title: Clone Azure Linux VM
body: <p>I need to clone a Linux VM currently in production in Azure (it is a database server that is being used in a live environment).</p>
  
  <p>I did a little research and it seems like you need to run a deprovisioning command to essentially remove things like SSH keys and other stuff which looks kinda scary to me; I saw language in other articles describing things like "after you backup, your existing VM is deleted, etc" and other things that I'm not sure about but don't seem like what I want.</p>
  
  <p>Is there a safe way to just clone a box and bring it back up? In AWS it's very easy you just create an image, the box goes down for a min, and then you create a new instance from there.</p>
  
  <p>Could someone just give me the steps in Azure? Do I want to click 'capture' at the top for the linux instance?</p>
  
  <p>Thank you!</p>