Building a Hybrid Cloud Environment: Azure Lab Services
Case study: Implementing Windows Server, Ubuntu clients, and Gitea in a cloud lab.
In this project, I focused on designing and implementing a virtualized hybrid cloud environment. The goal was to simulate a real-world enterprise infrastructure where central services are hosted on a server and accessed by specialized client workstations.
Virtual Machine Design
The core of the lab consists of two distinct virtual machines tailored for specific roles within the Azure ecosystem:
| Virtual Machine | Operating System | Hardware Spec | Primary Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Server Node | Windows Server | 1 vCPU, 2GB RAM | Gitea Host & File Sharing (SMB) |
| Client Node | Ubuntu 24.04 | 2 vCPU, 2GB RAM | Development & Testing Environment |
Note on Infrastructure: Hardware was selected to stay within the Azure Lab Services budget while maintaining performance for Git operations.
Network Configuration & Storage
To ensure secure communication, both machines were integrated into a shared virtual network. I implemented Windows File Sharing (SMB) to allow seamless data exchange between the Windows server and the Ubuntu client. This setup mimics a professional corporate environment where data is centralized yet easily accessible to authorized workstations.
Deploying Gitea for Data Sovereignty
A key part of the assignment was setting up Gitea on the Windows Server. This lightweight Git service was chosen to ensure complete data sovereignty. By hosting the source code internally within the cloud lab, I eliminated reliance on third-party providers, ensuring that the development environment remains operational even without an active internet connection.
Maintenance & Troubleshooting
During the deployment, I faced challenges with Gitea access. Initially, the service was only accessible via localhost. I had to reconfigure the app.ini file and adjust the firewall settings to allow the Ubuntu client to connect via the server's internal IP address. This experience was crucial for understanding network security and service binding.
"Ensuring data sovereignty through self-hosted tools like Gitea is a vital skill for modern cloud engineers. This project allowed me to bridge the gap between local infrastructure and cloud scalability."