Tag Archives: Automation

Automate taking backups from Azure disks attached to Azure Kubernetes Service

At the beginning of 2019 I wrote a blog post about taking backups from Azure disks attached to an Azure Kubernetes Service cluster. -> https://www.danielstechblog.io/taking-backups-from-azure-disks-attached-to-aks-via-azure-automation/ Since then, some things changed. Azure Function PowerShell support went into public preview in April 2019 and the AzTable (AzureRmStorageTable) module I use Read more [...]

Optimize your Azure Function PowerShell run duration in the consumption plan

Since PowerShell is available on Azure Functions this is the way to go for automating things in Azure. Especially running the function in the consumption plan and with a managed identity enabled. Per default an Azure Function in the consumption plan is restricted to a run duration of 5 minutes but can be extended to 10 minutes. That said I like to share some optimizations with you getting the Read more [...]

Adding value to your DevTest Labs users with additional Azure services

If you are working with Azure DevTest Labs you already know that all the nice things are built around to provide a test environment for Azure IaaS VMs. So far so good, but what can you do to provide your DevTest Labs users with access to PaaS services? Azure DevTest Labs got you covered with a feature called environments. -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-azure-devtest-labs-support-for-creating-environment-with-arm-templates/ Environments Read more [...]

Integrate auto-shutdown configuration in ARM template deployments for Azure VMs

In November 2016 Microsoft introduced the auto-shutdown feature to Azure VMs which was originally available in Azure DevTest Labs. -> https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/set-auto-shutdown-within-a-couple-of-clicks-for-vms-using-azure-resource-manager/ The auto-shutdown feature can be simply enabled through the Azure portal after a VM is deployed. If you are doing a lot of VM deployments, Read more [...]

Start and stop Azure VMs without access to Microsoft Azure

Imagine you want to provide specific users with the ability to start and stop VMs, but you do not want to provide access for them to the Azure portal. Then you can use Azure Automation with webhooks. First create an Azure Automation account in the region of your choice. Make sure that the option “Create Azure Run As account” is enabled. After the successful creation of the Automation Read more [...]

SCVMM / SMA runbook is stucked in an infinity loop

Just a quick note to a situation I experienced last week I want to share with you. Assume you have installed the VMM console on your SMA runbook worker to get the VMM PowerShell cmdlets. So you can leverage them directly on the runbook worker. The important part is to keep the VMM console up to date on the runbook worker and at the same version compared to your VMM management server. Otherwise Read more [...]

SCVMM – Storage Overcommitment PowerShell Script – Version 4.0

Today I am releasing version 3.4 and 4.0 of my Storage Overcommitment PowerShell script and first of all I want to talk about the changes I have made. -> https://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Discover-Cluster-Shared-859f133c Version 3.4 adds support for selecting multiple Hyper-V clusters and will be the GUI version from now on. That said you will use version 3.4 not on a regular basis compared Read more [...]

SMA Runbook – Convert WAP VM Role OS Differencing Disk

Wer sich mit dem VM Role Gallery Items für das VM Deployment im Windows Azure Pack befasst hat, der wird festgestellt haben, dass diese Differencing Disks verwenden. Für Cloud Service Provider sind diese Art von Disks sehr von Vorteil, da sie sehr wenig Storage bei vielen bereitgestellten VMs benötigen. Möchte man aber die VM Role Gallery Items in einem Unternehmen intern verwenden, dann kommt Read more [...]

VHD Rename PowerShell Script – Version 3.1

Nach einem Kommentar zu meinem VHD Rename PowerShell Script in der TechNet Gallery habe ich mich die letzten Tage daran gemacht das Script komplett integrationsfähig für WAP & SMA zu gestalten. Konkret heißt das, dass die Version 3.1 als Automation Action für VM Clouds im Windows Azure Pack verwendet werden kann. Dazu wurde der Workflow so umgebaut, dass dieser auf die erfolgreiche Beendigung Read more [...]

SMA PowerShell Workflow – VHD Rename

Wie schon im März in einem meiner Blogartikel angekündigt, kann ich heute die Service Management Automation Version des PowerShell VHD Rename Scripts vor- und bereitstellen. Wie alles als Orchestrator Runbook begann, könnt ihr hier nachlesen. -> https://www.danielstechblog.io/orchestrator-runbook-vhd-rename/ Danach folgte mit etwas Verzögerung die reine PowerShell Version und nun bin ich Read more [...]