View and retrieve usage data by using the usage API

An important aspect of managing an Azure Stack Hub deployment is understanding and keeping track of resource usage. This is where the Azure Stack Hub Usage API comes into play, providing administrators with the ability to view and retrieve detailed usage data for resources consumed in the Azure Stack Hub.

Azure Stack Hub’s Usage API aligns closely with the same API provided by Azure, ensuring a consistent experience across both environments. This is critical for those organizations aiming to maintain parity between their on-premises and public cloud operations.

Accessing the Usage API

To get started with the Usage API, you need to first ensure that the necessary permissions are assigned to your user account or service principal. Typically, an account with owner or contributor rights will have the necessary permissions to retrieve usage data.

To access usage data, perform the following steps:

1. Authenticate with Azure Stack Hub using Azure CLI or PowerShell with the account that has required permissions.
2. Call the Usage API endpoint specific to your Azure Stack Hub environment.

Using Azure PowerShell to Retrieve Usage Data

Azure PowerShell can be used to interact with the Usage API and retrieve usage data. This involves targeting the Azure Stack Hub Resource Manager endpoint and querying for usage information. Here’s a simple example:

# Authenticate with Azure Stack Hub
Add-AzAccount -EnvironmentName "AzureStackAdmin"

# Output the usage aggregates
$usageAggregates | Format-Table

This PowerShell script will provide a tabular representation of the usage data over the past 30 days.

Using Azure CLI to Access Usage Data

Similarly, Azure CLI can be used to retrieve usage data. Here’s how you can accomplish this using Azure CLI commands:

# Authenticate with Azure Stack Hub
az login -u username -p password --environment AzureStackUser

# Retrieve and display usage aggregates
az consumption usage list --start-date $startDate --end-date $endDate -o table

This command may also return a table of usage data, depending on the desired date range.

Interpreting Usage Data

The usage data retrieved consists of various details, including but not limited to:

• ResourceId: The identifier of the consumed resource.
• Name: The name of the resource.
• Location: Where the resource is deployed.
• Properties: This includes the following:
  • MeterId: The specific meter used for billing the resource.
  • Quantity: The amount of the resource consumed.
  • Unit: The unit of measure.
  • InstanceData: Specific data related to the instance.

Analyzing this data helps with cost management, resource optimization, and understanding which services are being utilized the most. It can also be an invaluable asset for internal chargebacks or simply to stay in compliance with budgets.

Exporting Usage Data

To further analyze the data, exporting it to a CSV file or a database can be beneficial. You can do this by redirecting the script output to a file, or by using tools like Azure Storage Explorer to manage and export the usage data programmatically.

Conclusion

By leveraging the Azure Stack Hub Usage API, administrators gain critical insights into the consumption of resources within their hybrid cloud infrastructure. This serves as a basis for effectively managing and operating the hybrid cloud, aligning on-premises usage and costs with the flexibility and scalability that Azure offers.

Remember, frequent retrieval and analysis of usage data is key. It helps in identifying trends, preventing cost overruns, and ensuring that your Azure Stack Hub remains cost-effective and efficient. Always refer to official Microsoft documentation for the most current commands, practices, and API details to manage your Azure Stack Hub resources effectively.