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--- title: Create a virtual machine on VMware vSphere using Azure Arc description: This article helps you create a virtual machine using Azure portal. ms.date: 02/10/2026 ms.topic: how-to ms.services: azure-arc ms.subservice: azure-arc-vmware-vsphere ms.author: v-gajeronika ms.reviewer: v-gajeronika author: Jeronika-MS keywords: "VMware, Arc, Azure" --- # Create a virtual machine on VMware vSphere using Azure Arc After your administrator connects a VMware vCenter server to Azure, enables vCenter resources such as resource pools, clusters, hosts, VM templates, and VM networks in Azure, and gives you the required permissions on those resources, you can create a new VMware vCenter managed virtual machine. In this article, you learn how to create a new VMware vCenter managed virtual machine from Azure Arc portal. To explore non-portal methods such as Azure CLI, PowerShell, REST APIs, SDKs, and Infrastructure-as-Code mechanisms, see the **Reference** section of this documentation. ## Prerequisites - An Azure subscription and resource group where you have *Azure Arc VMware VM Contributor* role. - A resource pool, cluster, or host resource where you have *Azure Arc VMware Private Cloud Resource User* role. - A virtual machine template resource where you have *Azure Arc VMware Private Cloud Resource User* role. - A virtual network resource where you have *Azure Arc VMware Private Cloud Resource User* role. - A datastore resource where you have *Azure Arc VMware Private Cloud Resource User* role. ## Create a VM in Azure portal 1. Go to [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com/). 1. Start creating a new VM by using one of the following two methods: - Select **Azure Arc** as the service. Under **Host environments**, select **VMware vCenters**. Search and select your VMware vCenters. Select **Virtual machines** under **vCenter inventory** from the left blade and select **Add**. :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/add.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Add screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/add.png"::: Or - Select **Azure Arc** as the service. Under **Azure Arc resources**, select **Machine**. Select **Add/Create** and select **Create a machine in a connected host environment** from the dropdown. :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/create-machine.png" alt-text="Screenshot of create a machine screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/create-machine.png"::: 1. When **Create an Azure Arc virtual machine** opens, under **Basics** > **Project details**, select the **Subscription** and **Resource group** where you want to deploy the VM. 1. Under **Instance details**, enter the following information: - **Virtual machine name** - Specify the name of the virtual machine. - **Custom location** - Select the custom location that your administrator shares with you. - **Virtual machine kind** - Select **VMware**. - **Resource pool/cluster/host** - Select a resource pool, cluster, or host from the dropdown menu. - **Datastore** - Select a datastore from the dropdown menu. :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/machines.png" alt-text="Screenshot of machines screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/machines.png"::: 1. Under **Template details**, enter the following information: - **Template** - Choose the VM template for deployment. - **Override template defaults** - Select the checkbox to override the default CPU cores and memory on the VM templates. - Specify computer name for the VM if the VM template has computer name associated with it. 1. Keep the **Enable Guest Management** checkbox selected to automatically install Azure connected machine agent immediately after the creation of the VM. [Azure connected machine agent (Arc agent)](../servers/agent-overview.md) is required if you're planning to use Azure management services to govern, patch, monitor, and secure your VM through Azure. 1. Under **Administrator account**, enter the following information: - Username - Password - Confirm password :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/admin-account.png" alt-text="Screenshot of administrator account screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/admin-account.png"::: If you're creating a Linux virtual machine, use an SSH key as the authentication method instead of an administrator account. 1. If you chose to enable guest management, choose the **Connectivity method** for the Arc agent that you install in your VM to connect to Azure. The available options are Public endpoint, Proxy server, and Private endpoint. - To connect the Arc agent through a proxy, provide the proxy server details. - To connect Arc agent through a private endpoint, follow these steps to set up Azure private link and provide the same details. 1. Under **Disks**, you can optionally change the disks configured in the template. You can add more disks or update existing disks. :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/disks.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Disks tab screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/disks.png"::: 1. Under **Networking**, you can optionally change the network interfaces configured in the template. You can add Network interface cards (NICs) or update the existing NICs. You can also change the network that this NIC attaches to, provided you have appropriate permissions to the network resource. :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/networking.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Networking tab screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/networking.png"::: 1. Under **Advanced**, customize the guest operating system settings of the VM as required. :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/advanced.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Advanced tab screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/advanced.png"::: 1. Under **Tags**, you can optionally add tags to the VM resource. :::image type="content" source="media/create-virtual-machine/tags.png" alt-text="Screenshot of Tags tab screen." lightbox="media/create-virtual-machine/tags.png"::: 1. Under **Review + create**, review all the properties and select **Create**. The portal creates the VM in a few minutes. ## Next steps - [Set up and manage self-service access](setup-and-manage-self-service-access.md). - [Perform VM powercycle operations](perform-powercycle-operations.md). - [Update configuration and resize a VM](update-configuration-resize-vm.md).