In this post, I am going to share some quick tips, including Q/A’s and useful links from Day 3 of our recently launched new batch of Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect(AZ-303), in which we have 25 hands-on labs of AZ-303 and 12+ hands-on labs of AZ-304 in the course.
The previous week, In Day 2 session, we covered Azure Virtual Machines, Availability Zones, Fault Domain, Update Domain, Availability Sets, Azure Dedicated Host, Virtual Machines Scale Sets, Disk Encryption, Snap Shots.
A week before, In Day 1 session, we covered Azure Networking for Beginners, IP Addressing, Azure Virtual Network, Virtual Network Peering.
And in this week’s Day 3 Live Session, we have continued with Module 3: Automate Deployment and Configuration of Resources. We have covered the ARM (Azure Resource Manager) template, ARM Template Format, QuickStart Template, Azure Virtual hard disks(VHDs), Azure Automation, Runbooks, Webhooks.
We also covered hands-on Lab 4 out of our 20+ extensive labs(AZ-303).
So, here are some of the Q/A’s asked during the Live session from Module 3: Automate Deployment and Configuration of Resources.
Azure Resource Manager(ARM) Template
ARM (Azure Resource Manager) template is a block of code that defines the infrastructure and configuration for your project. All the resources and their properties are defined in this template. These templates use a declarative syntax to let you define your deployment in the form of JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) files. This helps in automating the deployment process in a constant flow.
Check More on ARM Templates.
ARM Template Format
The ARM Template file contains various key-value pairs in the JSON format. For example, below, you can see a format of an ARM Template.
- Schema – This ‘schema’ defines the location of the JSON file and specifies the version of the template language you want to use in this template.
- Parameters – Parameters in a template define the configuration. These parameters are used in run time or during deployment.
- Variables – Variables define values used throughout the template.
- Functions – The function contains the steps and procedures to be followed.
- Outputs – Output defines the result that you want to see when a template runs.
Check More on ARM Templates Format.
Q1: Can we create a resource group in an ARM template and deploy resources to it?
Ans: Yes, you can create a resource group in a template when you deploy the template at the level of your Azure subscription. After that, you can deploy resources in it.
Q2: Can the user preview the changes that will happen before deploying a template?
Ans: Yes, use the what-if feature. It evaluates the current state of your environment and compares it to the state that will exist after deployment. You can examine the summarized changes to make sure the template doesn’t have any unexpected results.
Check more on the what-if feature.
Q3: Is there any size limit for ARM Templates?
Ans: Limit the size of your template to 4 MB. The 4-MB limit applies to the final state of the template after it has been expanded with iterative resource definitions and values for variables and parameters. The parameter file is also limited to 4 MB.
Azure Quickstart Templates
Azure Quickstart Templates are ready to deploy sample templates. The Microsoft community creates these templates. You will find various Azure Quickstart templates on Microsoft’s official site like creating a VM (Virtual Machine), deploying the VM, etc. A beginner can use these quickstart templates to get familiar with the concept.
Q4: What are the prerequisites before the deployment of templates?
Ans: Let’s quickly go through the prerequisites.
1. Editor/Extension: You need an editor or software to write a template like VS Code, Notepad++ and Sublime text editor, etc.
2. Azure CLI: You need to download and install Azure CLI to connect you with Azure and deployment of templates.
Azure Virtual hard disks(VHDs)
A virtual machine can have multiple hard disks like there will be an OS disk and multiple data disks; typically, a virtual machine has an OS VHD on which the OS is installed and also have one or more VHDs that contain applications and data. The difference between VHD and the physical disk is the VHD store as a virtual file in Azure is not a part of physical hardware.
Virtual Machine Image
A virtual machine image is a template form where you can create VHDs to run a virtual machine. The Azure Marketplace contains various VMIs that have inbuilt applications installed and configured for you like MySQL, Apache, and WordPress, from which you can build your VM’s easily with a single click.
Q5: What is a Generalized Image?
Ans: Generalized images are like templates for your Virtual Machine. You create a proper template for Virtual Machine, then create instances of Virtual Machines with the template you create. You can create Virtual Machine-A, Virtual Machine-B, or multiple Virtual Machine clusters from the same image with generalized images. The Virtual Machine you create from Azure Marketplace is all the generalized images created by Azure.
Q6: What is a Specialized Image?
Ans: Specialized images are like a golden edition of your system. It is just like a snapshot of your current system. Creating Virtual Machines from specialized images creates an exact copy of your existing system in Azure. It is just like creating a copy of your system when you created a snapshot of it. Once you have a specialized image version, you can create one or more new Virtual Machines using the New-AzVM cmdlet.
