Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ104) Practice Exam

What modifications can be performed on VM1 that will not require downtime?

1. Change VM size to D8s v3.

2. Add additional network interfaces.

3. Add an additional disk.

4. Install the Puppet Agent extension.

The correct answer is: Add an additional disk.

Adding an additional disk to a virtual machine in Azure is a modification that does not require downtime. When you add a data disk to a VM, you can do so while the VM is running. Azure supports hot-add capabilities for data disks, which means the operation can be performed seamlessly without interrupting the operation of the VM. The additional disk can then be configured and utilized straight away, allowing for dynamic scaling of storage based on the application's needs. In contrast, changing the VM size often necessitates a restart because it involves reconfiguring fundamental aspects of the VM's allocated resources. Similarly, adding network interfaces usually requires you to stop and deallocate the VM. Installing extensions such as the Puppet Agent can typically be done without downtime, but it may involve conditions like needing the VM running under certain configurations or requiring preparation that could inadvertently affect availability. Therefore, adding additional disks presents a straightforward and available approach to scaling storage resources without impacting current operations.