Azure Image Overview and Deployment Options

Azure offers a range of image deployment options, including virtual machines, virtual machine scale sets, and Azure Container Instances.

Azure images come in various forms, such as Windows Server, Ubuntu, and CentOS, each with its own set of features and capabilities.

You can deploy Azure images in a variety of scenarios, including development, testing, and production environments.

Azure provides a managed image service, which allows you to create and manage custom images in a centralized location.

Azure Images are a great way to create consistent and reliable virtual machines in the cloud. You can use them to deploy applications, services, and workloads quickly and efficiently.

Azure Images are available for various operating systems, including Windows and Linux. You can choose from a wide range of images, each with its own set of features and capabilities.

To get started with Azure Images, you'll need to create a resource group. This will be the container for all your Azure resources, including your images. You can do this in the Azure portal or using the Azure CLI.

Azure Images can be customized to meet your specific needs. You can add or remove features, update the operating system, and even add custom scripts to automate tasks.

To convert a VHDX file to the required Azure VHD format, use PowerShell and the Convert-VHD cmdlet. You can specify the options in the command line, and the disk image that is created needs to be uploaded into Azure Blob storage.

Once uploaded, you'll need to convert the VHD to a VM image. Open the Azure Portal and select the images icon, or use the Azure search box and type "images." Then, use the browse button to select the uploaded disk from the storage BLOB.

After creating the custom image, you can deploy it to Azure using the Azure Portal. Select the region where you uploaded the image, and set the correct image type - Linux or Windows. You can also incorporate configuration tools like Puppet or SaltStack to streamline the deployment process.

Converting to VHD format is a crucial step in preparing your image for deployment in Azure. To do this, you'll need to use PowerShell and the Convert-VHD cmdlet, which allows you to specify both the input VHDX file and the output VHD image file.

The disk image created needs to be uploaded into Azure Blob storage, where it can be easily referenced when creating new templated servers. It's also a good idea to store multiple uploaded disks in one Blob storage account.

You can use the following options with the Convert-VHD cmdlet to customize the conversion process.

Uploading a blob can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be. One way to do it efficiently is to use the Add-AzureRmVhd command in PowerShell.

This command creates a checksum prior to uploading to ensure the integrity of the file. It also accommodates empty disk space, so you don't have to upload unused data in the image.

The GUI method of uploading a blob can be prone to timeouts and lacks real-time status reporting. Using PowerShell is much easier and provides a progress bar.

To use the Add-AzureRmVhd command, you'll need to install the PowerShell Azure modules if you haven't already. Then, you'll need to provide a couple of arguments: the resource group, the blob destination, and the local disk.

Here are the benefits of using the Add-AzureRmVhd command:

Azure Cloud Shell offers an alternative option for Packer users, with the tool pre-equipped with version 1.10.1, although the current version is 1.10.3.

Packer is readily available in Azure Cloud Shell, making it a convenient location for managing your Azure virtual machine image creation workflow.

You still need to install the Azure plugin, which can be done within the Azure Cloud Shell by running the command `packer plugins install github.com/hashicorp/azure`.

You can create custom images in just a few steps with Azure VM Image Builder, which simplifies the image building process.

Integrate the image building process with your existing DevOps pipeline and manage the images by connecting to Shared Image Gallery.

With Azure VM Image Builder, you can create custom Linux and Windows images at scale using existing or new configurations for Azure and Azure Stack.

Azure Image Builder is a game-changer for creating custom images. It allows you to create custom images in just a few steps, avoiding the hassles of figuring out tooling, processes, and extraneous manual steps.

You can create custom Linux and Windows images at scale using existing or new configurations for Azure and Azure Stack. This is a huge time-saver, especially for large-scale deployments.

With Azure Image Builder, you can integrate the image building process with your existing DevOps pipeline and manage the images by connecting to Shared Image Gallery. This streamlines your workflow and makes image management a breeze.

You can build images to meet the configuration, compliance, and regulatory needs of your organization. This is a must-have feature for businesses with specific requirements.

Azure Image Builder is designed to work with all Azure Marketplace base operating system images. This means you can use the service with a wide range of operating systems.

As of March 2023, you can now use the Azure Image Builder service inside the portal. This makes it even easier to get started with building and validating custom images.

The Azure VM Image Builder service is available in a wide range of regions, making it a versatile tool for users worldwide.