Azure Automation
Azure Automation delivers a cloud-based automation and configuration service that supports consistent management across your Azure and non-Azure environments. Automation gives you complete control during deployment, operations, and decommissioning of workloads and resources.
It comprises process automation, configuration management, update management, shared capabilities, and heterogeneous features. This Service service allows you to author runbooks graphically, in PowerShell, or to use Python.
Check more on Azure Automation.
Q7: Does Azure charge for automation services?
Ans: Yes, Charges for process automation are incurred whenever a job or watcher runs. You will be billed only for minutes/hours that exceed the free included units.
Check More on Automation pricing.
Q8: What are the Use Cases for Azure Automation?
Ans: Following are some use cases of Azure Automation.
VM management: Use Azure automation to deploy VMs and schedule the startup and shutdown of instances.
Log management: Rotate log files or delete them when space becomes tight. Run log analytics and generate reports
Import nightly data loads: Schedule data feeds that send data between applications. Transfer the data files and run the extract, transform, and load procedures needed to import them into cloud systems.
Event management: Automate the response to an event alert based on the detailed information in the event.
Runbooks In Azure Automation
Runbooks are stored and managed in Azure Automation and then delivered to one or more designated Hybrid Worker computers.
Azure Automation runbooks can run in an Azure Sandbox, a shared environment against Azure resources, and A Hybrid Runbook Worker: in any environment, directly on the computer that hosts the worker role and against local resources in the environment.
Check More on Azure Runbooks.
Hybrid Runbook Worker
The Hybrid Runbook Worker feature of Azure Automation is used to run runbooks directly on the machine hosting the role and against resources in the environment to manage those local resources.
Q9: What are the types of Runbooks in azure?
Ans: Let’s have a look at the types of Runbooks down below:
- Graphical: Graphical runbook based on Windows PowerShell and created and edited completely in the graphical editor in Azure portal.
- Graphical PowerShell Workflow: Graphical runbook based on Windows PowerShell Workflow and created and edited completely in the graphical editor in Azure portal.
- PowerShell: Textual runbook based on Windows PowerShell scripting.
- PowerShell Workflow: Textual Runbook based on Windows PowerShell Workflow scripting.
- Python: Textual Runbook based on Python scripting.
Q10: Can Python 2 and Python 3 runbooks run in the same Automation account?
Ans: Yes, there’s no limitation for using Python 2 and Python 3 runbooks in the same Automation account.
Webhook
A webhook allows an external service to start a particular runbook in Azure Automation through a single HTTP request. External services include Azure DevOps Services, GitHub, Azure Monitor logs, and custom applications.
Check more on Snapshots.
Quiz Time (Sample Exam Questions)!
With our Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect training program, we cover 220+ [AZ-303] & 150+[AZ-304] sample exam questions to help you prepare for the certification AZ-303 & AZ-304.
Note: Download the 25 Sample Exam Questions of Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect.
Check out one of the questions and see if you can crack this…
Ques: You have a set of virtual machines in Azure. You have to restart the virtual machines when the CPU usage exceeds 85% for more than 30 minutes. You have to implement this with the least amount of administrative effort.
Which of the following would you implement for this requirement?
A. Scale Sets
B. Webhook
C. Automation Runbook
D. Logic App
The right answer will be revealed in my next week’s blog.
Here is the answer to the question shared last week.
Ques: You have a set of virtual machines that are hosting mission-critical applications. You have to ensure the experience of virtual machines experience as little downtime as possible.
Which of the following can you use to maintain application performance across an identical set of Virtual Machines?
A. Scale Sets
B. Availability Sets
C. Availability Zone
D. Azure Functions
Answer: A
Explanation: If you have an identical set of virtual machines, you can use Virtual Machine scale sets and scaling conditions to maintain application performance.
Feedback
We always work on improving and being the best version of ourselves from the previous session hence constantly ask feedback from our attendees.
Here’s the feedback that we received from our trainees who had attended the session…
Here 2106 is in YYMM format, represents the trainees from the batch of June 2021.
Related/References
- Azure Automate Deployment And Configuration Of Resources
- Azure Networking | A Brief Introduction for Beginners
- Introduction to ARM Templates: Learn, Create and Deploy in Azure
- Tips To Prepare Exam AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design
Next Task For You
Are you still feeling confused about where to start or which certification is right for you? Just click on the register now button below to register for a Free Masterclass on Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Certification, Live Demo & Q/A, which will help you better understand to choose the right path and clear certification exam.
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