Microsoft Azure offers a plethora of features that can be leveraged to optimize and enhance your application performance. One such tool is Azure VM Image Builder, a service that allows you to create a standardized ‘golden image’ from which multiple Azure virtual machines (VMs) can be deployed. This can be particularly beneficial when preparing for the AZ-140: Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop exam.
Before proceeding to create a golden image, let’s understand what exactly it is. A ‘golden image’ is a pre-configured, fully-loaded virtual machine image that includes all the configurations, software, and settings required for the VM. This image is used as a template to rapidly provision new VMs with a consistent setup.
Step 1: Prerequisites and Setup
Before using the Azure VM Image Builder, you need to register the feature with your subscription. This can be done using Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI.
Here is an example using Azure CLI:
az feature register --namespace Microsoft.VirtualMachineImages --name VirtualMachineTemplatePreview
Next, in order for Azure VM Image Builder to operate within your resource group, it needs permissions. This can be done by creating a “User Assigned Identity” and assigning it suitable permissions.
az identity create -g myResourceGroup -n myUserAssignedIdentity
Step 2: Creating a Custom Image
The following steps are required to build a custom image:
- Create a .json template file specifying the source image, customization steps, and other parameters.
For instance:
{
"builders": [{
"type": "Azure",
"subscription_id": “subscription_id”,
...
"os_disk_size_gb": "256",
"source": {
"type": "PlatformImage",
"publisher": "MicrosoftWindowsDesktop",
"offer": "office-365",
"sku": "19h2-evd-o365pp",
"version": "latest"
},
"customization": {
"type": "windowsUpdate",
"searchCriteria": "IsInstalled=0",
"filters": [
"exclude:$_.Title -like '*Preview*'",
"include:$true"
]
}
}]
}
- Submit the image configuration and start the image build with the ‘az image builder create’ command.
Step 3: Distributing the Golden Image
Once the image is ready, you can create a Shared Image Gallery, add your image to it and then distribute it across different Azure regions. This allows you to create VMs in these regions based on your golden image.
az sig create --resource-group myResourceGroup --gallery-name myGallery
az sig image-version create --resource-group myResourceGroup --gallery-name myGallery --gallery-image-definition myImage --gallery-image-version 1.0.0 --target-regions "West Europe" "East US"
In conclusion, Azure VM Image Builder is a robust tool that simplifies the process of setting up and deploying standardized VMs on Azure. By creating golden images, you’re able to maintain consistency, reduce manual errors, and streamline your operations – all of which are key competencies in configuring and operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktops for the AZ-140 exam.
Practice Test
True or False: Azure VM Image Builder is a service that helps you to create VM images.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Image Builder is a managed service that lets you create VM images in a consistent manner.
True or False: Azure Virtual Machine Image Builder only supports Linux machines.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure Virtual Machine Image Builder supports both Linux and Windows.
What type of images that are supported by Azure VM Image Builder?
- a) Custom Images
- b) Shared Image Gallery
- c) Managed Disk Snapshots
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder supports all these types of images.
What type of customization process is available within Azure VM Image Builder?
- a) Script-based customization
- b) Profile-based customization
- c) ISO-based customization
Answer: a) Script-based customization
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder uses a script-based customization process.
True or False: You need to manually provision a VM to create an image using Azure VM Image Builder.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder handles the creation, and automatic cleanup of the temporary VM behind the scenes.
What does a golden image refer to in Azure VM Image Builder?
- a) The first image created by the builder
- b) The most recent image created by the builder
- c) A template for creating other images with predefined configurations
Answer: c) A template for creating other images with predefined configurations
Explanation: A golden image is a template for a virtual machine (VM), virtual desktop, server or hard disk drive.
True or False: Azure VM Image Builder can distribute images across Azure regions.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder creates an image version and can distribute it across multiple Azure regions.
Using Azure VM Image Builder, we can create an image _____.
