Forem: OTTAH CHUKWUEBUKA

🖥️ Step-by-Step Guide: Creating & Connecting to an Azure Virtual Machine

OTTAH CHUKWUEBUKA — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 17:44:32 +0000

INTRODUCTION

🔹

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to create a Virtual Machine (VM) in Microsoft Azure using a Free Trial Account with $200 in credits.
Follow these easy steps to set up, configure, and connect to your Azure VM like a pro. 🚀

📝 1. Create an Azure Free Trial Account

Sign up for a free trial at Azure Free Trial.
Get $200 in credits to explore and deploy Azure services.

🔐 2. Log in to Azure Portal

Navigate to portal.azure.com.
Enter your username and password to access the dashboard.

🔎 3. Search for "Virtual Machines"

In the search bar, type “Virtual Machines”.
Alternatively, click the ☰ (hamburger menu) → Create a Resource → Virtual Machine.

✅ 4. Select Virtual Machine from the Search Results

Click on Virtual Machine from the search results.

🖥️ 5. Click on "Create"

Click Create → Azure Virtual Machine.
Choose “Virtual Machine hosted by Azure.”

📂 6. Enter Project Details

Select the appropriate Subscription.
Click Create Resource Group → Enter a descriptive name (e.g., MyVMGroup).

⚙️ 7. Configure Virtual Machine Details

Enter the following details:

VM Name: MyAzureVM
Operating System: Ubuntu Server 20.04 or Windows Server Datacenter – x64 G2
VM Size: Keep the default (e.g., Standard_B1s for free-tier use)

🔑 8. Set Up Administrator Account

Authentication Type: Password
Username: azureuser
Password: password123* (⚠️ Change this for security)

🔓 9. Configure Inbound Port Rules

Select SSH (22) for Linux or RDP (3389) for Windows.

✅ 10. Accept Licensing Terms

Check the box to accept the license agreement.

📉 11. Disable Boot Diagnostics

Click Next → Monitoring tab
Disable Boot Diagnostics to save costs.

🚀 12. Review & Deploy the Virtual Machine

Click Review + Create.

Ensure validation passes.
Click Create to deploy.

📌 Deployment usually takes 3–5 minutes.

📊 13. Check VM Status

Once the status is Running, your VM is ready! 🎉

🔌 14. Connect to the Virtual Machine

Click Connect in the Azure VM blade.

📥 15. Download & Open RDP File (Windows VM Only)

Click Native RDP → Download the .rdp file.
Open it on your computer.

🔑 16. Enter Admin Credentials

Enter the Username & Password you created earlier.
Click Connect.

✅ 17. Complete Connection

Follow the prompts and click Continue if security warnings appear.

🔄 18. Wait for Configuration

The remote desktop will configure in a few seconds.

🎯 19. Success! Start Using Your VM

🎉 You are now connected to your Azure Virtual Machine!
You can install apps, configure services, and begin exploring Azure.

💡 Pro Tip: Connecting to Linux VM via SSH

If you created a Linux VM, connect via SSH instead:

ssh azureuser@<Public_IP>

You can find your Public IP address under the VM Overview section in Azure.

✅ Final Thoughts

By following these steps, you’ve successfully created, deployed, and connected to an Azure Virtual Machine.
You now have your own environment to test, build, and explore the vast Azure ecosystem. ☁️

Creating a High-Availability Storage Account for a Public Website

OTTAH CHUKWUEBUKA — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:11:34 +0000

Introduction

In this exercise, you will learn how to create and configure a Microsoft Azure Storage Account designed to support a public website environment. The goal is to ensure high availability, public accessibility, and data resilience through features such as soft delete and** blob versioning**.

This task will guide you through creating:

A storage account with geo-redundant availability
A blob container with anonymous public access
Soft delete protection to recover deleted files
Blob versioning to maintain and restore older versions of files

By the end of this lab, you will have a fully functional storage setup suitable for hosting website content used in testing, training, or live demonstration environments.

**Task 1: Create a High-Availability Storage Account

Step 1: Create the Storage Account**

In the Azure Portal, search for and select Storage accounts.

Click + Create.

Under Resource group, select Create new, provide a unique name for your resource group, and click OK.

