How to Install Window Server 2022 on Azure

In this blog post, I will walk you through the installing process of Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition.

Before we start, lets look at the three Windows Server 2022 editions, which are in preview as of this writing and should not be installed in production environment since Microsoft is providing the preview “as-is.”

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition Core

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition Core preview expands on the existing Windows Server 2019 Datacenter: Azure Edition Core by introducing new functionality such as SMB over QUIC and Azure Extended Networking. The hotpatching functionality from Windows Server Datacenter 2022: Azure Edition is built in, with the hotpatches starting later this summer. Learn more about everything that’s new. Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition Core is only available today on Azure and requires an Azure Automanage subscription. You must be a registered Windows Insider in order to create and use virtual machine images from this preview.

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition

Windows Server Datacenter 2022: Azure Edition contains the full Server Desktop experience and introduces new functionality such as SMB over QUIC and Azure Extended Networking. This image with the full Server Desktop experience does not support hotpatching. Learn more about everything that’s new. Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition is only available on Azure and requires an Azure Automanage subscription.

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter

Windows Server 2022 Datacenter brings innovation to Windows Server that enables customers to run their existing and new business critical applications with confidence on Azure, on-premises and at the edge. Windows Server 2022 Datacenter brings the latest in security innovation, unique hybrid capabilities, and enhancements for modern applications. As a part of the release, we are bringing Secured-core to Windows Server to secure system running applications and services on Windows Server 2022. Secured-core builds on technologies such as System Guard and Windows Server Virtualization-based Security to minimize risk from firmware vulnerabilities and advanced malware. The new release also provides secured connectivity enabled by industry standard AES 256 encryption. Also, this release packs in significant improvements to Windows container runtime such as cross-version compatibility and containerization tools for .NET, ASP.NET and IIS applications.

In the Azure Marketplace, search for ‘Microsoft Server Operating Systems Previews and choose ‘Windows Server Datacenter 2022: Azure Edition.’

Offer – microsoftserveroperatingsystems-previews

Plan – windows-server-2022-azure-edition-core-preview

The icons look a bit different.

Let me know your thoughts about Windows Server 2022 in the comment section.

Azure Spot Virtual Machines

Azure spot virtual machines can handle workloads that are not constant and can be interrupted such as batch processing jobs, development/testing environments and so forth, hence there is a significant cost savings. Due to this, spot virtual machines can be evicted any time and Microsoft will only provide 30 seconds notice.

Also, keep in mind, there is no SLA for spot virtual machines and guarantees no high availability.

Limitations

The following VM sizes are not supported for Azure Spot Virtual Machines:
* B-series
* Promo versions of any size (like Dv2, NV, NC, H promo sizes)

The following offer types are currently supported:
* Enterprise Agreement
* Pay-as-you-go offer code
* Sponsored
* Cloud Service Provider (CSP)

When you are deploying a VM, you can choose to use an Azure spot instance. Eviction type can be either ‘capacity only’ or ‘price’ and eviction policy can either be ‘stop/deallocate’ or ‘delete’.

How to add Azure virtual machines to inventory

Azure Inventory feature allows you to find out what software is installed on the virtual machines.   You can collect and view inventory for software, files, Linux daemons, Windows services, and Windows Registry keys on your computers.

Here are all the virtual machines that are part of the inventory list.

I choose the first option ‘ Enable on all available machines’ but you can choose the second option as well ‘Enable on all available and future machines’.

You can keep track of any changes through this page.

Azure Automation State Configuration is an Azure configuration management service that allows you to write, manage, and compile PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) configurations for nodes in any cloud or on-premises datacenter.

Here is the list for machines that can be managed by Azure Automation State Configuration:

  • Azure virtual machines
  • Azure virtual machines (classic)
  • Physical/virtual Windows machines on-premises, or in a cloud other than Azure (including AWS EC2 instances)
  • Physical/virtual Linux machines on-premises, in Azure, or in a cloud other than Azure

For nodes running Windows, the following versions are supported:

  • Windows Server 2019
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2012R2
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows 7