Starting a node in Azure Stack Hub means bringing an offline node online. This could be required when a node was earlier stopped for maintenance, updates, or other reasons.
Method:
Start-AzsScaleUnitNode -Location local -Name "S-Cluster01" -ScaleUnitNodeName "SU01Node01"
Parameters:
- `-Location`: Location of the scale unit
- `-Name`: Name of the scale unit
- `-ScaleUnitNodeName`: Name of the node being started
Stop Operation
Stopping a node means you are making it offline. This operation would be needed for activities such as hardware maintenance, software updates, among others.
Method:
Stop-AzsScaleUnitNode -Location local -Name "S-Cluster01" -ScaleUnitNodeName "SU01Node01"
Parameters are same as Start command.
Resume Operation
Resume operation on a node returns the services or virtual machine to the normal operating state after being suspended.
Method:
Resume-AzsScaleUnitNode -Location local -Name "S-Cluster01" -ScaleUnitNodeName "SU01Node01"
Parameters are same as Start command.
Repair Operation
The repair operation is used to recover a node from a failure or to correct any misconfigurations.
Method:
Repair-AzsScaleUnitNode -Location local -Name "S-Cluster01" -ScaleUnitNodeName "SU01Node01"
Parameters are same as Start command.
Drain Operation
Drain operation will move all tenant workloads and system services from the selected Azure Stack Hub node. This is necessary for lengthy operations where you don’t want the node to reschedule workloads halfway through.
Method:
Invoke-AzsScaleUnitNodeDrain -Location local -ScaleUnitName "S-Cluster01" -ScaleUnitNodeName "SU01Node01"
Parameters are same as Start command.
Shutdown Operation
Shutdown operation will completely shutdown all processes running on a selected node in Azure Stack Hub.
Method:
Invoke-AzsScaleUnitNodeShutdown -Location local -ScaleUnitName "S-Cluster01" -ScaleUnitNodeName "SU01Node01"
Parameters are same as Start command.
Remember, all the operations mentioned above are PowerShell commands and they start to execute as soon as you hit the enter key after typing. You should always be very careful while typing these commands and make sure you’re operating on the correct node.
As Azure Stack Hub operations are quite complex, having a stronghold on node level operations mentioned above would greatly help you clear AZ-600 exam and also aid your career in Azure Cloud Administration. Happy learning!
Practice Test
True or False: You can start and stop a physical node in Azure Stack Hub.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Stack Hub allows you to start and stop physical nodes which represents the server in the scale unit.
In what scenario might you need to use resume operation on a node in Azure Stack Hub?
- A. When the node is failing
- B. When the node has been paused
- C. When the node has been quarantined
- D. When the node is running smoothly
Answer: B. When the node has been paused
Explanation: The resume operation is used to continue operations on a node that has been paused.
True or False: Repair operation helps recovering a faulty node.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The repair operation in Azure Stack Hub allows recovery from a faulty node by attempting to bring it back to a healthy state.
What is the purpose of the drain operation in Azure Stack Hub?
- A. To delete a node
- B. To pause a node
- C. To prepare a node for maintenance
- D. To increase a node’s resources
Answer: C. To prepare a node for maintenance
Explanation: The drain operation is used to prepare a node for maintenance by evacuating all roles from the node.
It is necessary to repair nodes only when they are stopped.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: Nodes can be repaired whether they are running, stopped, or paused. The operation tries to bring the node back to a healthy state.
What does the shutdown operation do in Azure Stack Hub?
- A. Shuts down the entire Azure environment
- B. Pauses all services on a node
- C. Safely powers off a node
- D. Deletes a node
Answer: C. Safely powers off a node
Explanation: The shutdown operation in Azure Stack Hub is used to safely power off a node.
True or False: Azure Stack Hub automatically recovers from drained state.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: When a node is drained, it does not automatically recover. It needs to resume operation to recover from this state.
What do we mean by a quarantined node in Azure Stack Hub?
- A. It’s deleted
- B. It’s inactive
- C. It’s failing health checks
- D. It’s paused
Answer: C. It’s failing health checks
Explanation: If a node is failing health checks, it will enter the ‘quarantine’ state so it does not affect the overall service.
