Azure Virtual Network Gateway VPN Client Connection Cmdlets

Cmdlets Overview

The following cmdlets are primarily used for managing Azure VPN client connections:

• Get-AzVpnClientConfiguration: Retrieves the configuration settings for VPN clients.
• Set-AzVpnClientConfiguration: Modifies the configuration settings for VPN clients.
• Remove-AzVpnClientConfiguration: Removes VPN client configuration settings.
• New-AzVpnClientPowerShellConfiguration: Generates PowerShell scripts for configuring VPN clients.
• Get-AzVpnClientPowerShellConfiguration: Retrieves VPN client PowerShell configuration details.

Azure VPN Client Configuration Cmdlets

Get-AzVpnClientConfiguration -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -VirtualNetworkGatewayName "MyVpnGateway"

$gateway = Get-AzVirtualNetworkGateway -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -Name "MyVpnGateway"
$rootCert = New-Object System.Security.Cryptography.X509Certificates.X509Certificate2 -ArgumentList (Get-Content -Path "C:\certs\MyRootCert.cer" -Encoding Byte -ReadCount 0)
Set-AzVpnClientConfiguration -VirtualNetworkGateway $gateway -VpnClientRootCertificates @($rootCert)

Remove-AzVpnClientConfiguration -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -VirtualNetworkGatewayName "MyVpnGateway" -VpnClientRootCertificates @($rootCertToRemove) -Force

Azure VPN Gateway Connection Cmdlets

$script = New-AzVpnClientPowerShellConfiguration -Name "MyClientScript" -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -VirtualNetworkGatewayName "MyVpnGateway" -VpnClientProtocol "IKEv2"
Write-Output $script

$clientScript = Get-AzVpnClientPowerShellConfiguration -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -VirtualNetworkGatewayName "MyVpnGateway" -VpnClientProtocol "IKEv2"
Write-Host "Client Configuration Script:"
Write-Host $clientScript

Cost Considerations and Examples

The cost associated with Azure Virtual Network Gateways and their VPN client connections primarily depends on:

• Gateway Type and SKU: Different SKUs (e.g., Basic, VpnGw1, VpnGw2) offer varying performance, throughput, and feature sets, directly impacting cost.
• Connection Type: Point-to-site (P2S) VPN connections incur costs based on the gateway SKU and potentially data transfer. Site-to-site (S2S) connections also contribute to gateway costs.
• Data Transfer: While gateway costs are fixed per hour for the SKU, outbound data transfer from Azure incurs charges.
• Number of Connections (for P2S): Some SKUs have limits on the number of concurrent P2S connections.

Example Scenario: Basic P2S VPN for Remote Access

Let's consider a scenario where you need to enable remote access for a small team of 10 users using a Point-to-Site VPN connection.

Option 1: Basic SKU Gateway (Cost-Effective for Low Usage)

• Gateway SKU: Basic SKU (if sufficient for your needs, e.g., limited throughput and connections)
• Estimated Hourly Cost: [Hypothetical Cost, e.g., $0.15/hour]
• Estimated Monthly Cost (24/7): $0.15/hour * 24 hours/day * 30 days/month = $108/month
• Notes: The Basic SKU has significant limitations on throughput and concurrent connections. This might not be suitable for production environments requiring high performance.

Option 2: VpnGw1 SKU Gateway (Balanced Performance and Cost)

• Gateway SKU: VpnGw1 (offers better performance and more connections than Basic)
• Estimated Hourly Cost: [Hypothetical Cost, e.g., $0.30/hour]
• Estimated Monthly Cost (24/7): $0.30/hour * 24 hours/day * 30 days/month = $216/month
• Notes: This SKU is generally recommended for small to medium-sized deployments, providing a good balance of performance and cost.

Additional Costs to Consider:

• Data Transfer: The cost of data egress from Azure to the internet. This can vary significantly based on usage. Check Azure pricing for outbound data transfer rates.
• Public IP Address: A static public IP address is required for the VPN gateway, which has a small associated cost.

Cost Management with Cmdlets:

While cmdlets don't directly show cost, they are essential for:

• Selecting the Right SKU: You can use cmdlets like Get-AzVirtualNetworkGatewaySku to see available SKUs and their capabilities, helping you choose the most cost-effective option.
• Monitoring Usage: By retrieving configuration details with Get-AzVpnClientConfiguration, you can understand the complexity of your setup, which indirectly relates to potential resource consumption.
• Resource Cleanup: Use Remove-AzVpnClientConfiguration and Remove-AzVirtualNetworkGateway when resources are no longer needed to avoid ongoing charges.

It is highly recommended to use the Azure Pricing Calculator for accurate and up-to-date cost estimations based on your specific deployment needs.