Tutorial / Cram Notes
When managing Azure Stack Hub, users may wish to leverage the Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI) for scripting and automation tasks. The Azure CLI is a set of commands used to manage Azure resources and is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
To enable Azure CLI for Azure Stack Hub users, it’s essential to ensure that the Azure CLI is installed and configured correctly to target the Azure Stack Hub environment. Here are the required steps to set up Azure CLI for Azure Stack Hub:
Installation of Azure CLI
Before installing Azure CLI for Azure Stack Hub, make sure that you have a compatible version of the CLI. Azure Stack Hub may require a specific version of Azure CLI that is compatible with its integration.
- Install the Azure CLI on your local system if it is not already installed. You can download it from the Azure CLI download page or install it using package managers such as apt for Ubuntu, yum for CentOS, or brew for macOS.
- After the installation, open a command-line interface and verify the installation using the following command:
az –version
Connect to Azure Stack Hub
Connecting the Azure CLI to Azure Stack Hub involves pointing the CLI to Azure Stack Hub’s specific endpoint and setting the appropriate API version profiles.
- Set the endpoint by using the az cloud register command. Replace
az cloud register `
-n <AzureStackHubName> `
–endpoint-resource-manager <AzureResourceManagerEndpoint> `
–suffix-storage-endpoint <suffixStorageEndpoint> - Once registered, set the active cloud to Azure Stack Hub using the az cloud set command:
az cloud set -n <AzureStackHubName>
- Update the CLI to use the profile that matches the version of Azure Stack Hub. You might need the 2019-03-01-hybrid profile for compatibility with Azure Stack:
az cloud update –profile <ProfileVersion>
Log in to Azure Stack Hub
To execute commands against your Azure Stack Hub, you need to log in to your account using Azure CLI:
- Use the az login command with the Azure Stack Hub environment parameters. You may be prompted to log in using the device code workflow:
az login -u <username> -p <password> –tenant <tenantID>
- Alternatively, you can use the -u option to log in as a service principal using a client ID and a secret:
az login –service-principal -u <client-id> -p <client-secret> –tenant <tenantID>
After logging in, you can start using Azure CLI commands to manage resources in your Azure Stack Hub environment just like you would in Azure. For instance, you can use the az group create command to create a resource group:
az group create –name MyResourceGroup –location local
Remember that not all Azure CLI commands may be available in Azure Stack Hub, as it might only support a subset of Azure services. Furthermore, the exact version of the Azure API profile required may vary depending on the version of Azure Stack Hub you are using. Therefore, consult the Azure Stack Hub documentation for your specific release to identify the supported services and API profiles.
In conclusion, enabling Azure CLI for Azure Stack Hub streamlines and simplifies management tasks significantly. By following the outlined steps to install, configure, and log in to Azure CLI tailored for Azure Stack Hub, administrators gain powerful tools for managing their hybrid cloud ecosystem programmatically.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Azure CLI can be used to manage Azure Stack Hub resources as well as Azure resources.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Azure CLI is designed to manage and administer Azure Stack Hub resources, in addition to Azure resources, by connecting to Azure Stack Hub’s endpoints.
Which of the following prerequisites is necessary before users can use Azure CLI with Azure Stack Hub? (Select all that apply)
- A) Installing Azure CLI
- B) Configuring the Azure Stack Hub user’s subscription
- C) Registering an application with Azure AD
- D) Enabling Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users
Answer: A) Installing Azure CLI, B) Configuring the Azure Stack Hub user’s subscription
Explanation: Users must install Azure CLI and configure their Azure Stack Hub subscription to manage resources. An application registration with Azure AD might be needed for certain scenarios, but it’s not a prerequisite for using Azure CLI. Enabling MFA is a security feature and not necessarily a prerequisite for using Azure CLI.
True or False: Users must always be connected to the internet to use Azure CLI with Azure Stack Hub.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Users do not need to be always connected to the internet. Azure Stack Hub can be operated in a disconnected mode, and Azure CLI can be used to manage resources on the hub without internet access.
