Infrastructure as Code, or just IaC, provides three three main advantages: cost reduction, faster execution and risk reduction, the attributes of the DevOps culture.

Microsoft Azure Resource Manager allows the managing and provisioning of Azure Resources, that can be Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, Storage Accounts, Apps, SQL Databases and everything that a computer data center includes, through machine-readable definition files, known as JSON templates, without the need of physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools.

I am starting a series of posts about building infrastructure with JSON templates.

The tool I use to build my Azure Json templates is the Visual Studio Code. You can download it from https://code.visualstudio.com/ for every platform.

To work with Azure Resource Manager you need the Azure Resource Manager Tools extension. Open the VS Code, go to the Extensions Section, search and install the Azure Resource Manager Tools extension.

The extension is very helpful since it highlights the code, it provides references and intellisense.

At this post I am sharing & explaining my Azure json template for deploying a Virtual Network, a Network Security Group and a Route Table.

You can find and download my working template at my Git account :

https://github.com/proximagr/ARMTemplates/tree/master/VNET-2sub-NSG-UDR

Json Template Guide

Below you can find my template with comments, for better understanding.

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "parameters": {
//** Define the Virtual Network Name */
    "vnetName": {
      "type": "string",
      "defaultValue": "Cloud-Corner-VNET",
      "metadata": {
        "description": "Cloud Corner VNET"
      }
//** Define the Address Space of the Virtual Network */
    },
      "vnetAddressPrefix": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "10.0.0.0/24",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Address prefix"
        }
//** Define the Address Space of the the First Subnet */
      },
      "subnet1Prefix": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "10.0.0.0/27",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Subnet 1 Prefix"
        }
//** Define the Name of the the First Subnet */
      },
      "subnet1Name": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "Subnet1",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Subnet 1 Name"
        }
//** Define the Address Space of the the Second Subnet */
      },
      "subnet2Prefix": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "10.0.0.32/27",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Subnet 2 Prefix"
        }
//** Define the Name of the the First Subnet */
      },
      "subnet2Name": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "Subnet2",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Subnet 2 Name"
        }
      },
//** Define the Name of the the Network Security Group */
      "networkSecurityGroup01Name": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "Cloud-Corner-NSG-01",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "This is the name of the network security group"
        }
      },
//** Define the Name of the the First Route Table */
      "RouteTable01Name": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "Cloud-Corner-UDR-01",
        "metadata": {
        "description": "Route Table 01 Name."
        }
      },
//** Define the Name of the the First Route of the First Route Table */
      "Route01Name": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "To-internet",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Route 01 Name."
        }
      },
//** Define the Next Hop Type of the the First Route of the First Route Table */
      "Route01NextHopType": {
        "type": "string",
        "allowedValues": [
        "VirtualNetworkGateway",
        "VnetLocal",
        "Internet",
        "VirtualAppliance",
        "None"
      ],
      "defaultValue": "VirtualAppliance",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Route 01 Next Hop Type."
        }
      },
//** Define the Address Prefix of the First Route of the First Route Table */
      "Route01AddressPrefix": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "0.0.0.0/0",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Route 01 Address Prefix."
        }
      },
//** If you set "Virtyal Appliance for Next Hop Type, then you need to define the Next Hop IP Address, */
//** meaning the appliance's IP address. Here you define it for the First Route of the First Route Table */
        "RT01Route01NextHopIPAddress": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "10.0.0.40",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Next Hop IP Addess."
        }
      },
//** Define the Name of the Second Route Table */
      "RouteTable02Name": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "Cloud-Corner-UDR-02",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Route Table 02 Name."
        }
      },
//** Define the Name of the the First Route of the Second Route Table */
      "RT02Route01Name": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "Local-Subnet",
        "metadata": {
        "description": "Route Table 02 Route 01 Name."
        }
      },
//** Define the Next Hop Type of the the First Route of the Second Route Table */
      "RT02Route01NextHopType": {
        "type": "string",
        "allowedValues": [
        "VirtualNetworkGateway",
        "VnetLocal",
        "Internet",
        "VirtualAppliance",
        "None"
      ],
      "defaultValue": "VnetLocal",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Route 02 Next Hop Type."
        }
      },
//** Define the Address Prefix of the the First Route of the Second Route Table */
      "RT02Route01AddressPrefix": {
        "type": "string",
        "defaultValue": "10.0.0.0/27",
        "metadata": {
          "description": "Route Table 02 Route 01 Address Prefix."
        }
      },
//** Define the Name of the the Second Route of the Second Route Table */
        "RT02Route02Name": {
          "type": "string",
          "defaultValue": "To-subnet-1",
          "metadata": {
