Lab 4 – Azure VM Scale Sets (VMSS): Autoscale on CPU

Build an autoscaling setup in Azure using Virtual Machine Scale Sets. We’ll run a small Node app, capture an Azure image, deploy a VMSS behind a Public Load Balancer, and use Azure Monitor autoscale to scale out on CPU spikes and scale in when demand drops.

What you’ll learn
1. VMSS basics: Min / Desired / Max capacity
2. Creating and using an Azure image
3. Load balancing (80 → 3000) with a Public Load Balancer
4. CPU-based autoscale rules in Azure Monitor
5. Simple instance replacement to maintain Desired capacity

What we build
1. Ubuntu VM → captured image
2. VM Scale Set (Uniform) across Zones 1/2/3
3. NSG rules (SSH 22, app 3000)
4. Autoscale: scale out on high CPU, scale in when quiet

Resources
Repo (README and diagrams): https://github.com/dejalltime/azure-v...


Cleanup
Delete the resource group to remove all lab resources and stop charges.

If this helped, like, subscribe, and drop a comment with questions. Check the links above for the repo and learning resources. See you in the next lab!

Music Credits:
McCoy Tyner — “We’ll Be Together Again” (from Nights of Ballads & Blues, 1963):
https://open.spotify.com/track/1NKJFo...
Spotify
Miles Davis All Stars — “Solar” (from Walkin’ With the Miles Davis All Stars):
https://open.spotify.com/track/7sWOeb...
Spotify