There are numerous tutorials available about how to boot up a Windows 8 client in Hyper-V Manger, so I only give minimal information. This step is needed to have Windows 8 running in Azure.
First I created a VHDX file with 50 GB, dynamic storage allocation, 1024MB of RAM and single core. Choose an iso with the Windows 8 source to boot from: I used the Windows 8 Developer Preview which is free to use for 90 days. The other Win 8 installations require a key directly when you install it. So we don’t want to waste Win 8 licenses...
Part 2: See how to upload your VHD to Azure
Part 3: See how to create a Virtual Machine from VHD in Azure
Part 4: See how to capture an image in Azure after Sysprep
Part 5: See how to deploy Windows 8 in Azure
Video of entire tutorial: Checkout how Windows 8 runs on Azure
You can download the developer preview of Windows 8 here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/jj554510.aspx?wt.mc_id=MEC_132_1_4
Basically one has to create a VM with the preferred software. Install the “Integration Services” Drivers for a better user experience and compatibility with Azure (not 100% sure if necessary).
The disk file is dynamic, it only uses up the effective size on the local hard drive. For a regular Win 8 Install you end up with a 9 GB file.
DO NOT yet Sysprep the machine. Just shut it down. And remember its computer name.
On the local hard drive a VHDX file is stored that contains the VM. This has to be converted into a VHD file to upload it to Windows Azure. VHDX files are not yet supported.
PowerShell has an integrated command for this: convert-vhd
After the conversion was successful you can proceed to upload the file to Azure.
Next step, Part 2: See how to upload your VHD to Azure
