Azure Automation Start Stop Vm help save YOU $$$ - Azure Automation #7

[@AzureAcademy]

I WANT YOU to MASTER Azure Automation, so I created The Azure Academy Azure Automation Series, start MASTERING Azure TODAY! aka.ms/AzureAcademy-Automation

[@AzureAcademy]

👍

[@ahmadl-zahrani2993]

URL not working for me

[@rahman016]

for me also not

[@AzureAcademy]

🤔

[@vamsiB13]

This channel is a life saver for azure admins like me.

[@AzureAcademy]

Wow! Thanks for the great comment! What other videos can we make for you?

[@vamsiB13]

@@AzureAcademy I am not lying, I just set up an automation account, created runbooks to stop/start certain kind of VMs on weekends.

[@vamsiB13]

@@AzureAcademy Is there a way to send an email with runbook status?

[@AzureAcademy]

yes, but it takes a little more work. You can do it with alerts or automation triggers with another runbook 😉

[@gboyega]

Dean can never go wrong with this video's. Another great one. Thank you as always

[@AzureAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed it...let me know how you use automation to manage Azure.

[@vranid5925]

Great video - thank you for such a detailed run through. I see this is 1 year old, would these still be the best and most effective ways of enabled start/stop for VMs? I am locating in Australia. Scaling is currently not available in our region.

[@AzureAcademy]

I suggest this video on the AVD Scaling Tool - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqunkq2AqMZlkM0

[@James-sc1lz]

Great video as usual Dean. Subscribed already and a great resource for me. When I create it gives us the option to choose resources and exclude virtual machines. That’s great but what about if you need to change this? Where is the option pls? 1. The default option is all resources in a subscription. Does that mean unless we change it, all machines will start and stop? If so I need to make a note of this so I don’t cause a disaster 2. Can we have a video to cover start and stop when cpu etc is high as I know this is possible 3. Once you set this up, where is the option to include or exclude for resource groups and VMs later? Initially I thought it was solutions and the virtual machine option as I see my VMs there but all disconnected but scheduled and starting and stopping fine. Do you need to delete and then recreate a solution to exclude and include once this is set up and working? That would be a bad design in my opinion. 4 what’s the connected and disconnected option for virtual machines? I can’t see the purpose. Mine are all disconnected but included in the schedule All these steps just to start and stop VMs. My word. Someone is having a laugh at Microsoft and it’s on us.

[@AzureAcademy]

From your questions I can understand why you are frustrated with this. Hopefully this context helps. There is a VERY simple, self contained component of the VMs that will let you stop automatically...but to start them...we need a tool outside the VM...and that is Azure Automation. Azure Automation is kind of a cloud based PowerShell engine for orchestration. In PowerShell you would have to tell the code the details of the kinds of machines you want to target...and this runbooks needs the same info. Answers to your questions Yes the runbook would target everything by default because it has no other idea what scope to start with...just like any other code, it only know what you tell it. You can certainly edit the PowerShell runbook to make it do exactly what you want. 2. Can you clarify? You want to start VMs when existing VM CPUs are high...or stop VMs when they are too high? Also...WHY...what is the problem you want to solve?BTW...yes you can. Using Azure Monitor Alerts you can have a runbook fire when an alert of high CPU happens 3. Yes...under the hood it is powershell, you can do anything. 4. The connected thing...Azure Automation does a TON of things outside if start stop. Connected has to do with on boarding VMs to other features of the automation service. Hopefully this helps to clear things up and let me know if you have further questions.

[@James-sc1lz]

@@AzureAcademy thank you Dean for answering my questions.

[@AzureAcademy]

👍👍

[@AzureAcademy]

hello!

[@UnimatrixYoutube]

Creating this doesn't seem to work anymore (maybe in favor of Microsofts V2 of this solution). When you arrive at step 5:02, the UI is different but you can still click "Create a new OMS workspace.." , however when you do that it just says "Log Analytics Workspaces None".

[@AzureAcademy]

Try to pre create log analytics first

[@UnimatrixYoutube]

@@AzureAcademy Thanks for your reply. I did that, selected the pre-created LA during the creation of the _solution_ and clicked _OK_ but that just gives me: _"We're having problems communicating with the server. Click to contact Azure Support."_ (my internet connection is fine). Seems that MS just broke V1 (or something wrong on my end).

