What is Azure Linux Virtual Machines?
Azure Linux Virtual Machines enables running Linux workloads on scalable virtual machines in the Azure Cloud. The service supports a wide range of Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE, Debian, and CentOS.
Azure offers Linux VMs in various sizes and series, optimized for different workloads: General Purpose for standard applications, Compute-optimized for CPU-intensive tasks, Memory-optimized for databases, and GPU instances for machine learning.
Core Features
- Support for all major Linux distributions with regular updates
- VM sizes from B-Series (Burstable) to HPC-optimized instances
- Managed Disks with SSD and Ultra Disk options
- Spot VMs for cost-effective non-critical workloads
- Azure Hybrid Benefit for existing RHEL and SUSE licenses
Typical Use Cases
Web and Application Servers: Hosting Nginx, Apache, Node.js, or Python applications on Linux VMs with automatic scaling via VM Scale Sets.
Databases: Running MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or other databases on Memory-optimized VMs with Premium SSD storage.
DevOps and CI/CD: Build servers, container hosts, and development environments on cost-effective Linux VMs.
Benefits
- No operating system license costs for many distributions
- Flexible scaling from one to thousands of VMs
- Integration with Azure networking, storage, and security services
- Azure Hybrid Benefit reduces costs for RHEL/SUSE licenses
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Linux distributions are supported?
Azure supports Ubuntu, RHEL, SUSE, Debian, CentOS, Oracle Linux, Flatcar, and more. Microsoft offers joint kernel development and support for many distributions.
How can I optimize costs?
Through Reserved Instances (up to 72% discount), Spot VMs (up to 90% discount), Azure Hybrid Benefit for RHEL/SUSE, and automatic shutdown for dev/test environments.
Can I use custom Linux images?
Yes, you can upload custom VHD images or create custom images with Azure Image Builder.
Are Linux VMs suitable for containers?
Yes, Linux VMs can run Docker and other container runtimes. For managed container workloads, AKS or Container Apps is recommended.
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Linux workloads in Azure. We help with migration, architecture, and cost optimization.
Contact us for a non-binding consultation on Azure Linux VMs.
