How to get ResourceId as output for VM when using copyIndex - azure

Question

I use copyIndex(0) to create several virtualMachine resources (along with publicIP addresses, nic...)
I need the resourceID as output from the deployment for further processing. Usually I do this with the resourceId() function, but since the names are dynamic and copyIndex is not valid in outputs section, I can't figure out the proper syntax for this:
{
"code": "DeploymentOutputEvaluationFailed",
"message": "Unable to evaluate template outputs: 'resourceID'. Please see error details and deployment operations. Please see https://aka.ms/arm-debug for usage details.",
"details": [
{
"code": "DeploymentOutputEvaluationFailed",
"target": "resourceID",
"message": "The template output 'resourceID' is not valid: The template function 'copyIndex' is not expected at this location. The function can only be used in a resource with copy specified. Please see https://aka.ms/arm-copy for usage details.."
}
]
}
I guess I need to change resourceID to array, but what is the proper syntax for fetching the resourceId of the dynamically created VMs?
Full ARM template below:
{
"$schema": "http://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2015-01-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
"contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
"parameters": {
"virtualMachineNamePrefix": {
"type": "string"
},
"virtualMachineSize": {
"type": "string"
},
"virtualMachineCount": {
"type": "int"
},
"adminUsername": {
"type": "string"
},
"adminPassword": {
"type": "secureString"
}
},
"variables": {
"resourceGroupName": "[toLower(ResourceGroup().name)]",
"location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
"networkSecurityGroupName": "[concat(variables('resourceGroupName'), '-nsg')]",
"nsgId": "[resourceId(resourceGroup().name, 'Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups', variables('networkSecurityGroupName'))]",
"subnetName": "default",
"virtualNetworkId": "[concat('/subscriptions/', subscription().subscriptionId, '/resourceGroups/', ResourceGroup().name, '/providers/Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks/', variables('resourceGroupName'), '-vnet')]",
"operatingSystem": "Server2016",
"operatingSystemValues": {
"Server2016": {
"PublisherValue": "MicrosoftWindowsServer",
"OfferValue": "WindowsServer",
"SkuValue": "2016-Datacenter"
}
},
"subnetRef": "[concat(variables('virtualNetworkId'), '/subnets/', variables('subnetName'))]"
},
"resources": [
{
"apiVersion": "2016-03-30",
"type": "Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses",
"name": "[concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0), '-ip')]",
"location": "[variables('location')]",
"copy": {
"name": "PIPCopy",
"count": "[parameters('virtualMachineCount')]"
},
"tags": {
"displayName": "[concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0), '-ip')]"
},
"properties": {
"publicIPAllocationMethod": "Dynamic"
}
},
{
"name": "[concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0), '-nic')]",
"type": "Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces",
"apiVersion": "2016-03-30",
"location": "[variables('location')]",
"copy": {
"name": "NICCopy",
"count": "[parameters('virtualMachineCount')]"
},
"dependsOn": [
"[concat('Microsoft.Network/publicIpAddresses/', parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0), '-ip')]"
],
"properties": {
"ipConfigurations": [
{
"name": "ipconfig1",
"properties": {
"privateIPAllocationMethod": "Dynamic",
"publicIPAddress": {
"id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses', concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0), '-ip'))]"
},
"subnet": {
"id": "[variables('subnetRef')]"
}
}
}
],
"networkSecurityGroup": {
"id": "[variables('nsgId')]"
}
}
},
{
"type": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines",
"name": "[concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0))]",
"apiVersion": "2017-03-30",
"location": "[variables('location')]",
"identity": {
"type": "SystemAssigned"
},
"copy": {
"name": "VMcopy",
"count": "[parameters('virtualMachineCount')]"
},
"properties": {
"hardwareProfile": {
"vmSize": "[parameters('virtualMachineSize')]"
},
"storageProfile": {
"imageReference": {
"publisher": "[variables('operatingSystemValues')[variables('operatingSystem')].PublisherValue]",
"offer": "[variables('operatingSystemValues')[variables('operatingSystem')].OfferValue]",
"sku": "[variables('operatingSystemValues')[variables('operatingSystem')].SkuValue]",
"version": "latest"
},
"osDisk": {
"name": "[concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'),copyIndex(0), '-disk')]",
"createOption": "FromImage",
"managedDisk": {
"storageAccountType": "Premium_LRS"
},
"caching": "ReadWrite"
}
},
"osProfile": {
"computerName": "[concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'),copyIndex(0))]",
"adminUsername": "[parameters('adminUsername')]",
"windowsConfiguration": {
"provisionVMAgent": true
},
"secrets": [],
"adminPassword": "[parameters('adminPassword')]"
},
"networkProfile": {
"networkInterfaces": [
{
"id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces', concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0), '-nic'))]"
}
]
}
},
"dependsOn": [
"[concat('Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces/', parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0), '-nic')]"
]
}
],
"outputs": {
"resourceID": {
"type": "string",
"value": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces', concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex(0)))]"
}
}
}
UPDATE:
Thanks # 4c74356b41 for a working answer:
"copy": [
{
"name": "resources",
"count": "[parameters('virtualMachineCount')]",
"input": {
"id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines', concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex('resources')))]"
}
}
]

Answer 1

probably use a variable and output it?
"variables": {
"copy": [
{
"name": "resources",
"count": "[parameters('virtualMachineCount')]"
"input": {
"id": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces', concat(parameters('virtualMachineNamePrefix'), copyIndex('resources')))]"
}
}
]
}
and just use that var:
"outputs": {
"resourceID": {
"type": "array",
"value": "[variables('resources')]"
}
}
update: I've just noticed your comment in one of the previous answers, so I'm not sure if this answer is what you are looking for, if not - tell me in the comments what you are after exactly, since I'm a bit confused.