- a) From scratch
- b) Via CLI
- c) By importing an existing image
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: The Azure VM Image Builder can create a golden image from scratch, import an existing image, or via CLI.
True or False: You can create Azure VM images with Azure VM Image Builder without any scripting.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder still requires scripting and JSON templates to define and customize the images.
How many service permissions are required by Azure VM Image Builder to access Azure resources?
- a) One
- b) Two
- c) Three
- d) Four
Answer: c) Three
Explanation: Three service permissions – user-assigned managed identity, role assignment at the subscription level, and Azure Networking Contributor – are required by Azure VM Image Builder to access Azure resources.
True or False: The image produced by Azure VM Image Builder is not compatible with Azure Virtual Desktop.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The golden image created by Azure VM Image Builder can be used to create Azure Virtual Desktops.
True or False: Azure VM Image Builder service only supports Azure and not other cloud platforms.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder service is based on HashiCorp’s open source Packer software, which supports multiple platforms, not just Azure.
What is an Azure VM Image Builder?
- a) A database management tool
- b) A service to create golden images
- c) An Azure Storage service
Answer: b) A service to create golden images
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder is a service used to create and manage golden images of virtual hard disks.
True or False: You can maintain version history with Azure VM Image Builder.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder can maintain version history giving you the ability to easily rollback to a previous image.
What type of service is Azure VM Image Builder?
- a) Database service
- b) Messaging service
- c) Storage service
- d) Compute service
Answer: d) Compute service
Explanation: Azure VM Image Builder falls under the category of Azure compute services as it deals with the creation and management of VM images.
Interview Questions
What is Azure VM Image Builder?
Azure Virtual Machine Image Builder is a service for creating custom images from an existing image with your changes, such as OS updates, application installs, security settings, and more.
Can Azure VM Image Builder create a golden image?
Yes, Azure VM Image Builder allows you to create golden images. These are customized VM images that include pre-configured operating system, software, settings, and patches.
What are the initial prerequisites to create a golden image using Azure VM Image Builder?
You will need to have configured a user-assigned managed identity, given the identity the correct role assignments, and registered the feature Image Builder.
What is the template.json file used for in Azure VM Image Builder?
The template.json file is used to define the configuration for the image, including the source, customizations like shell scripts or PowerShell, and the distributor where the image will be stored.
How can you ensure that Azure VM Image Builder runs scripts in a specified order in a Linux environment?
You can ensure this by using the buildTimeoutInMinutes property in the inline script customization.
Can you use Azure DevOps to automate the creation of golden images using Azure VM Image Builder?
Yes, Azure DevOps pipelines can be utilized to automate the process of golden image creation with Azure VM Image Builder.
What command is used to start the image build process in Azure VM Image Builder?
The command to start the image build process is “az image builder run”.
Which property in the Image Template defines where the final VM image will be stored?
The property ‘distribute’ in the Image Template defines where the VM image will be stored.
Can Azure VM Image Builder distribute custom images to an Azure shared image gallery?
Yes, Azure VM Image Builder can distribute the created custom images to Azure shared image gallery.
Can Azure VM Image Builder be used with Windows as well as Linux images?
Yes, Azure VM Image Builder is compatible with both Windows and Linux images.
Can you add your own scripts and applications to be included in the golden image via Azure VM Image Builder?
Yes, you can add your custom scripts and applications during the image customization process.
Can you replicate the created image to other regions using Azure VM Image Builder?
Yes, you can use Azure VM Image Builder to replicate your custom image to other regions.
In which languages can custom scripts be written for Azure VM Image Builder?
Custom scripts can be written in Bash for Linux and PowerShell for Windows.
How can you check the status of the image build in Azure VM Image Builder?
You can use the “az image builder output list” command to check the status of your image build.
Is there any cost associated with using Azure VM Image Builder?
Yes, there are costs for the infrastructure used during the image build, and for storing the image. However, the Azure VM Image Builder service itself is provided at no additional cost.
extutorials.com