True or False: Node maintenance in Azure Stack Hub always requires downtime.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure Stack Hub allows for maintenance operations to be carried out with minimal or no downtime by using operations like drain this is designed to be done while services continue running.
Which operation is used to recover a stopped node in Azure Stack Hub?
- A. Start
- B. Repair
- C. Resume
- D. Drain
Answer: A. Start
Explanation: Stop operation is used to safely power off a node and start operation is used to recover a stopped node and get it back running.
True or False: You can drain a running node without stopping it.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The drain operation can be used on a running node to prepare it for maintenance without needing to stop it.
Where would you go to check the status of your nodes?
- A. Azure portal
- B. Azure Advisor
- C. Azure Stack Hub administrator portal
- D. Azure Active Directory
Answer: C. Azure Stack Hub administrator portal
Explanation: The Azure Stack Hub administrator portal provides detailed status information and capabilities to perform operations on your nodes.
A ‘Repair’ operation can be used when a node is running smoothly.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: A. True
Explanation: A ‘Repair’ operation can be run at any time, regardless of whether the node is running smoothly or not, as it tries to ensure the node is in its optimal state.
When a node is placed into maintenance mode, what happens to the workloads running on that node?
- A. They are paused until maintenance is complete
- B. They fail and must be manually restarted
- C. They are automatically moved to another node
- D. They are lost
Answer: C. They are automatically moved to another node
Explanation: When a node is placed into maintenance mode (drain operation), any running workloads are automatically migrated to another node.
True of False: You can perform node operations including start, stop, resume, repair, drain, and shutdown in Azure Stack HCI, the same way as Azure Stack Hub?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: These operations can be performed in both Azure Stack Hub and Azure Stack HCI, providing similar flexibility and control over physical nodes.
Interview Questions
What is the basic command to start a node in Azure Stack Hub?
The basic command to start a node in Azure Stack Hub is Start-AzsScaleUnitNode.
Can the Stop-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet in Azure stop a running node?
Yes, the Stop-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet in Azure can stop a running node.
How do you drain a node in Azure Stack Hub?
To drain a node in Azure Stack Hub, use the Disable-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet. This cmdlet prepares the node for maintenance by balancing loads away from it.
What is the function of the cmdlet Resume-AzsScaleUnitNode in Azure Stack Hub?
The Resume-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet in Azure Stack Hub instructs the node to resume operations after they have been suspended.
What cmdlet is used in Azure Stack Hub to repair a node?
The cmdlet used in Azure Stack Hub to repair a node is Repair-AzsScaleUnitNode.
How do you shutdown a node in Azure Stack Hub?
To shutdown a node in Azure Stack Hub, use the Stop-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet, then the Start-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet to reinitialize it.
What does the Start-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet do with respect to Azure Stack Hub node operation?
The Start-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet starts a stopped node in Azure Stack Hub.
What commands should you run if you want to stop and then start a node in Azure Stack Hub?
To stop and then start a node in Azure Stack Hub, use Stop-AzsScaleUnitNode and then Start-AzsScaleUnitNode.
What cmdlets are used to resume a node that was drained for maintenance in Azure Stack Hub?
The cmdlets Enable-AzsScaleUnitNode and Resume-AzsScaleUnitNode are used to bring a drained node back to operation.
How do you check the health status of a node in Azure Stack Hub?
To check the health status of a node in Azure Stack Hub, you can use the Get-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet.
How do you put a node into maintenance mode in Azure Stack Hub?
To put a node into maintenance mode in Azure Stack Hub, you can use the Disable-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet to drain the node, then stop it with Stop-AzsScaleUnitNode.
When should you consider using the Repair-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet?
You should consider using the Repair-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet if there are any hardware issues with a node that do not resolve after restarting it.
How do you restart a node in Azure Stack Hub that has been stopped?
To restart a node in Azure Stack Hub that has been stopped, you can use the Start-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet.
Which status denotes that a node in Azure Stack Hub is running and servicing user requests?
In Azure Stack Hub, a node is denoted as ‘Ready’ when it is running and servicing user requests.
Can a node be repaired while it is still working in Azure Stack Hub?
No, a node needs to be drained and stopped before it can be repaired using the Repair-AzsScaleUnitNode cmdlet in Azure Stack Hub.