Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
You need to resize a production VM from Standard_D2s_v5 to Standard_D4s_v5 by using Azure CLI. `az vm list-vm-resize-options` shows the target size, but `az vm resize` fails while the VM is running. Which action should you take first?
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
Run `az vm stop`, then resize the VM.
Stopping the VM powers it off, but it may not release the allocated host resources needed for the resize operation.
B
Best answer
Run `az vm deallocate`, then resize the VM, then start it again.
Azure often requires the VM to be deallocated before a size change succeeds because the target size may need different host resources. Deallocation releases the current compute allocation, which lets Azure place the VM on compatible hardware. After resizing, you start the VM again and the new size takes effect. This is the key difference between stop and deallocate in Azure operations.
C
Distractor review
Run `az vm restart`, then resize the VM.
Restarting reboots the operating system, but it does not release the VM from its current compute allocation.
D
Distractor review
Run `az vm generalize`, then recreate the VM from the image.
Generalizing is used for reusable images, not for a routine resize of an existing production VM.
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: Run `az vm deallocate`, then resize the VM, then start it again. — A resize failure on a running VM is commonly resolved by deallocating the VM first. In Azure, stop and deallocate are not the same thing: stop may leave the compute allocation in place, while deallocate releases the host resources so Azure can place the VM on hardware that supports the new size. After the resize is applied, you start the VM again. This sequence avoids unnecessary rebuilds and keeps the existing disks and configuration. Why others are wrong: A simple stop or restart often leaves the VM tied to the same host allocation, so resize can still fail. Generalizing is a separate image-capture workflow and is not needed for a size change. The core troubleshooting point is that deallocation is the step that frees the current hardware assignment.
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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