You can access the service in 27 different regions, including East US, West Central US, and South East Asia.

The service is also available in several regions in Europe, such as North Europe, West Europe, and UK South.

Additionally, you can access the service in regions in Asia, such as Japan East and Korea Central.

Some regions have specific requirements for accessing the public preview, such as the USGov Arizona and USGov Virginia regions in the Fairfax area.

To access the public preview in these regions, you must register the Microsoft.VirtualMachineImages/FairfaxPublicPreview feature using Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI.

The China North 3 region also has a specific requirement for accessing the public preview, which involves registering the Microsoft.VirtualMachineImages/MooncakePublicPreview feature.

Here's a list of all the regions where the Azure VM Image Builder service is available:

To configure and build an Azure image, you'll need to define an Azure resource group, which temporarily stores the resources used during the build process. This group is created using the Azure Cloud Shell with the command `New-AzResourceGroup -Name $rgName -Location $location`.

You'll also need to create a service principal, which is a secure identity that grants Packer access to Azure. This can be done with the command `$sp = New-AzADServicePrincipal -DisplayName "PackerServicePrincipal" -role Contributor -scope /subscriptions/yyyyyyyy-yyyy-yyyy-yyyy-yyyyyyyyyyyy`.

To authenticate to Azure, you'll need to obtain your Azure tenant and subscription IDs with `Get-AzSubscription`. This will give you the necessary permissions to perform actions in your Azure subscription.

You can also use Azure VM Image Builder to create custom images in just a few steps, integrating the image building process with your existing DevOps pipeline and managing the images by connecting to Shared Image Gallery. This can be done by calling VM Image Builder from your pipeline or using an Azure VM Image Builder service DevOps task (preview).

Here are the key steps to create a custom image:

To create a Windows image, you'll need to follow some specific guidelines. Only Linux and Windows images are supported for upload and use in Azure.

You'll want to ensure that your image is in the correct format, specifically VHD files, as Azure only supports these.

To get started, select "fixed size" rather than "dynamic" when creating your image, as dynamic expanding disks are not supported.

Here's a quick summary of the key points to keep in mind:

To configure your Azure environment, you'll need to define a resource group. This group temporarily stores the resources used during the build process, including the final image itself.

The first step is to create a resource group using the Azure Cloud Shell with the command `New-AzResourceGroup -Name $rgName -Location $location`.

You'll also need to create a service principal to authenticate with Azure. This secure identity grants Packer access to Azure, and you have full control over the permissions assigned to it.

To create a service principal, run the command `$sp = New-AzADServicePrincipal -DisplayName "PackerServicePrincipal" -role Contributor -scope /subscriptions/yyyyyyyy-yyyy-yyyy-yyyy-yyyyyyyyyyyy`.

You'll also need to obtain a password and application ID for the service principal. Run the commands `$plainPassword = (New-AzADSpCredential -ObjectId $sp.Id).SecretText` and `$sp.AppId` to view the output.

Finally, to authenticate to Azure, you'll need to obtain your Azure tenant and subscription IDs. Use the command `Get-AzSubscription` to get the subscription name, and then run `Get-AzSubscription -SubscriptionName $subName` to obtain the IDs.

You can use Packer to build your image, and the first step is to validate your template with the Packer validate command. This command checks your template for syntax and configuration errors.

With Packer, you can create a robust image build process that's free of errors. Packer build command is used to instruct Packer to construct your image using the builders and provisioners you've defined.

The Packer build command is the final step in building your image. It's where your configuration is transformed into a functional machine image, ready to be deployed to your Azure environment.

Here's a simple step-by-step guide to building your image:

This process allows you to create a custom image that meets your specific needs, without having to worry about complex tooling or manual steps.

Packer integrates seamlessly with Azure DevOps, enabling you to automate image creation alongside your code deployments. This streamlines the development and deployment process, reducing the risk of errors from manual builds.

By incorporating Packer tasks within your Azure DevOps pipeline, you can trigger image builds whenever you commit changes to your codebase. This ensures consistency and automates image creation.

Azure DevOps integrates with various cloud providers, allowing you to publish your Packer-built images to other platforms or a private container registry. This flexibility makes it easy to manage your Azure deployments.

