Tutorial / Cram Notes
Azure Cloud Shell is an interactive, browser-accessible shell for managing Azure resources. It provides a robust environment to users who want to manage their Azure services without the hassle of installing and maintaining a separate tools environment on their local machine. Azure Cloud Shell gives users a choice of using either bash or PowerShell command-line interfaces, which come pre-configured with the necessary Azure tools, enabling users to run the commands they need to manage their Azure resources.
Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI)
One of the primary tools in Azure Cloud Shell is the Azure Command-Line Interface (Azure CLI). Azure CLI is designed to help users create and manage Azure resources from the command line, and it’s available on macOS, Linux, and Windows. The CLI is great for automation scripts and offers commands for compute, storage, network, and several other Azure services. Here are a few examples of Azure CLI commands:
- To log in to Azure:
az login - To create a resource group:
az group create --name myResourceGroup --location eastus - To create a virtual machine:
az vm create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myVM --image UbuntuLTS --admin-username azureuser --generate-ssh-keys
Azure PowerShell
Azure PowerShell, on the other hand, is a module offering cmdlets to manage Azure resources directly from the PowerShell command line. It is especially favored by users who are accustomed to Windows PowerShell and are managing Azure resources through scripts. Azure PowerShell allows for a wide range of automation scenarios by utilizing the power of .NET classes. Here are some example Azure PowerShell commands:
- To log in to Azure:
Connect-AzAccount - To create a resource group:
New-AzResourceGroup -Name myResourceGroup -Location eastus - To create a virtual machine:
New-AzVm -ResourceGroupName myResourceGroup -Name myVM -Image UbuntuLTS -Credential $cred
Comparing Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell
To demonstrate how Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell differ, here’s a comparison for a few common tasks:
| Task | Azure CLI | Azure PowerShell |
|---|---|---|
| Login to Azure | az login |
Connect-AzAccount |
| List all VMs in a subscription | az vm list --output table |
Get-AzVM |
| Create a storage account | az storage account create ... |
New-AzStorageAccount -ResourceGroupName ... |
Accessibility and Persistence of Azure Cloud Shell
Azure Cloud Shell is designed to be flexible and accessible from anywhere. Users can launch it directly from the Azure portal, a mobile app, a separate browser tab, or even embed it in documentation. It’s secure and authenticates automatically with built-in Azure credentials.
Moreover, Azure Cloud Shell comes with a persistent file share, configured upon first use and automatically attached to the session, ensuring that scripts and data persist across sessions. This home directory is stored in Azure Files, which can be easily accessed and managed within the shell environment.
Conclusion
In summary, Azure Cloud Shell provides a convenient, pre-configured environment with a choice of interfaces for users to effectively manage Azure services without the overhead of local installations. The Azure CLI’s straightforward command structure is ideal for quick tasks and automation scripting, while Azure PowerShell enables powerful scripting capabilities for more complex operational tasks, suiting different user preferences and technical requirements.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Azure Cloud Shell is a browser-based scripting environment that enables you to manage Azure resources using either Bash or PowerShell.
- True
Correct Answer: True
Azure Cloud Shell is indeed a browser-based, interactive shell interface that allows you to manage Azure resources using Bash for Linux-based experiences or PowerShell for Windows-based experiences.
Which of the following is required to persist data across Azure Cloud Shell sessions?
- A) Azure Files
- B) Azure Blobs
- C) Azure Queues
- D) Azure Tables
Correct Answer: A) Azure Files
Azure Cloud Shell requires an Azure file share to be mounted to persist data across sessions.
True or False: Azure CLI can only be used within the Azure Cloud Shell.
- False
Correct Answer: False
Azure CLI can be used both within Azure Cloud Shell and can be installed locally on various operating systems to manage Azure resources from your computer.
What is the primary programming language used in Azure PowerShell Cmdlets?
- A) Python
- B) C#
- C) JavaScript
- D) PowerShell Script
Correct Answer: D) PowerShell Script
Azure PowerShell Cmdlets are based on PowerShell scripting language.
True or False: You can access Azure Cloud Shell directly from the Azure Portal without any additional configuration.
- True
Correct Answer: True
Azure Cloud Shell is integrated into the Azure Portal and can be accessed directly without requiring any additional installation or configuration.
Which of the following tools is NOT part of Azure Cloud Shell?
- A) Azure CLI
- B) Azure PowerShell
- C) SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
- D) Git
Correct Answer: C) SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is not included in Azure Cloud Shell. The Cloud Shell includes tools such as Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, and Git.
In Azure Cloud Shell, how is the environment selected (Bash or PowerShell)?
