Extend Azure VM's OS and Data Disks

Though we allocate an estimated/expected size of disk for both System Drive or Data drive, we do get into situations where we need to expand the disks. In this article let us look at how to expand disk on Windows Machine.

To expand/reduce a disk VM should be in Stopped(deallocated) state. 

When we provision a Windows machine on Azure the default size allocated to System Drive (C drive) is 127 GB. Azure not allow a reduction of system volume size below 127 GB. Below is the error you see when you try to reduce the System volume size below 127 GB.

Adding New Disk to Azure VM

In the article let us look at Adding new Disk to a Windows Virtual Machine.

To add a new disk to Azure VM goto Home-->>Virtual Machines-->> VM1(Select the VM)-->> Disks. Select the option of Add data disk as shown in the below screenshot.

Add Disk Option with in the Virtual Machine.

Azure Networking - Part 1 (Virtual Network)

Network is crucial and critical part of Infrastructure that enables Connectivity and Security.

Azure Network consists of multiple components Virtual Network, Network Peering, Network Security Group, ExpressRoute, Load Balancer, VPN Gateway, Application Gateway, Azure DNS, CDN (Content Delivery Network), Azure DDoS Protection, Network Watcher, Azure Firewall, Virtual WAN, Azure Front Door Service.

Let us Look at Virtual Network and related components in this article.

Virtual Network is a network boundary which allows communication between devices/resources with in Virtual Network. Virtual Network can have one or more Address Spaces (While creating Virtual Network it will allow only one Address space you can add additional Addresses later). Address space associated with a Virtual Network can be segmented in to Multiple Subnets. As resources within Virtual Network can communicate with each other, resources across Subnets with in the same Virtual network can also communicate with each other.

How to Create Virtual Machine in Azure

Here is the vedio that take us through Virtual Machine creation process in Azure using Azure portal.

Setting-up Azure PowerShell

Below are the steps for setting-up Azure PowerShell.
Make sure you have latest version of PowerShell Installed. To know version of PowerShell installed below is the command.
$PSVersionTable.PSVersion


To Check Current Version of PS on the portal upgrade it if you have Lower Version. Below is the link for latest version of PowerShell download.
Latest PowerShell Download Link

How to Create Azure Trail Subscription (30 days / ₹13,300 )

Are you interested in learning Azure? Worried about access and charges when you access? here are is the way ahead.

Microsoft provides a Free/Trail subscription for 30 days or ₹13,300 INR(200$) when you subscribe for a free account. If you are from India and you are looking for subscription below is what you need.

1)Email Address ( Hotmail, Live or Gmail).
2)PAN Card Number.
3)Mobile Number (Verification Purpose)
4)Credit Card (Debit cards are not allowed).

Here is the url https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/. to create Azure free account which will give us a credit of 13,300 Rs for a period of 30 days. You will also get 12 months of popular services and 25+ always free services.

Basics of Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is usage of resources like Servers, Storage, Applications over the network hosted in the service provider data center with pay as use cost model, scale-up or scale down compute resources based on business need.

Here are definitions of Cloud Computing from Wiki, Microsoft and Amazon.