Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
You need to deploy a new Ubuntu VM that automatically creates an app user and installs packages the first time it boots. Which approach should you use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Use an availability set so the VM runs the initialization tasks during host placement.
Availability sets improve resilience, but they do not run first-boot configuration commands or install software.
B
Best answer
Use cloud-init in the VM creation settings to perform first-boot configuration.
Cloud-init is the standard Linux initialization method for automating first boot tasks. It can create users, install packages, write files, and run commands as the VM starts. This makes it a good fit when you want the operating system to configure itself without needing to sign in afterward or run a separate manual script.
C
Distractor review
Use an Azure Policy assignment to install the packages after deployment.
Azure Policy can enforce configuration standards, but it is not a first-boot installer for a Linux VM.
D
Distractor review
Use a managed disk snapshot and attach it to the VM after deployment.
Snapshots create disk copies, but they do not automate initial OS customization or package installation.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A route table contains these entries: 10.0.0.0/8 with next hop Virtual appliance, and 10.1.1.0/24 with next hop Virtual network gateway. Which next hop will Azure use for traffic to 10.1.1.5?
Question 2
You are deploying a stateless web application on Azure virtual machines. The solution must automatically add and remove instances based on CPU demand and allow all instances to be managed as one logical group. Which Azure compute feature should you deploy?
Question 3
You are deploying a Windows Server VM for an internal app. The VM must support Secure Boot and vTPM later, its OS disk must survive host moves, and the team wants the lowest-cost managed disk tier that still behaves like a normal writable OS disk. Which two choices should you make? Select two.
Question 4
You need to deploy several identical virtual machines and ensure that the failure of a single Azure host does not affect all of them. Which feature should you use?
Question 5
You need to connect VNet-Hub and VNet-Spoke so that resources in both virtual networks can communicate privately over the Microsoft backbone. Both virtual networks are in the same region. What should you configure?
Question 6
You need to create a storage account that provides the lowest-cost redundant storage for non-critical data and only needs protection against local disk or server failure within a single datacenter. Which redundancy option should you choose?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use cloud-init in the VM creation settings to perform first-boot configuration. — Cloud-init is the correct choice because it is designed for Linux VM initialization at first boot. In Azure, you can pass a cloud-init script during deployment to create local users, install packages, configure SSH settings, and prepare the VM automatically. This is simpler and more reliable than manual post-deployment steps, especially when you want repeatable builds for new Linux machines. Why others are wrong: An availability set helps with uptime, not configuration. Azure Policy enforces compliance, but it does not act as an operating-system provisioning tool. A disk snapshot is only a copy of a disk state; it cannot create users or install software on a fresh VM. The best answer is the feature meant for boot-time guest customization.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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