AB#3654: Simplfy and break up article:

Author: AmandaAZ

support/azure/virtual-machines/linux/capture-linux-image-for-upload.md

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+---
+title: Capture Linux Images for Upload Preparation
+description: Offers the steps to capture a Linux image for upload preparation.
+ms.custom: sap:Cannot create a VM, linux-related-content
+ms.service: azure-virtual-machines
+ms.date: 05/16/2025
+ms.reviewer: srijangupta, scotro, maries, jarrettr, v-weizhu
+---
+# How to capture a Linux image for upload preparation
+
+**Applies to:** :heavy_check_mark: Linux VMs
+
+This article outlines the steps to capture a Linux image for preparing to upload it to Azure.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- Access to the Linux machine whose disk you want to image.
+- Azure CLI installed on your local machine.
+- An Azure account with appropriate permissions to upload images.
+
+## Steps to capture a Linux image
+
+1. Prepare the Linux VM for imaging, including stopping unnecessary services and cleaning up temporary files:
+
+    ```bash
+    sudo systemctl stop <service-name>
+    sudo apt-get clean
+    sudo rm -rf /tmp/*
+    ```
+
+2. Create an image of the disk using the `dd` command:
+
+    ```bash
+    sudo dd if=/dev/sdX of=/path/to/output/image.img bs=4M
+    ```
+
+    > [!NOTE]
+    > Replace `/dev/sdX` with the appropriate disk identifier.
+
+3. Compress the disk image to save space and reduce upload time:
+
+    ```bash
+    gzip /path/to/output/image.img
+    ```
+
+4. Install the Azure CLI on your local machine if it's not installed:
+
+    ```bash
+    curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash
+    ```
+
+5. Sign in to Azure using the Azure CLI:
+
+    ```bash
+    az login
+    ```
+
+6. Create a resource group where you'll store the image (if needed):
+
+    ```bash
+    az group create --name <ResourceGroupName> --location <Location>
+    ```
+
+7. Create a storage account to upload the image:
+
+    ```bash
+    az storage account create --name <StorageAccountName> --resource-group <ResourceGroupName> --location <Location> --sku Standard_LRS
+    ```
+
+8. Create a storage container within the storage account:
+
+    ```bash
+    az storage container create --account-name <StorageAccountName> --name <ContainerName>
+    ```
+
+9. Upload the compressed disk image to the storage container:
+
+    ```bash
+    az storage blob upload --account-name <StorageAccountName> --container-name <ContainerName> --name image.img.gz --file /path/to/output/image.img.gz
+    ```
+
+10. Create a managed disk from the uploaded VHD:
+
+    ```bash
+    az disk create --resource-group <ResourceGroupName> --name <DiskName> --source https://<StorageAccountName>.blob.core.windows.net/<ContainerName>/image.img.gz
+    ```
+
+11. Create an image from the managed disk:
+
+    ```bash
+    az image create --resource-group <ResourceGroupName> --name <ImageName> --source <DiskName>
+    ```
+
+12. Verify that the image has been created successfully:
+
+    ```bash
+    az image show --resource-group <ResourceGroupName> --name <ImageName>
+    ```
+
+You have now created a Linux image from an on-premises disk and uploaded it to Azure. You can use this image to create new VMs in your Azure environment.
+
+[!INCLUDE [Azure Help Support](../../../includes/azure-help-support.md)]