivirus software.
• Update security policies as per your requirements.

4. Snapshot and Backups: Configure Azure Backup to take regular snapshots of your VM for disaster recovery.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you have successfully deployed a Windows Server 2022 Virtual Machine on Azure. Azure’s flexibility and performance make it an excellent choice for running Windows Server workloads in the cloud. Whether you are setting up a development environment, hosting applications, or exploring cloud technologies, this VM setup will be a strong foundation.

With the cloud, your infrastructure scales effortlessly to meet your needs. Take advantage of Azure’s robust offerings, and start building your projects on a secure, high-availability platform.

If you found this guide helpful, share it with others exploring Azure!

Happy Cloud Computing! ✨