- A) Through the Azure Portal settings
- B) Using a toggle at the top of the Cloud Shell session window
- C) It is automatically selected based on the user’s preference
- D) By running a special command in the Cloud Shell terminal
Correct Answer: B) Using a toggle at the top of the Cloud Shell session window
Users can switch between Bash and PowerShell environments using a dropdown toggle at the top of the Cloud Shell session window.
True or False: You can run Azure Cloud Shell on a local IDE with the Azure Account extension.
- True
Correct Answer: True
Through the Azure Account extension available in Visual Studio Code, you can connect to Azure Cloud Shell within the IDE.
Which of the following services can be managed by both Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell?
- A) Azure Virtual Machines
- B) Azure Kubernetes Service
- C) Azure Blob Storage
- D) All of the above
Correct Answer: D) All of the above
Both Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell can be used to manage a wide range of Azure services including Virtual Machines, Kubernetes Service, and Blob Storage.
To use Azure Cloud Shell, you must have an active Azure subscription.
- A) True
- B) False
Correct Answer: A) True
Azure Cloud Shell requires an active Azure subscription to create the storage resources needed to persist files across sessions.
True or False: The Azure Cloud Shell environment is maintained across different devices as long as the user logs in with the same Azure account.
- True
Correct Answer: True
Because the user environment is stored in Azure and associated with the user’s account, Azure Cloud Shell maintains the environment and files across devices.
Which of the following Azure services is essential to initialize a new Azure Cloud Shell environment?
- A) Azure Virtual Machines
- B) Azure App Service
- C) Azure Storage Account
- D) Azure Functions
Correct Answer: C) Azure Storage Account
An Azure Storage Account is needed to mount an Azure file share which is used by Azure Cloud Shell to store user data and settings.
Interview Questions
What is Azure Cloud Shell?
Azure Cloud Shell is an interactive, browser-accessible shell environment hosted in Azure and provided as a free service.
What are the benefits of using Azure Cloud Shell?
Some benefits of using Azure Cloud Shell include No need to install anything locally , Persistent storage in your Azure File share , Access to popular CLI tools like Azure CLI and PowerShell, Pre-configured Azure CLI and PowerShell environments , Built-in authentication and authorization
What is Azure CLI?
Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface) is a command-line tool used to manage Azure resources.
What is PowerShell?
PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework that can be used to manage Windows, Linux, and macOS systems.
How do I access Azure Cloud Shell?
You can access Azure Cloud Shell from the Azure portal, the Azure mobile app, or directly at shell.azure.com.
What types of shells are available in Azure Cloud Shell?
Two types of shells are available in Azure Cloud Shell Bash and PowerShell.
Can I install additional software in Azure Cloud Shell?
Yes, you can install additional software using the apt package manager in Bash or PowerShell Gallery in PowerShell.
Can I save files in Azure Cloud Shell?
Yes, you can save files in Azure Cloud Shell using the built-in file editor or by mounting an Azure file share.
Can I use Azure Cloud Shell in my own terminal?
Yes, you can use Azure Cloud Shell in your own terminal by installing the Azure CLI or PowerShell and running the appropriate command.
How much does Azure Cloud Shell cost?
Azure Cloud Shell is a free service, but there may be charges associated with the underlying storage account and network egress. However, most users will not incur significant charges.
Can I access Azure Cloud Shell from a mobile device?
Yes, you can access Azure Cloud Shell from the Azure mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android.
What types of cloud providers can Azure CLI manage?
Azure CLI can manage Azure resources as well as resources in other cloud providers such as AWS and Google Cloud.
What is PowerShell Gallery?
PowerShell Gallery is a repository of PowerShell modules and scripts that can be used to manage various systems and services.
Can I customize my Azure Cloud Shell environment?
Yes, you can customize your Azure Cloud Shell environment by editing the .bashrc file in Bash or the $PROFILE file in PowerShell.
Can I use Azure Cloud Shell to manage resources in different Azure subscriptions?
Yes, you can use Azure Cloud Shell to manage resources in different Azure subscriptions by selecting the appropriate subscription in the Azure CLI or PowerShell.
Azure Cloud Shell is an incredible tool for managing Azure resources. I’ve been using both Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell, and they make automation tasks a breeze.
I have a question: Can Azure Cloud Shell be used to manage on-premises resources?
Does anyone know if the Azure Cloud Shell supports multiple languages?
Azure Cloud Shell has really simplified my everyday tasks. Highly recommend it for anyone preparing for AZ-900.
I appreciate the blog post!
I found the Cloud Shell environment a bit limiting. It feels slower compared to my local setup.
How often do new features get added to Azure CLI and PowerShell in Cloud Shell?
Using Azure Cloud Shell has been a lifesaver for managing Kubernetes clusters.