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Deploying a Linux Virtual Machine with Cloud-Init

In this lab, we'll deploy two virtual machines. For one, we'll be using Azure Deployment Wizard, and for the other we'll use Azure CLI. For each of these machines, we'll use `cloud-init` to pre-update our VMs before we connect to ensure they're ready for use at first login. Not only will we go over how to use `cloud-init`, we'll also walk through how you can craft a `cloud-init` file using the Azure Cloud Shell.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Beginner
Duration
Clock icon 1h 0m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 11, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Deploy a VM & Configure it Using Cloud-Init from the Azure Console

    Our first goal is to show how to use cloud-init even in one-off deployments where you may just want to get some of the busy work for your server taken care of at deployment time. To do this, we'll deploy a basic server and use cloud-init to get the server patches up-to-date before we even log in to it.

  2. Challenge

    Deploy a VM & Configure it Using Cloud-Init using the Azure Cloud Shell and Azure CLI

    The second goal of this lab will essentially recreate the steps of the first, using the Azure CLI and a cloud-init command file that can be used repeatedly for other servers. Students will learn how to create a cloud-init command file in the Azure Cloud Shell and how to use that file when deploying using the command line.

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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.

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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.

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

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