Set the Storage account name to publicwebsite. If the name is unavailable, append a unique identifier (for example, publicwebsite01, or any unique name of your choice).

Accept the default settings for other options.
Select Review + Create, then click Create.

Once deployment completes, select Go to resource to open your new storage account.

Step 2: Configure High Availability (Geo-Redundant Storage)

In your storage account, under Data management which is located at the side menu, select Redundancy.

Ensure that Read-access geo-redundant storage (RA-GRS) is selected.

This option ensures that your data remains available even during a regional outage.

Review the Primary and Secondary location details to understand your redundancy configuration.

Task 2: Enable Anonymous Public Access

In your storage account, go to Settings > Configuration.

Locate the Allow blob anonymous access setting and set it to Enabled.

Click Save to apply your changes.

This setting allows users to access public website content without needing to sign in.

Task 3: Create a Blob Storage Container

Step 1: Create the Container

In your storage account, go to Data storage > Containers.

Click + Add Container.

Set the Name to public.
Select Create.

Step 2: Configure Public Access for the Container

click and Open the newly created public container.

On the Overview blade, select Change access level.

Under Public access level, choose Blob (anonymous read access for blobs only).

Click OK to confirm.

This allows website visitors to view content stored in this container without authentication.

Task 4: Upload and Test Files

While viewing your public container, click Upload.

Browse your local system and select a sample file (e.g., an image or text file).
Click Upload.
Refresh the page to verify the file upload.
Select the uploaded file, copy its URL from the Overview tab, and open it in a new browser tab.

Image files should display directly.
Other file types (e.g., text or PDF) may be downloaded automatically.

Task 5: Enable Soft Delete for Blobs

Step 1: Configure Soft Delete

In your storage account, remember, to go to storage account, you search for storage account in the search and click on it in the options, Click on the storage account where you want to enable soft delete., then go to the Overview blade.
In the left navigation panel, scroll down to the Data management section.
Select Data protection.
Scroll to the Blob service section and select Blob soft delete.
Enable the Soft delete for blobs checkbox.
Set Retention period to 21 days.
Click Save.

Note: This feature ensures deleted files can be recovered within 21 days of deletion.

Step 2: Test Soft Delete

Navigate to your public container.

Select the uploaded file and click Delete → OK.

On the container’s Overview page, toggle Show deleted blobs.

Locate the deleted file, click the ellipsis (⋯) beside it, and choose Undelete.

Refresh the container to verify the file has been restored.

Task 6: Enable Blob Versioning

In your storage account, open the Overview blade.
In the Blob service section, select Versioning.

Check the box to Enable versioning for blobs.
Click Save.

Versioning automatically maintains older versions of files whenever changes are made, providing an additional layer of data protection.

Conclusion

You have successfully created and configured a high-availability Azure Storage Account with support for anonymous public access, soft delete recovery, and blob versioning.

This setup ensures that:

Website content remains highly available, even during regional outages.

Users can access files without authentication, ideal for public-facing websites.

Deleted or overwritten files can be restored easily, improving reliability and reducing data loss risks.

With this foundation in place, you can confidently host, test, and maintain static website assets or training materials in a secure and resilient Azure storage environment.

HOW TO CREATE A RESOURCE GROUP AND A STORAGE ACCOUNT TO SUPPORT TESTING AND TRAINING

OTTAH CHUKWUEBUKA — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 10:53:03 +0000

Introduction

In any cloud environment, it’s essential to organize and manage resources effectively—especially when setting up environments for testing and training. In Microsoft Azure, a Resource Group provides a logical container for related resources, while a Storage Account allows you to store and manage data such as files, virtual machine disks, and application logs.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating a Resource Group and a Storage Account in Azure. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional setup ready for testing, training, or demonstration purposes.

Understanding Resource Groups

A Resource Group in Azure acts as a logical container that holds related resources for an application or project. It allows you to manage and monitor resources collectively — simplifying deployment, updates, and cost tracking.

Understanding Storage Accounts

A Storage Account provides a unique namespace to store and access data objects in Azure. It supports blobs (files), tables, queues, and file shares — making it an essential component for most cloud workloads.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure that:

You have an active Microsoft Azure account.
You have permission to create resource groups and storage accounts.
You are signed in to the Azure Portal or have access to the Azure

Steps Section for creating a RESOURCE GROUPS.

