MSDN Documentation

Introduction to Azure Automation

Azure Automation is a cloud-based automation and configuration service that enables you to manage your Azure and non-Azure resources. It provides a robust environment for running scripts and orchestrating complex workflows. With Azure Automation, you can streamline repetitive tasks, reduce operational costs, and improve the consistency of your deployments.

Leveraging Azure PowerShell within Azure Automation allows you to interact with Azure resources programmatically. You can create, configure, and manage virtual machines, storage accounts, networks, and much more, all through the familiar PowerShell scripting language.

This documentation will guide you through the core components of Azure Automation, how to integrate them with Azure PowerShell, and provide practical examples to get you started.

Key Concepts

Understanding these fundamental concepts is crucial for effectively utilizing Azure Automation with PowerShell:

Runbooks

Runbooks are scripts that perform automated tasks. Azure Automation supports several types of runbooks, including:

• PowerShell Runbooks: Written in PowerShell, ideal for managing Azure resources.
• Graphical Runbooks: Created using a visual designer, great for complex workflows.
• PowerShell Workflow Runbooks: Based on Windows PowerShell Workflow, enabling state-driven scenarios.
• DSC Configurations: Desired State Configuration allows you to manage and deploy configurations to your machines.

You can author, edit, and publish runbooks directly within the Azure portal or import them from external sources.

Variables

Automation variables are used to store values that can be accessed by your runbooks. This is useful for storing configuration settings, connection strings, or sensitive information. Variables can be of different types, including strings, integers, boolean, and even complex objects.

# Example: Accessing a variable in a PowerShell Runbook
                $storageAccountName = Get-AutomationVariable -Name "MyStorageAccountName"
                Write-Output "Target storage account: $storageAccountName"

Credentials

Credentials are secure ways to store username and password pairs or other authentication information needed by your runbooks to access resources. Azure Automation encrypts and protects these credentials.

# Example: Using a credential to connect to Azure
                $credential = Get-AutomationCredential -Name "AzureServicePrincipal"
                Add-AzureRmAccount -ServicePrincipal -Credential $credential -TenantId $credential.TenantId

Certificates

Certificates can be stored in Azure Automation to authenticate runbooks to resources that require certificate-based authentication.

Connections

Connection assets represent reusable connections to other services or resources. They store the authentication details and endpoint information, making it easier for runbooks to connect to various services without hardcoding credentials.

Schedules

Schedules allow you to automate the execution of your runbooks at specific times or intervals. You can define recurring schedules, one-time schedules, or link them to specific events.

Getting Started with Automation

Follow these tutorials to begin automating your Azure environment:

1. Create your first PowerShell Runbook:

   Learn how to create, test, and publish a simple PowerShell runbook to manage Azure resources. This typically involves authenticating to Azure and performing a basic operation like creating a resource group.

   Create your first PowerShell Runbook →
2. Schedule a Runbook:

   Discover how to set up a schedule to automatically run your runbooks at predefined times. This is essential for recurring maintenance tasks or monitoring jobs.

   Schedule a Runbook →
3. Manage Hybrid Workers:

   Extend Azure Automation capabilities to your on-premises resources or other cloud environments by setting up Hybrid Runbook Workers.

   Manage Hybrid Workers →

Azure Automation PowerShell Module Reference

The Azure PowerShell module provides cmdlets for interacting with Azure Automation. You can find detailed information about available cmdlets, their parameters, and examples in the official documentation.