[@AzureAcademy]

Ouch! Not sure what’s up there…suggest calling support

[@JeffWyke-q6o]

Hi, I am trying to find a way to create a runbook in an automation account that now uses the new system assigned managed identity instead of the Azure RunAs account as this has been deprecated. I'm needing a way to create a runbook that will recognize when a VM has been shutdown via the OS and when it hits the "stopped" status the runbook will deallocate it so it doesn't accrue cost any longer but I cannot find a guide or script etc. anywhere online that explains this process using the new managed identity instead of the run-as account. Any suggestions?

[@AzureAcademy]

Have you looked at the scheduled shutdown extension for VMs? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYLId2pti7uVo7Msi=yFnf2A7qxfPuoONI at 14:23

[@ramisohail]

Amazing as always, if i may request if possible to have some videos about azure virtual wan that would be really useful since there isn't lots materials covering it

[@AzureAcademy]

Great suggestion, we are working on a Virtual Wan video...stay tuned! Do you have any other suggestions?

[@niyasem3710]

Hey Dean, Just one query. Is it possible to use same log analytics and automation accounts for Update Management and Start / Stop operations?. Thanks in Advance.

[@AzureAcademy]

Functionally yes, just watch which regions you want to deploy the automation account in, not all regions support all features

[@sidzhang]

Hi Dean, sorry to bring up a silly question. I am new to Automation Account, a bit confused about the relations between Automation Account + Log Analytics Workspace + Solutions. The doc said, if I want to remove the feature, I should go to Log Analytics Workspace-->Solution, then delete the solution. I thought it's the runbook which starts/stops the VM, the Log Analytics workspace is just to visualize things. Cheers

[@AzureAcademy]

Azure Automation Accounts do the schedules, variables and hold the Runbooks. The Runbooks are the code that the automation account runs The solution is a combination of runbooks and log analytics queries to report on what happens

[@sidzhang]

@@AzureAcademy Thanks Dean, clear.

[@AzureAcademy]

anytime!

[@b-donscrizzle504]

Hey so I'm in Azure trying to schedule auto-shutdown for VMs on the weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) only is that possible?

[@AzureAcademy]

I’d have to look, but if I remember correctly you just need to edit the schedule, so I believe it is possible

[@sagarsonar3776]

Hello Everyone,Cam it possible To scale down VM at night at specific time and again Scale Up VM in morning using Automation account or custom script

[@AzureAcademy]

When you say “scale down” if you are just talking about normal Azure VMs yes. If you are talking about Azure Virtual Desktop, that has its own Autoscale feature -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKDPgHptlseZl5Y

[@leonboehlee2046]

I really find this very useful. Is it also possible to show a message in the session that your VM is going to be shut down? Then users won't be surprised that the VM will be turned off and everything can still be saved.

[@AzureAcademy]

the Azure Automation solution does not have a way to send a VM Console message to the logged in users...sorry

[@marcomav4131]

Great video Dean. In using this for WVD, is it possible to have something other than time as a trigger to turn on a VM? Such as the az SQL DB that searches for resources when a user is attempting access through the rdweb link?

[@marcomav4131]

Other than CPU % as well. Something like a wvd specific backend process azure runs throughout the reverse connect process

[@AzureAcademy]

the WVD Scaling Automation is based on this solution, but has several other things to enhance it and customize it for WVD

[@AzureAcademy]

The WVD Scaling Automation uses a Logic App as a trigger and is able to send console messages to the users who may still be logged in to let them know the system will be powered down, and there are other feature enhancements as well

[@marcomav4131]

@@AzureAcademy Yes however this doesn't apply to Spring update correct? I was thinking in terms of using this solution as a stop gap while the spring update gets the functionality

[@AzureAcademy]

Yes you can use it as a stop gap...but it just won't be aware of the user session, or be able to communicate with a user who is logged in. The Spring update is just a WVD Management Layer consisting of the WVD Admin Portal and PowerShell. the Fall release of WVD currently has a scaling automation tool...the Spring update release Scaling Automation tool will be available soon...stay tuned.

[@Kath0di0n]

where do i get the runbooks at 08:19?

[@AzureAcademy]

All of those runbooks get loaded as part of either building the Azure Automation Resource or the Start/Stop solution

[@sahalyare91]

where can i find the powershell script for the runbook vm metrics

[@AzureAcademy]

which one?

[@sahalyare91]

@@AzureAcademy i understand now , you were using built in runbook, what about if you have an alert that checks the cpu threshold when it is lower than 10% frequency of 15 minutes and looks back for one hour, but i want to look back one hour from when the vm was started and not just the last hour? Any idea how this can be achieved Thanks in advance

[@AzureAcademy]

Looking at historical data is when you want Log Analytics

[@cloudtech273]

Can the VM's be stopped/started at a time of my choosing based on the tags ? Meaning, if I have 4 VM's with different stop/start times, can this automation achieve it ? Or is this solution based on a schedule ?