Step 1: Sign in to the Azure Portal through: https://portal.azure.com/auth/login/

Step 2: once you are logged in to your account in Azure, In the Azure portal and go to the search.

Step 3: click on search, type in "Resource groups" into it, then click on the gray option below it.

Step 4: Select any of the + Create.

Step 5: first Give your resource group a name. For example, storagerg. secondly, Select a region. Use that region throughout the project. then lastly, you Select Review and create to validate the resource group.

Step 6: it will take you to the Review and create tab, then scroll down and Select Create to deploy the resource group.

Note: once you click on create, it will take you to the resource group page, and incase you do not find your resource group, make sure to refresh your page and you would find it. Below is the created, congratulation, you have created a resource group.

Steps Section to create and deploy a STORAGE ACCOUNTS to support testing and training.

Step 1: In the Azure portal, search for Storage accounts and select Storage accounts from the options presented.

Step 2: Select any of the + Create.

Step 3: On the Basics tab, select your Resource group.

Step 4: Provide a Storage account name. The storage account name must be unique in Azure, meaning you can't one name twice only once. Set the Performance to Standard. Select Review + create.

Note if your having an issue with the region you selected just like above, then make such to change the region and your good to go.

Step 5: scroll down and Select Create.

Step 6: Wait for the storage account to deploy and then click on Go to resource.

Now its time to Configure simple settings in the storage account.

1: The data in this storage account doesn’t require high availability or durability. A lowest cost storage solution is desired.

step 1: In your storage account, in the Data management section, select the Redundancy blade.

step 2:Select Locally-redundant storage (LRS) in the Redundancy drop-down.

step 3:Be sure to Save your changes. then, Refresh the page and notice the content only exists in the primary location.

2: Making the storage account to only accept requests from secure connections.

step 1: In the Settings section which is at the left side, scroll down till you see Settings then click n it, and select the Configuration blade.

step 2: Ensure Secure transfer required is Enabled.

3: Developers would like the storage account to use at least TLS version 1.2.

step 1: In the Settings section, select the Configuration blade. then Ensure the Minimal TLS version is set to Version 1.2.

4: Until the storage is needed again, disable requests to the storage account.

step 1: In the Settings section, select the Configuration blade.

step 2: Ensure Allow storage account key access is Disabled.

step 3: Be sure to Save your changes.

5: Ensure the storage account allows public access from all networks.

step 1: In the Security + networking section, select the Networking blade.

step 2: In the Public network access click on Enabled from all networks.

step 3: on the main page of Public network access, click on Enable.

step 4:Be sure to Save your changes.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully created a Resource Group and a Storage Account in Azure, forming the foundation for your testing and training environment.

This setup allows you to manage resources more efficiently, organize training materials or datasets in one place, and easily remove everything when your testing is complete — helping you save time and control costs.

THE BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING.

OTTAH CHUKWUEBUKA — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 23:01:59 +0000

The meaning of CLOUD COMPUTING AND VIRTUALIZAYION

Before we start, let first understand the meaning of cloud computing and virtualization.

step1: what is the meaning of cloud in technology.

Cloud:

When we say “cloud” in technology, it doesn’t mean the white fluffy ones in the sky.
It’s a nickname for the internet, specifically, powerful computers (called servers) that store data and run programs, all connected online.

So instead of saving files or running apps on your own laptop or phone, you use these “cloud” computers somewhere else through the internet.

step 2: what is the meaning of computing.

Computing:

“Computing” simply means using computers to process, store, and manage information.
Whenever a device calculates something, runs an app, or loads a website, that’s computing happening.

step 3: what is CLOUD COMPUTING

cloud computing:

Cloud Computing refers to the delivery of computing services (such as storage, servers, databases, networking, and software) over the Internet instead of relying on local infrastructure.

the image below would explain to you how cloud computing works

VIRTUALIZATION

step 1: what is VIRTUALIZATION

virtualization:

Virtualization means creating a virtual (not physical) version of something, like a computer, storage, or network, using software.

Instead of having many physical machines, you can have one powerful machine that acts like many smaller ones, all running separately.

