Start-AzVM : Your Azure credentials have not been set up or have expired Error - azure

Question

I made a Runbook in an automation account in Azure that will start and stop my VMs, but I keep getting credentials error while I am setting up the credentials in the runbook.
The error:
Start-AzVM : Your Azure credentials have not been set up or have expired, please run Connect-AzAccount to set up your Azure credentials. At Start-StopVM-Workflow:59 char:59 + + CategoryInfo : CloseError: (:) [Start-AzVM], ArgumentException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.Azure.Commands.Compute.StartAzureVMCommand
The runbook code:
{
Param
(
[String] $Action
)
################################################################
$connectionName = "AzureRunAsConnection"
try
{
# Get the connection "AzureRunAsConnection "
$servicePrincipalConnection=Get-AutomationConnection -Name $connectionName
"Logging in to Azure..."
Connect-AzAccount `
-ServicePrincipal `
-TenantId $servicePrincipalConnection.TenantId `
-ApplicationId $servicePrincipalConnection.ApplicationId `
-CertificateThumbprint $servicePrincipalConnection.CertificateThumbprint
}
catch {
if (!$servicePrincipalConnection)
{
$ErrorMessage = "Connection $connectionName not found."
throw $ErrorMessage
} else{
Write-Error -Message $_.Exception
throw $_.Exception
}
}
################################################################
if($Action -like "Stop")
{
$AzureVMs = Get-AzVM | ? {$_.resourcegroupname -notlike 'lab*'}
Write-Output $AzureVMs.count
#$AzureVMs = Get-AzVM | ? {$_.resourcegroupname -notlike 'lab*' -And $_.Tags["DontShut"] -notlike "Yes"}
#Write-Output "Stopping VMs"
foreach -parallel ($AzureVM in $Azurevms)
{
$temp = "Stop VM: " + $AzureVM.name
Write-Output $temp
$AzureVM | Stop-AzVM -Force
$count = $count+1
}
}
else
{
$AzureVMs = Get-AzVM | ?{$_.Tags["AutomaticStart"] -eq "Yes"}
Write-Output $AzureVMs.count
#Write-Output "Starting VMs";
foreach -parallel ($AzureVM in $AzureVMs)
{
$temp = "Start VM: " + $AzureVM.name
Write-Output $temp
$AzureVM | Start-AzVM
}
}
}
I tried using the Connect-AzRMAccount command but its no use.
If anyone knows a fix for this I'd be really thankful.
EDIT: After trying to update Az.Accounts and Az.Compute modules I still got the same error plus four new errors:
Install-module : NuGet provider is required to interact with NuGet-based repositories. Please ensure that '2.8.5.201' or newer version of NuGet provider is installed. At Start-StopVM-Workflow:13 char:13 + + CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [Install-Module], InvalidOperationException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CouldNotInstallNuGetProvider,Install-Module
Exception calling "ShouldContinue" with "2" argument(s): "A command that prompts the user failed because the host program or the command type does not support user interaction. The host was attempting to request confirmation with the following message: PowerShellGet requires NuGet provider version '2.8.5.201' or newer to interact with NuGet-based repositories. The NuGet provider must be available in 'C:\Program Files\PackageManagement\ProviderAssemblies' or 'C:\Users\Client\AppData\Roaming\PackageManagement\ProviderAssemblies'. You can also install the NuGet provider by running 'Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -MinimumVersion 2.8.5.201 -Force'. Do you want PowerShellGet to install and import the NuGet provider now?" At Start-StopVM-Workflow:13 char:13 + + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodInvocationException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : HostException
Install-module : NuGet provider is required to interact with NuGet-based repositories. Please ensure that '2.8.5.201' or newer version of NuGet provider is installed. At Start-StopVM-Workflow:12 char:12 + + CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (:) [Install-Module], InvalidOperationException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CouldNotInstallNuGetProvider,Install-Module
Exception calling "ShouldContinue" with "2" argument(s): "A command that prompts the user failed because the host program or the command type does not support user interaction. The host was attempting to request confirmation with the following message: PowerShellGet requires NuGet provider version '2.8.5.201' or newer to interact with NuGet-based repositories. The NuGet provider must be available in 'C:\Program Files\PackageManagement\ProviderAssemblies' or 'C:\Users\Client\AppData\Roaming\PackageManagement\ProviderAssemblies'. You can also install the NuGet provider by running 'Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -MinimumVersion 2.8.5.201 -Force'. Do you want PowerShellGet to install and import the NuGet provider now?" At Start-StopVM-Workflow:12 char:12 + + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [], MethodInvocationException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : HostException
My current runbook script looks like this(Changes are in lines 12-14):
workflow Start-StopVM-Workflow
{
Param
(
[String] $Action
)
################################################################
$connectionName = "AzureRunAsConnection"
try
{
Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -MinimumVersion 2.8.5.201 -Force
Install-module -Force -name Az.Accounts
Install-module -Force -name Az.Compute
# Get the connection "AzureRunAsConnection "
$servicePrincipalConnection=Get-AutomationConnection -Name $connectionName
"Logging in to Azure..."
Connect-AzAccount `
-ServicePrincipal `
-TenantId $servicePrincipalConnection.TenantId `
-ApplicationId $servicePrincipalConnection.ApplicationId `
-CertificateThumbprint $servicePrincipalConnection.CertificateThumbprint
}
catch {
if (!$servicePrincipalConnection)
{
$ErrorMessage = "Connection $connectionName not found."
throw $ErrorMessage
} else{
Write-Error -Message $_.Exception
throw $_.Exception
}
}
################################################################
if($Action -like "Stop")
{
$AzureVMs = Get-AzVM | ? {$_.resourcegroupname -notlike 'lab*'}
Write-Output $AzureVMs.count
#$AzureVMs = Get-AzVM | ? {$_.resourcegroupname -notlike 'lab*' -And $_.Tags["DontShut"] -notlike "Yes"}
#Write-Output "Stopping VMs"
foreach -parallel ($AzureVM in $Azurevms)
{
$temp = "Stop VM: " + $AzureVM.name
Write-Output $temp
$AzureVM | Stop-AzVM -Force
$count = $count+1
}
}
else
{
$AzureVMs = Get-AzVM | ?{$_.Tags["AutomaticStart"] -eq "Yes"}
Write-Output $AzureVMs.count
#Write-Output "Starting VMs";
foreach -parallel ($AzureVM in $AzureVMs)
{
$temp = "Start VM: " + $AzureVM.name
Write-Output $temp
$AzureVM | Start-AzVM
}
}
}

Answer 1

Your Runbook should ideally work with just the Az.Accounts and Az.Compute modules. I was able to test and execute your snippet with the Account I have.
I'd suggest you to cross-check your current Automation account/Runbook configuration, or create a new one as follows:
Create an Automation Account with Create Azure Run As account option enabled.
Import Az.Accounts and Az.Compute modules from the Powershell gallery via Azure portal.
Create a Powershell Runbook with your current code.
Test it.
If the issues recur despite doing this, please let me know and we can investigate further.
More about using Az modules with Azure Automation here.