Here are the benefits of integrating Packer with Azure DevOps:

You can use a single command or advanced configurations as code to create your build resources on demand in Azure. This is made possible by connecting VM Image Builder with your DevOps pipeline using Azure DevOps or other tools.

Automate all tasks including patching and updating, ensuring that your image creation process is streamlined and consistent. This is a key benefit of integrating Packer with Azure DevOps, as it allows for a seamless and automated image creation process.

Packer tasks can be incorporated within your Azure DevOps pipeline, triggering image builds alongside code deployments. This means that whenever you commit changes to your codebase, the pipeline can automatically execute Packer builds.

By automating image creation, you can ensure consistency and reduce the risk of errors from manual builds. This is especially important when deploying application updates alongside freshly built, up-to-date images.

Here are some key benefits of integrating Packer with Azure DevOps:

By following these best practices, you can streamline your image creation process and improve the overall efficiency of your DevOps pipeline.

If you're looking for a more streamlined approach to building Azure images, consider Azure VM Image Builder, a managed service that leverages Packer templates under the hood for customization.

It simplifies the process by providing a user-friendly interface for defining image builds, making it a good option for those seeking a more streamlined approach within the Azure ecosystem.

Azure VM Image Builder is a good option for those who want a more hands-off approach to building Azure images, as it automates the process and reduces the need for manual intervention.

With Azure Image Builder, you can create custom images in minutes, perfect for meeting your organization's configuration, compliance, and regulatory needs.

You can build custom Linux, Windows, and Windows Virtual Desktop images using your existing configurations with just one service.

Azure Image Builder streamlines the process of creating custom VM images, making it a more reliable and efficient option compared to doing it manually or using other tools.

VM Image Builder gives you the benefits of a managed service, making it easier to create custom VM images. This is a game-changer for anyone who's struggled with the cumbersome process of creating custom images by hand or with other tools.

You can create custom images in just a few steps with VM Image Builder, integrating the image building process with your existing DevOps pipeline. This streamlined approach saves you time and reduces manual errors.

The service allows you to create custom Linux and Windows images at scale using existing or new configurations for Azure and Azure Stack. This flexibility is particularly useful for large-scale deployments.

VM Image Builder integrates with Azure DevOps and Shared Image Gallery to create an image build pipeline and global management system. This integration enables you to manage your images more efficiently.

By connecting VM Image Builder to your existing virtual networks, you can use your configuration servers and resources to create custom images. This seamless integration saves you from having to set up new infrastructure.

You can even migrate an image customization pipeline to Azure and use your existing scripts, commands, and processes. This means you don't have to start from scratch when moving to a managed service.

Trusted Launch Supported images can be used as a source image for image builds.

The source and distribute must both be Trusted Launch Supported for it to be supported. If the source is normal and the distribute is Trusted Launch Supported, or if the source is Trusted Launch Supported and the distribute is normal Gen2, it's not supported.

Here are the specific constraints for Trusted Launch Supported images:

Trusted Launch images are not supported as a source image for image builds.

Confidential VMs are also supported as a source image for image builds, but with certain constraints.

Security and Management is a top priority when it comes to Azure Image. VM Image Builder helps keep your images secure by enabling you to create baseline images with your minimum security and corporate configurations.

You can help keep these images secure and compliant by using VM Image Builder to quickly rebuild a golden image that uses the latest patched version of a source image. This process makes it easier to meet the Azure Windows security baseline.

VM Image Builder also enables you to fetch your customization artifacts without having to make them publicly accessible. It uses your Azure Managed Identity to fetch these resources, and you can restrict the privileges of this identity as tightly as required using Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC).

This level of security applies to the build VM that's used to create the customized image, and access is controlled by Azure RBAC. This helps prevent your customization scripts and files from being copied to an unknown VM in an unknown subscription.

VM Image Builder securely stores copies of customization artifacts, transient compute and storage resources, and their resulting images within your subscription. You can achieve a high degree of separation from other customers’ workloads by using Isolated VM offerings for the build VM.

VM Image Builder can be configured to assign your user-assigned identities to the VM Image Builder build VM. This allows you to use these identities at customization time to access Azure resources, including secrets, in your subscription.

VM Image Builder also enables you to connect to your existing virtual networks, so you can communicate with existing configuration servers, such as DSC, Chef, and Puppet, file shares, or any other routable servers and services.

Here are some key security features of VM Image Builder: