Infrastructure as code not only provides consistency and repeatability but also reduces the scope of manual error. A key component of Azure for SAP Workloads (Exam AZ-120), this topic delves further into the concept and highlights the execution with the help of an illustrative example.

Table of Contents

Understanding Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Infrastructure as Code refers to the process of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable scripts or definition files rather than traditional interactive configuration tools. This approach aims at achieving consistent and reliable deployments, especially in dynamic or largescale environments.

Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and Terraform are two main examples of technologies that implement IaC on the Azure platform. They can be used for the automated deployment of Azure VMs.

  • Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates: ARM templates allow you to define your infrastructure in a JSON file. This file can then be checked into a source control system and deployed through Azure DevOps, PowerShell, or directly from the Azure Portal.
  • Terraform: An open-source tool created by HashiCorp allowing developers to define and provide data center infrastructure using a declarative configuration language. The interoperability of Terraform with multiple cloud service providers makes it one of the popular choices for IaC.

Opting between ARM templates and Terraform is a subjective choice. For a deep-rooted integration with Azure deployments and services, one would opt for ARM Templates but for a more generic, provider-independent code, Terraform seems to be a viable option.

Automating deployment of Azure VMs using ARM Template

Let’s consider an example of automating the deployment of Azure VMs using an ARM template. This process consists of two steps: defining the infrastructure in a JSON file and deploying the VM.

{
"$schema": ...

This JSON file is then deployed to Azure by running this command in Azure PowerShell:

New-AzResourceGroupDeployment ...

Automating deployment of Azure VMs using Terraform

Terraform uses .tf files to define the resources it needs to create. A simple Terraform script to define an Azure VM would be:

resource "azurerm_virtual_machine" "myterraformvm" ...

This .tf file is then deployed to Azure by running these commands in the terminal:

terraform init
terraform apply

Using IaC for automating deployments of Azure VMs enables a more efficient and reliable setup, especially in the case of SAP workloads, where consistency and performance are critical.

Practice Test

True or False: Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates are an important part of the infrastructure as code in automating Azure Virtual Machine deployments.

  • Answer: True

Explanation: Azure Resource Manager templates are used to automate the deployment and configuration of resources in Azure, including Virtual Machines.

In automating the deployment of Azure VMs, which of the following tools can be used?

  • A. Azure Automation
  • B. Microsoft PowerShell
  • C. Terraform
  • D. Kubernetes

Answer: A, B, C

Explanation: Azure Automation, Microsoft PowerShell, and Terraform are all used to automate Azure VM deployments. Kubernetes, however, is a container orchestration tool not specifically designed for VM automation.

Azure Automation allows for the automation of the ____ of Azure VMs.

  • A. Deployment
  • B. Management
  • C. Configuration
  • D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

Explanation: Azure Automation is a service that offers a highly reliable, scalable, and intelligent way to automate the deployment, management, and configuration of resources.

True or False: Azure PowerShell is an open-source, cross-platform framework for managing Azure resources.

  • Answer: True

Explanation: Azure PowerShell is an open-source project available on GitHub, and it provides a set of cmdlets to manage Azure resources directly from the PowerShell command line or scripts.

You can use PowerShell to automate the management of Azure VMs.

  • A. True
  • B. False

Answer: A. True

Explanation: PowerShell can be used to automate the creation, management, and deletion of Azure VMs, along with configuration activities.

What does “Infrastructure as code” mean in the context of Azure?

  • A. Manually setting up servers
  • B. Hardcoding the server IP addresses
  • C. Defining and managing IT infrastructure through machine-readable definition files
  • D. Microsoft’s coding language for cloud infrastructure

Answer: C. Defining and managing IT infrastructure through machine-readable definition files

Explanation: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the management of infrastructure (networks, virtual machines, load balancers, and connection topology) in a descriptive model.

True or False: It is impossible to automate the deployment of VM Scale Sets in Azure.

  • Answer: False

Explanation: With Azure VM Scale Sets you can build large-scale services for areas such as compute, big data, and container workloads, and its deployment can also be automated.

Which scripting language can you use to automate the deployment of Azure Virtual Machines?

  • A. Azure CLI
  • B. Python
  • C. Both
  • D. None of the above

Answer: C. Both

Explanation: Azure CLI and Python are both scripting languages that can be used to automate the deployment of Azure virtual machines.

True or False: An Azure Resource Manager template cannot be used to automate the setup of not just the infrastructure but also the entire application stack.

  • Answer: False

Explanation: Azure Resource Manager templates allow not just the infrastructure to be automated but also the entire application stack, leading to significant timesaving.

When using Terraform for Infrastructure as Code, what does the command ‘terraform plan’ do?