[@AzureAcademy]

It is a schedule but the trigger is the tag

[@cloudtech273]

@@AzureAcademy thanks. So the time does not really come into play.

[@AzureAcademy]

Yup

[@jeetshah8513]

Please reply Is it possible that it run the VM, start a program, shuts it down and the same every days for 3 hrs ??? Please reply

[@AzureAcademy]

Sure…just configure the start and shutdown times

[@jeetshah8513]

@@AzureAcademy it's start the VM service, but the program on the VM is not started, I hope you understand what I mean, Like the machine starts, then when I launch it then the programs start automatically, so I manually need to launch the VM once each time after it re-start

[@AzureAcademy]

Not sure what you mean “The program on the VM” does the VM START every day at the time you want? does the VM STOP every day at the time you want?

[@jeetshah8513]

@@AzureAcademy the VM starts, but the program doesn’t start, I need to launch rdp everyday

[@AzureAcademy]

Not sure what program you are trying to start? Also…how are you trying to auto start the app?

[@asriazmi]

is Runas account mandatory for this to work?

[@AzureAcademy]

Yes it is…

[@ctxshekhar7979]

Hi Azure Academy, My resources are at Central US and while i was creating this log analytics for startandstop, I am receiving below errors. A rule with the name 'AutoStop_VM_Child' already exists in this subscription and resource group for a different resource.Please try again with a different rule name.", "message": { "lang": "en-US", "value": "A rule with the name 'AutoStop_VM_Child' already exists in this subscription and resource group for a different resource.Please try again with a different rule name. Somewhere in the Azure Articles, i learned that the startandstop log analytics supported for specific regions. Is this true ?

[@AzureAcademy]

the names of the resources need to be unique in Azure

[@shekharreddy2062]

@@AzureAcademy yes, i have maintained the unique names. However i still see the same errors as shown below. Is there any way to delete these entries Resource Type Status Operation details ScheduledStartStop_Parent Microsoft.Insights/scheduledQueryRules BadRequest Operation details StartStop_VM_Notification Microsoft.Insights/actionGroups OK Operation details SequencedStartStop_Parent Microsoft.Insights/scheduledQueryRules BadRequest Operation details AutoStop_VM_Child Microsoft.Insights/scheduledQueryRules BadRequest

[@AzureAcademy]

are these Azure resources or resources within the Azure Automation Account?

[@shekharreddy2062]

@@AzureAcademy what it mean?.. Can you plz be more clear?

[@AzureAcademy]

Delete the Automation account and start over

[@saisagartata9464]

i am afraid this entire process is changed now ? can this video be revisited?

[@AzureAcademy]

I am working on that as part of the new auto manage video stay tuned

[@saisagartata9464]

@@AzureAcademy thanks for your response looking forward

[@AzureAcademy]

👍👍

[@martinmusli3044]

Thanks for the Video. I honestly don't know, how you can make a simple start/stop schedule for VMs so damn fucking difficult... Gives me headache

[@AzureAcademy]

Glad you liked it!

[@James-sc1lz]

You are not alone but it is Microsoft. Microsoft have a reputation of making easy things more difficult than they can and should be. What helps is AWS because Microsoft wants to beat Amazon at their own game and this helps greatly because MS is very good at copying. A bit like Huawei copying Apple. Creating a start/ stop for a VM is over complicated. Too many steps. Too many compulsory. Default is all resource groups which in my opinion is no safe and I have yet to find the option to modify to add exceptions etc. Way, way too complicated but that's Microsoft. What we need is competition. MS have had it too good for too long but I love this Channel because I need to learn MS Azure for my job. I'm just a sheep but not a happy sheep as I have to follow.

[@AzureAcademy]

Well James...I hope The Azure Academy can keep on helping you learn Azure! Let me know what you need to know that I haven't covered yet...so I can make a video on it. 😁

[@ahmadhalaby2011]

do you have a telegram group sir?

[@AzureAcademy]

telegram group? Not sure what you mean Ahmad.

[@ahmadhalaby2011]

its like whatsapp group

[@AzureAcademy]

ok...never heard of it...can you send me a link to learn more?

[@sidzhang]

@@AzureAcademy telegram.org/, it's just an app looks like whatsapp. I know this because in some countries, IM apps are surveilled, so for some kind of sensitive discussion, we need to use this app.

[@AzureAcademy]

understood...I will take a look