Here is a step-by-step guide on how to add an existing data disk to your VM in Azure:
Step 1: Locate the Existing Data Disk
First, you need to locate the existing data disk that you want to add to your VM. You can do this by navigating to the Azure portal and clicking on the “Disks” option in the left-hand menu. From there, you should see a list of all the disks in your Azure environment, including any that are not currently attached to a VM.
Step 2: Stop Your Virtual Machine
Before you can attach an existing data disk to your VM, you need to stop the VM. You can do this by navigating to the “Virtual machines” option in the left-hand menu, selecting your VM, and clicking on the “Stop” button. This will ensure that any data on the existing data disk is not lost when you attach it to your VM.
Step 3: Attach the Data Disk to Your Virtual Machine
Once your VM is stopped, you can attach the existing data disk to it. To do this, navigate back to the “Disks” option in the left-hand menu, select the data disk you want to attach, and click on the “Attach” button. From there, you can select the VM that you want to attach the disk to and choose which disk slot you want to use.
Step 4: Start Your Virtual Machine
After you have attached the existing data disk to your VM, you can start the VM again. To do this, navigate back to the “Virtual machines” option in the left-hand menu, select your VM, and click on the “Start” button. Your VM will now have access to the existing data disk, and you can use it to store additional data.
Step 5: Verify the Disk is Available
Once your VM is running again, you can verify that the existing data disk is available by logging into the VM and checking the list of disks that are attached to it. You can do this by opening the “Disk Management” utility in Windows and checking to see if the disk is listed. If it is, you can format and use the disk as you would any other data disk.
Adding an existing data disk to your VM in Azure is a simple process that can help you increase your storage capacity without having to create a new disk. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly and easily attach an existing data disk to your VM and start using it to store additional data.