- A
Azure VM Agent
This is the runtime required for Azure to deliver and manage VM extensions.
- B
Custom Script Extension
This extension runs initialization commands and file-copy actions during or after provisioning.
- C
Boot diagnostics
Why wrong: Boot diagnostics helps troubleshoot startup, but it does not execute provisioning scripts.
- D
Availability zone
Why wrong: A zone improves resiliency, but it has no role in running post-deployment configuration tasks.
- E
Ephemeral OS disk
Why wrong: An ephemeral OS disk changes disk persistence behavior, but it does not perform scripted setup.
Question 814 of 1,170
AZ-104 Deploy and Manage Azure Compute Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of deploy and manage azure compute. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A Windows VM must run a bootstrap script during provisioning to install a monitoring agent and write configuration files. The administrator does not want to log in interactively, and the script must be runnable again after the VM is rebuilt. Which two Azure compute components should be used? Select two.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure VM Agent
The Azure VM Agent (A) is required because it enables the VM to run extensions, including the Custom Script Extension. The Custom Script Extension (B) is the correct mechanism to execute the bootstrap script during provisioning without interactive login, and it can be reapplied to a rebuilt VM by redeploying the same ARM template or CLI command.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Azure VM Agent
Why this is correct
This is the runtime required for Azure to deliver and manage VM extensions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Custom Script Extension
Why this is correct
This extension runs initialization commands and file-copy actions during or after provisioning.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Boot diagnostics
Why it's wrong here
Boot diagnostics helps troubleshoot startup, but it does not execute provisioning scripts.
- ✗
Availability zone
Why it's wrong here
A zone improves resiliency, but it has no role in running post-deployment configuration tasks.
When this WOULD be correct
When a question asks for a solution to ensure VM resilience against zonal failures in a region that supports availability zones, such as deploying VMs across multiple zones for 99.99% SLA.
- ✗
Ephemeral OS disk
Why it's wrong here
An ephemeral OS disk changes disk persistence behavior, but it does not perform scripted setup.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Azure VM AgentCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
This is the runtime required for Azure to deliver and manage VM extensions.
✗Availability zoneWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Availability zones are a high-availability feature that protects VMs from datacenter failures, not a compute component for running scripts during provisioning.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When a question asks for a solution to ensure VM resilience against zonal failures in a region that supports availability zones, such as deploying VMs across multiple zones for 99.99% SLA.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse availability zones with a compute component or think they provide a way to run scripts, because zones are often mentioned alongside VM deployment options.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Boot diagnostics (which only shows logs) with a tool that can run scripts, or they mistakenly think Ephemeral OS disks or Availability zones are involved in script execution, when in fact only the VM Agent and Custom Script Extension provide the required automation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Azure VM Agent (waagent on Linux, WindowsAzureGuestAgent on Windows) runs as a background service and communicates with the Azure Fabric Controller via the WireServer endpoint (168.63.129.16) to handle extension provisioning. The Custom Script Extension downloads and executes scripts from Azure Storage, GitHub, or a public URL, and its state is tracked in the VM's extension metadata, allowing idempotent re-execution on rebuilt VMs by re-running the same deployment command.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All AZ-104 questions
1,170 questions across all exam domains
- →
AZ-104 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
AZ-104 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related AZ-104 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Manage Azure Identities and Governance practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Manage Azure Identities and Governance.
Implement and Manage Storage practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Storage.
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Deploy and Manage Azure Compute.
Implement and Manage Virtual Networking practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Implement and Manage Virtual Networking.
Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to Monitor and Maintain Azure Resources.
AZ-104 Azure RBAC practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure RBAC.
AZ-104 storage account practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 storage account.
AZ-104 virtual network practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 virtual network.
AZ-104 NSG practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 NSG.
AZ-104 Azure Monitor practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 Azure Monitor.
AZ-104 backup practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 backup.
AZ-104 managed identity practice questions
Practise AZ-104 questions linked to AZ-104 managed identity.
Practice this exam
Start a free AZ-104 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — This question tests Deploy and Manage Azure Compute — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Azure VM Agent — The Azure VM Agent (A) is required because it enables the VM to run extensions, including the Custom Script Extension. The Custom Script Extension (B) is the correct mechanism to execute the bootstrap script during provisioning without interactive login, and it can be reapplied to a rebuilt VM by redeploying the same ARM template or CLI command.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More AZ-104 practice questions
- A storage automation service principal must upload, read, and delete blob data in one container by using Microsoft Entra…
- A subnet contains several application servers. You need to allow inbound TCP 3389 only from a management subnet named Su…
- A subscription admin wants to investigate who changed a resource and also review the platform-generated events for that…
- Based on the exhibit, which Azure feature should the administrator use to track this kind of platform-wide service issue…
- An administrator wants a script running on an Azure VM to create a resource in Azure without storing any passwords or cl…
- A PowerShell script runs on an Azure VM every night and uses Azure CLI commands to create tags and VM resources in anoth…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-104 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-104 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.