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Labs

Deploying and Running Your First Azure Virtual Machine

In this hands-on lab, you will use the Azure portal to create and connect to a simple Azure virtual machine. You will log in to the Azure portal and create a virtual machine, then connect to the virtual machine via RDP. Finally, you will use the Azure portal to stop the virtual machine. After completing this lab, you will have gained the experience required to create and connect to your first Azure virtual machine.

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Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Beginner
Duration
Clock icon 30m
Last updated
Clock icon Sep 02, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Log In to the Azure Portal

    With a supported browser of your choice, log in to the Azure portal using the credentials provided on the lab page. We recommend that you use an incognito or private browsing window to ensure you're using the lab account, rather than your own.

  2. Challenge

    Create a New Virtual Machine

    In the Azure portal, navigate to the Virtual machines dashboard and create a Windows Server 2019 Datacenter - Gen 2 virtual machine in the same region as the provisioned resource group. Choose a username and password that's easy for you to remember. (The solution video uses acg-admin as the username and Admin123456! as the password.)

  3. Challenge

    Connect to Your New Virtual Machine

    In the Azure portal, download the RDP file for the virtual machine. Then, connect to it using the Remote Desktop client you have installed.

  4. Challenge

    Stop the Virtual Machine

    In the Azure portal, stop the virtual machine and verify that it has been stopped.

Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
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Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
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