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Cloud computing services are becoming one of the emerging technologies for storing, accessing, and managing data seamlessly without the support of any external hardware device. Anyone can buy an online subscription from a cloud service, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon web services, or Google Cloud platform.
These services work on an internet-based network distributed among the cloud users. We can store data securely and use the data at our convenience. Microsoft Azure for gaming provides a seamless stream of the latest games on their platform.
Cloud gaming on Azure uses automation to configure the Nvidia M60 GPU process. This project is developed and inspired by an amazing guide. The automation initially launches an Azure NV6 virtual machine along with a single Nvidia M60 GPU and configures the original Nvidia driver extension.
Thereafter it uses a random script extension to run the setup file. The setup prompt then configures the files that run on the virtual machine. After this configuration, the Nvidia driver settings are updated for auto login of Windows thereby eventually pairing with Zerotier VPN.
1. Initiating Your Local Machine
Sign up for a paid Microsoft Azure subscription. You initially require a paid subscription and keep Stream ready because a free account does not provide access to GPU virtual machines. You can allocate client stream options in Streams settings to remote play and then to advanced client options.
- Just make sure to arrange the bandwidth of your local steam client to 15 or 30 Megabits. Also, you can use the Steam link on a mobile device or tablet.
- For other situations rather than Steam remote play you can sign up for a tier VPN account. Change the network setting to public and copy down the network ID.
- Download the zero-tier VPN, and install it on your local machine.
- Use the network with the network ID copied in the prior step.
- Connect your network to the local machine before the virtual machine.
2. Automatically Initiate Your Azure Virtual Machine
- Click this link and fill out the form
- Create a resource group and give a name you like.
- Select the location that is nearest to you and note that all the locations have the virtual machine with the M60 graphics card. Go on this website to check if the region supports NV6 virtual machines.
- Type the VM name and enter the username and password for a local user.
- Select the VM ID type and public IP specifying the method for a virtual machine. Click here for public IP address pricing.
After entering all these details click on I agree and the terms and conditions. A virtual machine with an M60 graphical user interface will be configured automatically. Keep in mind that the setup process takes up to 15 minutes and 1 hour in case of updating windows.
You can check the setup of the configuration using the top right bell icon. Moreover, you can also check the status in the extension toggle. If you see a malfunction or the setup crashes you can escalate the issue on Github in detail.
3. Sign Into Your Virtual Machine
You can sign into the virtual machine by remote desktop connection.
- Log on to Virtual machines in [Azure Portal](https://portal.azure.com/) and click on the VM name.
- Select Connect and then Download Remote Desktop protocol File (select everything as default)
- Open your RDP file. Click on “Don’t ask me again” and Connect for RDP popup.
- Enter the username and password you provided. Click on more choices -> “Use an alternate account” if you can’t modify the username.
- Click on “Don’t ask me again” and “Yes” for certificate verification toggle.
4. Setting up Steam
Steam was previously installed on your virtual machine and you can log in using your credentials. After logging in install your games with Steam on the VM. However, Steam no longer permits interaction-free installation from LM and few setups will be left.
You can install a game on your computer drive or a temporary drive. The temporary drive is faster but all the data is lost after dereferencing a VM. You must re-install your games each time you start and stop your virtual machine if you select to install on a temporary drive. If you want to stream from the mobile app Steam link configure your phone and VM play settings.
5. Start Deploying the VM and Play Games
Exit the remote desktop server by disconnecting the Ink shortcut and start enjoying cloud gaming. If this shortcut is not used the virtual machine gets disconnected and cannot capture the Steam remote play.
You should manually deploy your virtual machine through the Microsoft Azure portal, Azure command line interface (CLI), or Powershell.
- Initiate an NV6 size VM from the Azure portal and follow this guide for instructions. Remember to add the Nvidia driver extension to the virtual machine.
- Remotely connect your desktop to the Azure VM instance.
- Start Powershell by clicking the Windows key in the lower left corner and typing “Powershell” to open the Powershell application.
- Now download https://github.com/ecalder6/azure-gaming/blob/master/setup.ps1. You can also download this on your local machine and access it through a remote desktop.
- Now move over to the directory that has “setup.ps1” in Powershell and then execute the below code:
- PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -File setup.ps1 -network {zero_tier_network_id} -admin_username {username_set_in_portal} -admin_password {password_set_in_portal} -manual_install
- After a while, the code will restart your virtual machine and at that time only your remote system session will terminate.
- You can now remotely access your system in your virtual machine once again after a few minutes.
6. Terminating and removing a Virtual Machine
After finishing the gaming session a suggestion from my side is that disconnect the VM using the Microsoft Azure website. When it is disconnected you do not have to buy for the virtual machine. If you close it from the windows, you still have to buy for subscription. The following are the steps for closing a VM on the website.
- Login into the Azure website.
- Click on All Resources on the left-hand side.
- Then click on the virtual machine you created.
- Click on Stop.
To remove a virtual machine and you no longer decide to play games on Azure, you can remove all by
- Log on to the azure website.
- Click on resource groups.
- Open the resources group you have created.
- Select delete resources from the top.
FAQ’s
How can I stream games?
Your Microsoft Azure virtual machine and local machine are linked through Steam. You can stream games using this connection of Steam Remote Play.
You can selectively use Zerotier VPN by allocating a network ID in the deployment protocols, for other circumstances like using a 3rd party streaming software.
Shall I pay for my virtual machine after shutting down?
It mainly relies on how you close your VM. You don’t have to pay for the virtual machine once it is dereferenced. Closing the VM from the portal or auto-shutting option for the standard VM should also disconnect the VM. Powering off from windows would not disconnect it. However, it is good to double-check your virtual machine status.
How different is a managed disk from a temporary drive?
A managed disk is a consistent virtual disk that is priced at a few dollars a month. The temporary drive is a temporary storage compartment in the virtual machine that sits on your system and hosts your VM. The temporary drive is free of cost and considerably faster than a managed disk. The data on temporary data is not consistent and will be cleared when the VM is dereferenced.
There are 3 sorts of managed disks: a typical SSD, premium SSD, and standard HDD. The typical disks have the same speed as hard disk drives but the solid state drive has a faster rate of data transfer.
What if the Steam on my local machine does not have the selection to stream from the VM?
Just check whether the steam is installed and keeps running on the virtual machine. Then restart Steam on your local machine. If you are using zero-tier central just check that both your system and VM are connected within the members tab.
It is compulsory to install an audio driver update for Steam?
Steam does not stream any sort of game by default before you download and install the audio driver on the virtual machine. Steam is automatically installed without any intervention. Moreover, you can initiate steam by “-slipstreaming drivers”.
Follow This Amazing Guide for Cloud Gaming on Azure
All in all, to play games on the Microsoft Azure cloud platform you must initially purchase a subscription and you need to download a zero-tier VPN and install it on your system. Next, you need to download the Microsoft Azure Virtual Machine and install it.
Thereafter, create an account and sign up along with a username and password. Configure the M60 graphic card that supports NV6 virtual machines. Sign in to the virtual machines by following the steps mentioned in the article above.
After this process, set up Steam and link it with the virtual machine. Close the remote desktop by using the “Ink” shortcut and start playing. To play you must manually start up the VM from Azure. You can also close and remove the virtual machine.
Last Updated on by Pragya Chakrapani
