DEMO: Using the Azure Pricing Calculator

In this lecture, you’re introduced to the process of generating price estimates using the Azure pricing calculator. The demonstration walks through the practical steps of using the Azure pricing calculator, starting with navigating to the correct URL. The main focus is on estimating costs for virtual machines, including their storage and a public IP address.

The lecture begins by selecting virtual machines from the Azure products available and explaining how to customize the configuration for your specific needs. You’re shown how to change the region, operating system, and size of the virtual machine, which will influence the cost. The example used is an A2 virtual machine specification with pricing provided for the pay-as-you-go option.

Attention is given to the billing options, which include the possibility of reserving instances for one or three years for a discounted rate, but the choice made here is to continue with a pay-as-you-go model.

The instructor demonstrates how to adjust the number of virtual machines required, using two VMs for this example, and explains the cost per hour. Furthermore, the process of adding managed disks for storage, selecting the tier of storage (HDD or SSD), and determining the expected number of storage transactions is outlined, including how these factors affect pricing.

Support options are also covered, with explanations of the different levels available and how to select between them, along with licensing program choices.

The lecture concludes with instructions on how to view dev/test pricing, highlighting that this pricing applies only to specific Azure subscription offers. The final step illustrated is how to export the cost estimate to Excel, where you can review a detailed report that includes monthly and annual totals for the virtual machine, storage, and other options selected.

This lecture aims to equip you with the knowledge to navigate and utilize the Azure pricing calculator effectively for estimating the costs associated with Azure services, ensuring you can budget accurately for your projects.