How do setup automated tasks for my VM

Question

I would to automate the power on and off of my VM on a daily basis to save costs

Answer 1

Hello Billy,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Community! For the automation of powering on and off of virtual machines, I would take a look at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-functions/start-stop-vms/overview. Also, when it comes to saving cost, there are some additional ways to save as well for example:

-Azure Advisor Cost Recommendations: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/advisor/advisor-reference-cost-recommendations

-Reserved Instances: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/reservations

-Savings Plans: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/offers/savings-plan-compute

Answer 2

Hi @Billy Van Wyk (PEC) ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum, thank you for posting your query here!

Let me provide you two solutions here

Solution 1: If we have limited number of VM where you just go the VM and perform this

Solution 2: Let us say if you have 100's of VM's solution 2 will make use using a script

Please choose above two solutions depending up on your requirement

Solution1 : Directly go the VM Blade go to tasks.

Add two tasks on is for Stop VM and one is for Start VMClick on Sign in provide your credentials

Later you can see it is connected

Schedule your stop and start activity depends up on your requirement

Solution 2:

Create an Automation account

Refer: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/quickstarts/create-azure-automation-account-portal

Create a runbook

Refer: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/learn/automation-tutorial-runbook-textual

Later enable managed identity to keep on

Refer: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/learn/automation-tutorial-runbook-textual

Follow the below screenshots

Add role assignment

Add role Assignment and provide Contributor access to the automation account or manage identity

Below script will stop the VM

Below script will Start the VM

Code Added below: -

#Connect to Azure with system-assigned managed identity
 
$AzureContext = (Connect-AzAccount -Identity).context
 
# set and store context
 
$AzureContext = Set-AzContext -SubscriptionName $AzureContext.Subscription -DefaultProfile $AzureContext

$vmlist = @("testtest", "myVm")
foreach ($vm in $vmlist) {

$rgname= get-azvm | where {$_.name -eq "$vm"}

Write-Host $rgname.ResourceGroupName


    Stop-AzVM -Name $vm -ResourceGroupName $rgname.ResourceGroupName -Force
}

#Connect to Azure with system-assigned managed identity
 
$AzureContext = (Connect-AzAccount -Identity).context
 
# set and store context
 
$AzureContext = Set-AzContext -SubscriptionName $AzureContext.Subscription -DefaultProfile $AzureContext

$vmlist = @("testtest", "myVm")
foreach ($vm in $vmlist) {

$rgname= get-azvm | where {$_.name -eq "$vm"}

Write-Host $rgname.ResourceGroupName


    Start-AzVM -Name $vm -ResourceGroupName $rgname.ResourceGroupName
}

let us know if you have any further queries. I’m happy to assist you further.  

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