            "description": "Route Table 02 Route 01 Name."
          }
        },
//** Define the Next Hop Type of the the Second Route of the Second Route Table */
        "RT02Route02NextHopType": {
          "type": "string",
          "allowedValues": [
          "VirtualNetworkGateway",
          "VnetLocal",
          "Internet",
          "VirtualAppliance",
          "None"
        ],
        "defaultValue": "VirtualAppliance",
          "metadata": {
            "description": "Route 02 Next Hop Type."
          }
        },
//** Define the address prefix of the the Second Route of the Second Route Table */
        "RT02Route02AddressPrefix": {
          "type": "string",
          "defaultValue": "10.0.0.32/27",
          "metadata": {
            "description": "Route Table 02 Route 01 Address Prefix."
          }
      },
//** Define the next hop IP address (the virtual appliance's address) of the the Second Route of the Second Route Table */
        "RT02Route02NextHopIPAddress": {
          "type": "string",
          "defaultValue": "10.0.0.40",
          "metadata": {
            "description": "Next Hop IP Addess."
          }
        }
    },
//** I dont use any variables, you can exclude this section*/
  "variables": {},
  "resources": [
//* create the First Route Table & Route*/
    {
    "apiVersion": "2017-10-01",
    "type": "Microsoft.Network/routeTables",
    "name": "[parameters('RouteTable01Name')]",
    "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
    "properties": {
    "disableBgpRoutePropagation": true,
    "routes": [
      {
        "name": "[parameters('Route01Name')]",
        "properties": {
          "addressPrefix": "[parameters('Route01AddressPrefix')]",
          "nextHopType": "[parameters('Route01NextHopType')]",
          "nextHopIpAddress": "[parameters('RT01Route01NextHopIPAddress')]"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  },
//* create the Second Route Table & Routes*/
    {
    "apiVersion": "2017-10-01",
    "type": "Microsoft.Network/routeTables",
    "name": "[parameters('RouteTable02Name')]",
    "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
    "properties": {
    "disableBgpRoutePropagation": true,
    "routes": [
      {
        "name": "[parameters('RT02Route01Name')]",
        "properties": {
          "addressPrefix": "[parameters('RT02Route01AddressPrefix')]",
          "nextHopType": "[parameters('RT02Route01NextHopType')]"
        }
      },
          {
        "name": "[parameters('RT02Route02Name')]",
        "properties": {
          "addressPrefix": "[parameters('RT02Route02AddressPrefix')]",
          "nextHopType": "[parameters('RT02Route02NextHopType')]",
          "nextHopIpAddress": "[parameters('RT02Route02NextHopIPAddress')]"
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  },
//* create teh Network Security Group */
    {
    "apiVersion": "2019-02-01",
    "type": "Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups",
    "name": "[parameters('networkSecurityGroup01Name')]",
    "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
    "properties": {
      "securityRules": [
        {
          "name": "HTTPS",
          "properties": {
            "description": "Open HTTPS to Public",
            "protocol": "Tcp",
            "sourcePortRange": "443",
            "destinationPortRange": "443",
            "sourceAddressPrefix": "*",
            "destinationAddressPrefix": "*",
            "access": "Allow",
            "priority": 101,
            "direction": "Inbound"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    },
//* create the Virtual Network */
    {
      "apiVersion": "2018-10-01",
      "type": "Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks",
      "name": "[parameters('vnetName')]",
      "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
//*add a dependency in order to ensure that the NSG is created before the VNET, in order to be able to attach it*/
      "dependsOn": [
        "[parameters('networkSecurityGroup01Name')]"
      ],
      "properties": {
        "AddressSpace": {
          "AddressPrefixes": [
            "[parameters('vnetAddressPrefix')]"
          ]
        }
      },
      "resources": [
//* create the first subnet */
        {
        "apiVersion": "2018-10-01",
        "type": "subnets",
        "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
        "name": "[parameters('subnet1Name')]",
//* add dependencies to create the resources with an order, because you need to ensure that the VNET is ready before creating the Subnet and also the Route Table*/
        "dependsOn": [
          "[parameters('vnetName')]",
          "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/routeTables', parameters('RouteTable01Name'))]"
        ],
        "properties": {
        "AddressPrefix": "[parameters('subnet1Prefix')]",
//*attach the Newtork Securoty Group to the Subnet*/
        "networkSecurityGroup": {
        "id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups', parameters('networkSecurityGroup01Name'))]"},
//*attacht the First route table to the Subnet*/
        "routeTable": {
        "id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/routeTables', parameters('RouteTable01Name'))]"
          }
         }
        },
//*create the second subnet*/
        {
        "apiVersion": "2018-10-01",
        "type": "subnets",
        "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
        "name": "[parameters('subnet2Name')]",
        "dependsOn": [
          "[parameters('vnetName')]",
          "[parameters('subnet1Name')]",
          "[parameters('RouteTable02Name')]"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "AddressPrefix": "[parameters('subnet2Prefix')]",
//*attach the Newtork Securoty Group to the Subnet*/
          "networkSecurityGroup": {
          "id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups', parameters('networkSecurityGroup01Name'))]"},
//*attacht the second route table to the Subnet*/
          "routeTable": {
          "id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/routeTables', parameters('RouteTable02Name'))]"
            }
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Deploy the template

