Module 1: Introduction to Azure & SRE

Overview

This module introduces cloud computing, Microsoft Azure, and the role of Site Reliability Engineers (SREs). It is designed for beginners and sets the foundation for the rest of the course.

Lesson 1.1: What is Cloud Computing?

• Definition: Delivery of computing services (servers, storage, databases, networking) over the internet.
• Service Models:
  • IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service
  • PaaS: Platform as a Service
  • SaaS: Software as a Service
• Analogy: Renting vs. buying a house
• Example: Creating a Virtual Machine in Azure instead of buying hardware.
• Demo: Compare on-premise vs. cloud using a simple analogy.

Lesson 1.2: Why Choose Azure?

• Key Features: Integration with Microsoft tools, global reach, security, compliance.
• Career Tip: Azure skills open doors in IT and SRE roles.

Lesson 1.3: Who is an SRE?

• Role: Mix of software engineer and system administrator.
• Responsibilities: Reliability, automation, scalability.
• Beginner Example: Keeping an online shop always available.

Lesson 1.4: Azure Portal Walkthrough & Free Account

• Steps:
  1. Go to portal.azure.com
  2. Sign up for a Free Account ($200 credits)
  3. Explore dashboard: Resource Groups, VMs, Networking, Storage
• Demo: Create a free account and navigate the dashboard.

Assessment

• Quiz on cloud concepts and Azure basics
• Hands-on: Create a free Azure account and explore the portal

Example Script: Create a Resource Group in Azure CLI

az group create --name MyResourceGroup --location eastus

Example Script: Create a Virtual Machine in Azure CLI

az vm create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --name MyVM --image UbuntuLTS --admin-username azureuser --generate-ssh-keys

Troubleshooting Tips & Common Mistakes

• Double-check your Azure region when creating resources to avoid deployment errors.
• If you can’t SSH into your VM, verify that the NSG allows port 22 and your public IP is whitelisted.
• Remember to delete unused resources to avoid unexpected charges.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to generate SSH keys or using an unsupported username.

Visual Guide

Sample Azure Portal dashboard for reference.

Quick Quiz

1. What are the three main cloud service models?
2. What is the difference between a Resource Group and a Subscription?
3. Why is reliability important for an SRE?

Discuss your answers in the course forum or with your instructor.

Community & Discussion

• Join the Azure SRE Learners Forum to ask questions, share projects, and connect with peers.

Mini Project: Azure Starter Lab

Goal: Get hands-on with Azure basics.

Tasks:

1. Create a free Azure account and log in to the portal.
2. Create a Resource Group named StarterRG in your preferred region.
3. Deploy a Linux Virtual Machine named StarterVM in StarterRG.
4. Connect to your VM using SSH and run uname -a to verify the OS.
5. Delete the VM and Resource Group to avoid charges.

Submission:

• Take screenshots of each step and write a short reflection on what you learned.

Hands-On Assignment

Scenario: You are tasked with explaining cloud computing and Azure to a friend who is new to IT.

Instructions:

1. Write a 1-paragraph analogy comparing cloud computing to something in everyday life (e.g., renting a car vs. owning).
2. List three benefits of using Azure for a small business.
3. Share your analogy and list in the course discussion forum or with your instructor.

Resources

• Microsoft Learn: Azure Fundamentals
• Azure Portal