Step 2: How It Works

Think of a virtual machine (VM) as a computer inside another computer.
A special program called a hypervisor helps divide one big computer into smaller “virtual computers.”
Each of these virtual computers:

- Has its own operating system (like Windows or Linux)
- Runs its own apps
- Works as if it were a real, separate computer

Step 3: Real-World Example

Imagine your school has 10 computers in the lab.
Instead of buying 10 real computers, the school could buy 1 very strong computer and use virtualization to create 10 virtual computers inside it.
Each student uses their own “virtual desktop”, all running on that one big computer.

Step 4: Why It’s Important

Virtualization helps in:

- Saving money: fewer machines to buy and maintain
- Efficiency: better use of computer resources
- Security: each virtual machine is isolated, so if one crashes, others stay safe
- Flexibility: you can quickly create or delete virtual machines

Step 5: In Cloud Computing

Virtualization is the backbone of cloud computing.
Cloud providers (like Google Cloud or AWS) use virtualization to let many people share the same physical servers safely and efficiently.
So when you use “the cloud,” you’re really using virtual machines running on real servers somewhere else.

Now, let go to the main topic, which is the benefit of cloud computing

THE BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING.

Cloud computing offers several important advantages that make it faster, more reliable, and more flexible than using traditional on-site computers or servers.
Here’s what each of these key benefits means.

Scalability

Meaning:
Scalability means the ability to increase or decrease computing resources (like storage, servers, or processing power) whenever needed.

Example:
If a company’s website suddenly gets millions of visitors, it can quickly add more server power in the cloud without buying new hardware.
When traffic drops, it can scale down again — saving cost.

In short:

You can grow or shrink your system easily, depending on your needs.

Agility

Meaning:
Agility means being able to respond quickly to changes — like launching new apps, services, or experiments — without long delays.

Example:
Developers can test new features or fix bugs instantly using cloud tools instead of waiting for new computers or installations.

In short:

Cloud computing helps organizations move fast and adapt to change quickly.

Elasticity

Meaning:
Elasticity is closely related to scalability but focuses on automatic adjustment — the system automatically adds or removes resources as demand changes.

Example:
During busy hours, a streaming service automatically adds more servers, and at night, it reduces them — all without human effort.

In short:

Elasticity = automatic scaling in real time.

High Availability

Meaning:
High availability means the cloud services are designed to stay online and accessible almost all the time — even during maintenance or hardware failures.

Example:
Even if one data center goes down, another one takes over immediately, so users hardly notice any downtime.

In short:

Cloud systems are built to stay running — 24/7, anywhere in the world.

Fault Tolerance

Meaning:
Fault tolerance means the cloud can keep working smoothly even if part of the system fails.

Example:
If one server crashes, other servers automatically take over its tasks without losing data or interrupting service.

In short:

The cloud can survive hardware or network failures without breaking down.

Global Reach

Meaning:
Cloud providers have data centers around the world, allowing users to run their services close to their customers — wherever they are.

Example:
A company can host its app in Europe, America, and Asia all at once, so users everywhere get fast performance.

In short:

You can serve customers anywhere in the world, without setting up physical offices.

What is the difference between Elasticity and Scalability:

Scalability

Scalability means the ability to grow or shrink resources to handle more (or less) work.
You can scale up (add more power) or down (reduce power) — but it’s usually done manually or planned.

Think of it like this:
You own a shop. When more customers start coming every month, you add more shelves and hire extra staff.
It’s not instant — you plan for it.

In cloud computing:
You might upgrade your storage, add more virtual machines, or increase server capacity when you expect more users.

🟢 Keyword: Planned adjustment.
🧠 Example: Adding more servers during festive seasons when you expect traffic to increase.

Elasticity Elasticity means the automatic scaling of resources — the system adjusts itself in real time depending on demand.

Think of it like this:
Your shop can automatically expand or shrink when more or fewer customers walk in — shelves appear or disappear instantly without you doing anything.

In cloud computing:
If many users log into your app at once, the system automatically adds servers; when they log off, it removes them — all without your control.

🟢 Keyword: Automatic adjustment.
🧠 Example: During a live concert stream, servers automatically increase to handle millions of viewers, then drop back after the event.

lastly; below are charts explaining the difference between Elasticity and Scalability in cloud computing, cheers.