Deploy the template directly from here:

More Azure Resource Manager Templates: https://www.e-apostolidis.gr/microsoft/azure/create-azure-file-shares-using-arm-template-powershell/

Pantelis Apostolidis

Pantelis Apostolidis is a Sr. Specialist, Azure at Microsoft and a former Microsoft Azure MVP. For the last 20 years, Pantelis has been involved to major cloud projects in Greece and abroad, helping companies to adopt and deploy cloud technologies, driving business value. He is entitled to a lot of Microsoft Expert Certifications, demonstrating his proven experience in delivering high quality solutions. He is an author, blogger and he is acting as a spokesperson for conferences, workshops and webinars. He is also an active member of several communities as a moderator in azureheads.gr and autoexec.gr. Follow him on Twitter @papostolidis.

www.cloudcorner.gr

The post Infrastructure as Code | Deploy a VNET & NSG & UDR appeared first on Apostolidis Cloud Corner.

Using Azure Resource Manage template deployment, you can create a Storage account but you cannot create File Shares. Azure File Shares can be created using the Azure Portal, the Azure PowerShell or the Azure Cli.

Mainly, the idea is to run a PowerShell script that will create the File Shares. This script will be invoked inside the ARM Template. In order to use a PowerShell script from a template, the script must be called from a URL. A good way to provide this is using the Git repository.  One major thing to consider is the Storage Account key must be provided to the PowerShell script securely, since the PowerShell script is at a public URL.

The PowerShell script will run inside a Virtual Machine and we will use a CustomScriptExtension Extension to provide it. To use this, at the Virtual Machine Resource of the JSON file add a resources section.

The Custom Script Exception is located at the Virtual Machine resource. Lets assume that the last part of the Virtual Machine resource is the “diagnosticsProfile” so after the closure of the “diagnosticsProfile” we can add the “resources”. Inside the “resources” add the “extensions” resource that will add the “CustomScriptExtension”, like below.

The Template Part

This will be the addition at the Virtual Machine resource:

 "diagnosticsProfile": {
          "bootDiagnostics": {
            "enabled": true,
            "storageUri": "[concat(reference(concat('Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts/', variables('diagnosticStorageAccountName')), '2016-01-01').primaryEndpoints.blob)]"
          }
        }
        },
        "resources": [
          {
            "name": "AzureFileShares",
            "type": "extensions",
            "location": "[variables('location')]",
            "apiVersion": "2016-03-30",
            "dependsOn": [
              "[resourceId('Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines', parameters('VMName'))]",
              "[variables('AzureFilesStorageId')]"
            ],
            "tags": {
              "displayName": "AzureFileShares"
            },
            "properties": {
              "publisher": "Microsoft.Compute",
              "type": "CustomScriptExtension",
              "typeHandlerVersion": "1.4",
              "autoUpgradeMinorVersion": true,
              "settings": {
                "fileUris": [
                  "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/######/#####/master/azurefiles.ps1"
                ]
              },
              "protectedSettings": {
               "commandToExecute": "[concat('powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -File ','azurefiles.ps1 -SAName ',parameters('AzureFilesStorageName'),'  -SAKey ', listKeys(resourceId(variables('AzureFilesStorageAccountResourceGroup'),'Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts', parameters('AzureFilesStorageName')), '2015-06-15').key1)]" 
             }
            }
          }
        ]
    },

The extension must be depended from the Virtual Machine that will run the script and the Storage Account that will bu used for the file shares.