  • A. It applies the changes to the environment
  • B. It displays the resources to be created
  • C. It configures the back-end storage for Terraform
  • D. It creates an undo plan for the changes

Answer: B. It displays the resources to be created

Explanation: The ‘terraform plan’ command is used to create an execution plan. It does a refresh and then determines what actions are necessary to achieve the desired state specified in the configuration files.

True or False: Azure VM scale sets can be managed using Azure Automation.

  • Answer: True

Explanation: Azure Automation allows you to automate the management of your Azure resources including Azure VM scale sets.

Is it possible to use PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) for the automation of the deployment of Azure virtual machines?

  • A. Yes
  • B. No

Answer: A. Yes

Explanation: PowerShell DSC is a management platform in PowerShell that enables you to manage your IT and development infrastructure with configuration as code.

True or False: Azure Automation supports only PowerShell scripting and workflows.

  • Answer: False

Explanation: Azure Automation supports both PowerShell and Python scripting, which makes it more versatile for a range of use cases.

Which of the following services is NOT used in automating the deployment of Azure VMs?

  • A. Azure Functions
  • B. Azure Logic Apps
  • C. Azure Web Apps
  • D. Azure Kubernetes Service

Answer: D. Azure Kubernetes Service

Explanation: Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is used to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications, not specifically VMs.

True or False: Infrastructure as code in Azure automates the process of setting up both infrastructure and applications.

  • Answer: True

Explanation: Infrastructure as code in Azure, e.g., using ARM templates or Terraform, automates the setup process of not just the infrastructure but also the applications that run on them.

Interview Questions

Q1: What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC) in the context of Azure virtual machines?

A1: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the management of infrastructure (networks, virtual machines, load balancers, and connection topology) in a descriptive model, using the same versioning as DevOps team uses for source code. In Azure, one can automate the deployment of Virtual Machines using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates which is an implementation of IaC.

Q2: What would you use ARM templates in Azure for?

A2: Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates are used to automate the deployment and management of Azure resources such as virtual machines. They provide a declarative way to define the desired state of your Azure resources.

Q3: How can deploying Azure Virtual Machines be automated with Infrastructure as Code for SAP workloads?

A3: Azure Resource Manager templates can be used to automate the deployment of Azure Virtual Machines for SAP workloads. These templates enable the configuration of complex computing environments quickly and consistently.

Q4: What are the benefits of automating the deployment of Azure VMs with IaC?

A4: The benefits include: automation reduces manual errors, speeds up the deployment process, ensures consistent configurations, allows for scalability, and supports continuous deployment and integration processes.

Q5: What tools can be used to create ARM templates for automating Azure VM deployment?

A5: ARM templates can be created manually using a text editor, or using tools such as Visual Studio Code with Azure Resource Manager Tools extension, or the Azure portal.

Q6: What is the role of JSON in creating ARM templates for Azure deployments?

A6: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a language-independent data format used by ARM templates to define the resources and configuration settings for Azure deployments.

Q7: How does IaC support Azure policy implementation?

A7: IaC can enforce organizational standards and to comply with external regulations through Azure policies. These policies can be defined in the IaC templates to ensure consistent adherence to rules across multiple deployments.

Q8: What language is used to write Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates?

A8: ARM templates are written in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON).

Q9: How does automated deployment of Azure VMs using Infrastructure as Code contribute to scalability?

A9: With IaC, you can quickly and easily replicate your infrastructure at the click of a button by running your template scripts again. This allows for rapid scaling of infrastructure when the needs of a business increase.

Q10: Can you update an existing Azure infrastructure using Azure Resource Manager templates?

A10: Yes. Azure Resource Manager templates can be used not only for the initial deployment, but also to update the existing deployment. The ARM Template will add, update, or delete resources to ensure the infrastructure is in the desired state.

Q11: What is the role of parameters in ARM templates while deploying Azure VMs?

A11: Parameters in ARM templates enable customization and pass varying values during deployment. It allows the same template to be used across different environments and deployments.

Q12: What Azure tool supports both the Graphical User Interface and Infrastructure as Code for building and deploying Azure VMs?

A12: Azure DevOps is a tool that supports both GUI-based configuration and Infrastructure as Code, allowing teams to use whichever approach is most suitable for the task at hand.

Q13: Can Azure Resource Manager templates be used across multiple Azure subscriptions?

A13: Yes, ARM templates can be used across multiple Azure subscriptions as long as the users have the appropriate permissions.

Q14: What’s the role of ‘variables’ in Azure Resource Manager templates?

A14: Variables in ARM templates are used to simplify templates and reduce repetition by holding values that are reused in a template.

Q15: How does Infrastructure as Code contribute to DevOps practice in an Azure environment?

A15: IaC supports DevOps practices by making the infrastructure deployments repeatable and predictable. IaC integrates seamlessly into the CI/CD pipeline, making infrastructure changes part of your application deployment process.

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