Here are the steps to create a Minecraft server on Azure:

    • Create Virtual Machine
      • Click New “+” icon –> Compute –> Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter
        • Hostname
          • mgw-minecraft
        • Username
        • Password
        • Pricing Tier
          • Basic A2
        • Optional Configuration
        • OS Settings
          • Time Zone
            • UTC-08:00
        • Resource Group
          • vm_minecraft
        • Location
          • West US
      • Click Create
      • Follow the final steps from my other post on finishing the configuration of a virtual machine on Azure.
    • Install latest version of Java
    • Minecraft Server
      • download EXE from minecraft.net
      • Create folder C:\Minecraft and copy file there
      • Double-click on exe and it will immediately close.  This creates a number of necessary files.
      • Open eula.txt and change to “true”.  Save file.
      • Double-click on exe again and it should load.
    • Windows firewall
      • Create a new inbound rule
        • Rule Type – Port
        • port – 25565
        • Allow connection
        • All porfiles
        • Name – Minecraft
        • Finish
    • Open Settings for VM in Azure and go to Endpoints
      • Add
        • Endpoint – Minecraft
        • public port – 25565
        • private port – 25565
        • OK
    • Find the DNS name for the VM
    • Start Minecraft on computer
      • Click Multiplayer
      • Add Server
        • Enter server name
        • Enter server address
        • mgw-minecraft.cloudapp.net:25565
      • Done
      • Join Server

This should load a new world and in the server console you should see your player name.