AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Implement VM Resizing and Scale Set Management

Managing capacity for Windows Server VMs in Azure means adapting resources like CPU, memory, and storage to meet changing demands. VM resizing lets you adjust a virtual machine’s resources by changing its size. This action can require deallocation and a restart, so plan for brief service interruptions.

When you change the size of a VM, Azure may need to deallocate the VM first if the new size isn’t available on the current host hardware. Deallocation releases dynamic IP addresses but keeps the OS and data disks intact. Always verify Premium Storage support to ensure the new VM size works with your storage tier.

There are several ways to resize a VM:

• Azure Portal: Go to the VM blade, choose a new size, and hit Resize.
• PowerShell: Run Get-AzVMSize to list options and Update-AzVM to apply the change.
• Azure CLI: Use az vm list-vm-resize-options, then deallocate, resize, and restart. Each method lets you fit the process into your existing automation or manual workflows.

VM scale sets let you run multiple VM instances together for high availability and consistent performance. You define autoscale rules to automatically add or remove instances based on metrics like CPU or memory usage. A built-in load balancer spreads incoming traffic, while health probes check each instance and replace any that become unhealthy.

Combining manual and automated resizing ensures resources match real-time needs without overspending. VM scale sets boost resilience by growing and shrinking with demand. Regularly review your autoscale settings and VM sizes to keep performance steady and costs under control.

Conclusion

Managing capacity in Azure involves two key practices: manually resizing individual VMs to handle immediate workload changes and using VM scale sets with autoscale rules, load balancing, and health probes to automate scaling. Proper planning for deallocation restarts and verifying storage compatibility ensures smooth size changes. By choosing the right tools—Azure Portal, PowerShell, or CLI—you can maintain high availability and cost efficiency in your hybrid infrastructure.