Which version of Azure CLI is recommended for use with Azure Stack Hub?
- A) The latest version of Azure CLI
- B) A version of Azure CLI that matches the Azure Stack Hub version
- C) Any version of Azure CLI as long as it’s installed
- D) Azure CLI is not compatible with Azure Stack Hub
Answer: B) A version of Azure CLI that matches the Azure Stack Hub version
Explanation: It is recommended to use a version of Azure CLI that is compatible with the Azure Stack Hub to ensure consistency and compatibility with the services offered on the hub.
True or False: When using Azure CLI with Azure Stack Hub, you must specify the Azure Resource Manager (ARM) endpoint each time you log in.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: When logging in to Azure Stack Hub using Azure CLI, the ARM endpoint must be specified so that CLI targets the correct environment rather than defaulting to Azure’s global service endpoints.
Which command is used to log in to Azure Stack Hub using Azure CLI?
- A) az login
- B) az acs login
- C) az vm login
- D) az stack login
Answer: A) az login
Explanation: The `az login` command is used to authenticate with both Azure and Azure Stack Hub. The correct target endpoints must be specified for Azure Stack Hub when logging in.
True or False: Azure CLI can be used to create and deploy templates on both Azure and Azure Stack Hub.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Azure CLI supports the creation and deployment of Resource Manager templates on both Azure and Azure Stack Hub.
To ensure Azure CLI is configured correctly for Azure Stack Hub, which of the following is NOT required?
- A) Configuring the Azure Resource Manager endpoints
- B) Installing the Azure Stack Hub specific CLI extensions
- C) Updating the PowerShell Az module to the latest version
- D) Obtaining Azure Stack Hub CA root certificates, if needed
Answer: C) Updating the PowerShell Az module to the latest version
Explanation: While the PowerShell Az module is important for scripting, it is not required for configuring Azure CLI for Azure Stack Hub. The Azure CLI configuration for Azure Stack Hub does require setting ARM endpoints, installing CLI extensions, and possibly obtaining CA root certificates for secure communication.
True or False: Azure CLI can be used to both manage user permissions and configure storage accounts on Azure Stack Hub.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Azure CLI is a versatile tool that allows managing various resources, as well as user permissions and storage accounts within Azure Stack Hub environments.
You need to configure Azure CLI for a disconnected Azure Stack Hub deployment. Which of the following steps can be skipped?
- A) Downloading Azure Stack Hub tools and Azure CLI
- B) Configuring Azure CLI to use the Azure Stack Hub’s endpoints
- C) Registering Azure Stack Hub with Azure
- D) Obtaining the Azure Stack Hub CA root certificates
Answer: C) Registering Azure Stack Hub with Azure
Explanation: In a disconnected Azure Stack Hub deployment, there is no connectivity to Azure, and hence the registration step with Azure can be skipped.
True or False: To enable Azure CLI for Azure Stack Hub users, an operator must manually create user accounts for each CLI user inside Azure Stack Hub.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: User accounts for Azure CLI are typically managed using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) or Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), not manually by an operator inside Azure Stack Hub.
True or False: Azure CLI for Azure Stack Hub can manage Kubernetes clusters deployed on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) on Azure Stack Hub.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Azure CLI is capable of interacting with AKS clusters deployed on Azure Stack Hub and managing their resources through the appropriate command modules and extensions.
Thanks for this post, very helpful!
Can anyone explain the prerequisites for enabling Azure CLI in Azure Stack Hub?
Great blog! Helped me set up Azure CLI on my Azure Stack Hub without any issues.
Can you invoke Azure CLI commands for Azure Stack Hub without logging in each time?
Don’t forget to update your Azure CLI to the latest version for seamless integration.
I faced SSL certificate issues while connecting, any advice?
This post is very detailed and informative. Kudos!
Is there a way to automate Azure CLI login for CI/CD pipelines involving Azure Stack Hub?