Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Virtual Network (VNet) in Microsoft Azure

Learn how to set up a virtual network (VNet) in Microsoft Azure to operate exclusively in the cloud or connect seamlessly with your on-premises network. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to creating and configuring your virtual network for optimized cloud connectivity.

Creating a Virtual Network in Microsoft Azure

In Azure, you can create a virtual network (VNet) to operate solely in the cloud or connect it to your on-premises network. Here's a step-by-step guide for setting up a virtual network that exists only in the cloud.

Creating a Virtual Network (Cloud Only)

Step 1: Sign In

Log in to the Azure Management Portal using your credentials.

Step 2: Start Creation

Click on the ‘New’ button located at the bottom left corner of the screen.

Step 3: Choose Service

Select ‘Network Services’, then ‘Virtual Network’ from the dropdown list.

Step 4: Quick Create

Click on ‘Quick Create’ to start a simple setup process.

Step 5: Configure Basic Settings

Enter a name for your virtual network. Keep the other settings at their default values, except for the location, which should be set according to your region. Azure will automatically handle most configurations for you.

Step 6: Create

Click on ‘Create a Virtual Network’ to finalize the setup. Your cloud-only virtual network is now ready!

Creating a Virtual Network (Advanced Settings)

If you prefer more control over the setup, follow these advanced steps:

Step 1: Start Creation

Instead of selecting ‘Quick Create’, choose ‘Custom Create’ to have more control over the configuration.

Step 2: Name and Location

Enter a name for your virtual network and select your region from the dropdown. A visual diagram at the bottom of the screen will show a representation of your network setup.

Step 3: DNS and Connectivity

For a cloud-only network, the DNS Server Name is optional. Leave the ‘Point to Site connectivity’ and ‘Site to Site connectivity’ settings as default for now. These options will be explained in future chapters.

Step 4: Configure Address Space

Click ‘Next’ to configure the address space. You can leave the default values for address space and subnet configuration unless specific customization is needed.

Step 5: Finish Creation

Click the next arrow to finalize the setup. Your custom virtual network is now ready to use!

Even after creating your virtual network, you can always return to add DNS servers or configure connections to on-premises networks if required.