At the custom script properties add the public RAW url of the PowerShell script.

Next lets see the Storage Account key and execution part. At the connandToExecute section, we will provide a variable that will pass the Storage Account key & Name inside the script for execution. The variable will get the Storage Account key from the Storage Account using the permissions of the Account  running the Template Deployment.

Of course to make the template more flexible I have added a variable for the Resource Group and a parameter for the AzureFilesStorageName, so the template will ask for the Storage Account name at the parameters.

The PowerShell

The PowerShell script is tested at Windows Server 2016 VM. You can find it below:

Param (
  [Parameter()]
  [String]$SAKey,
  [String]$SAName
)
Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -MinimumVersion 2.8.5.201 -Force
Set-PSRepository -Name PSGallery -InstallationPolicy Trusted
Install-Module Azure -Confirm:$False
Import-Module Azure
$storageContext = New-AzureStorageContext -StorageAccountName $SAName -StorageAccountKey $SourceSAKey
$storageContext |  New-AzureStorageShare -Name #####

Pantelis Apostolidis

Pantelis Apostolidis is a Sr. Specialist, Azure at Microsoft and a former Microsoft Azure MVP. For the last 20 years, Pantelis has been involved to major cloud projects in Greece and abroad, helping companies to adopt and deploy cloud technologies, driving business value. He is entitled to a lot of Microsoft Expert Certifications, demonstrating his proven experience in delivering high quality solutions. He is an author, blogger and he is acting as a spokesperson for conferences, workshops and webinars. He is also an active member of several communities as a moderator in azureheads.gr and autoexec.gr. Follow him on Twitter @papostolidis.

www.cloudcorner.gr

The post Create Azure File Shares at your ARM template using PowerShell appeared first on Apostolidis Cloud Corner.

Following one of my earlier posts, about Azure Managed Disks, lets see how easy it is to create an Azure VM Image from an Azure VM that uses Managed Disks.

The first step it to Sysprep/Generalize the source VM. Otherwise the VM that will be created will not start. Select Generalize and “Shutdown”.

After that wait the VM to shut down and go to the Azure Porta, at the VM’s blade and click “Capture”.

Now, the “Create Image” blade will open. Enter a name, select a Resource Group and choose if the source VM will be deleted or not. Then press create.

As soon as the Image is created you can find it at the “Images” service.

Now lets create a VM from our Image

Click the image name from the Images Blade to open the desired image Blade and just press “Create VM”.

Of course at the image’s blade we can see if the image is Windows or Linux, if it has any Data Disks and the Location.

After clicking the “Create VM” the classic “Create virtual machine” wizard will start, just like any other Virtual Machine creation. You will notice the difference at the final step that shows the name of your image instead of the VM’s OS.

If you want to automate the process of creating an Azure VM from your images you can use Azure Template. You can find a quick start template at Azure’s GitHub repository.

Create a Virtual Machine from a User Image: https://github.com/Azure/azure-quickstart-templates/tree/master/101-vm-from-user-image

Pantelis Apostolidis

Pantelis Apostolidis is a Sr. Specialist, Azure at Microsoft and a former Microsoft Azure MVP. For the last 20 years, Pantelis has been involved to major cloud projects in Greece and abroad, helping companies to adopt and deploy cloud technologies, driving business value. He is entitled to a lot of Microsoft Expert Certifications, demonstrating his proven experience in delivering high quality solutions. He is an author, blogger and he is acting as a spokesperson for conferences, workshops and webinars. He is also an active member of several communities as a moderator in azureheads.gr and autoexec.gr. Follow him on Twitter @papostolidis.

www.cloudcorner.gr

The post Azure VM Image appeared first on Apostolidis Cloud Corner.