# [Create a Virtual Machine from a User Image](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/linux/cli-deploy-templates#create-a-custom-vm-image)
This Terraform template was based on [this](https://github.com/Azure/azure-quickstart-templates/tree/master/101-vm-from-user-image) Azure Quickstart Template. Changes to the ARM template that may have occurred since the creation of this example may not be reflected here.
> Prerequisite - The generalized image VHD should exist, as well as a Storage Account for boot diagnostics
This template allows you to create a Virtual Machine from an unmanaged User image vhd. This template also deploys a Virtual Network, Public IP addresses and a Network Interface.
## main.tf
The `main.tf` file contains the actual resources that will be deployed. It also contains the Azure Resource Group definition and any defined variables.
## outputs.tf
This data is outputted when `terraform apply` is called, and can be queried using the `terraform output` command.
## provider.tf
Azure requires that an application is added to Azure Active Directory to generate the `client_id`, `client_secret`, and `tenant_id` needed by Terraform (`subscription_id` can be recovered from your Azure account details). Please go [here](https://www.terraform.io/docs/providers/azurerm/) for full instructions on how to create this to populate your `provider.tf` file.
If a `terraform.tfvars` or any `.auto.tfvars` files are present in the current directory, Terraform automatically loads them to populate variables. We don't recommend saving usernames and password to version control, but you can create a local secret variables file and use the `-var-file` flag or the `.auto.tfvars` extension to load it.
