Currently, I am working Azure ARM templates, I developed the ARM templates for a web app and SQL database and deployed those are into azure successful through the VSTS by configuring the CI and CD.
But I want to test the Azure ARM templates and validate them whether these are written correctly or not. For that, I Used the ARM VSTS task but it just validates only.
Before posting a question here, I followed this link but I didn’t understand the answer.
So, can anyone give suggestions on how to test the ARM templates?
There is no way of testing ARM templates really. The only real way to test ARM templates is to deploy it and validate that proper resources are being created. You can script it, but that's a lot of effort.
Test-AzureRmResourceGroupDeployment is mostly useless as it only validates the syntax which is helpful, but doesnt really guarantee that the template will do what you think it will do.
I cannot really imagine how hard it is to create a proper test for an ARM template, I don't see a lot of value from investing time in creating tests for ARM Templates. I usually use helper scripts that just deploy the template into the dev environment and I quickly validate it. Most of the changes to the ARM templates (even pretty complex ones) do not really require validation.
We have too many ways to test an ARM Template. You may consider two tests in your CI/CD Pipeline.
Pre deployment Tests :
This can be done using the command :
Test-AzureRmResourceGroupDeployment
To get more control on what you are going to deploy, you can Use Pester + Powershell, write a test scenario and add it as a step in your CI Pipeline.
A new functionnality called "what-if" will be available (according to Build 2019 ARM Template Session)
Post Deployment Tests :
For post deployment tests, you may write a JSON defining the expected resources (By their names) then write a script to compare your JSON Definition with the resources that you've deployed.
Related
I am new to Azure as well as Devops, ARM template etc..I have deployed an ARM template for key valut with a name "ABC" via DevOPs. Now I would like to change some parameters. I don't have access to do it via portal and I am forced to use only ARM template. How can this be achieved via devops? Should I delete that resource and start from the scratch or any SOP to update resource parameters via ARM templates. For example I want to enable "“enabledForDeployment” for already deployed kay-vault. Thanks.
generally speaking you just re-run the same template with the changes you've introduced to the template. there are many ways of deploying the template (az cli, powershell, built-in steps, various sdk's).
just keep in mind, some properties are settable only at creation time, so effectively read only, you wouldn't be able to update those after the resource is created, some resource providers do not play well with idempotent behavior and this will also lead to issues when you try to redeploy the same template, some providers offer dodgy behavior when you need to use a completely different api call to update something compared to creating it.
So there's no single answer, but for what you are doing, just updating the template and running it again should work just fine.
You can do it through PowerShell,
Update a resource in an Azure Resource Manager template
I'm currently trying to understand how I can deploy a Logic App from Azure DevOps. I'm trying to give my team the ability to back out changes. Is this possible without using a series of scripts?
I'd like to create a release that does the following
Deploy Logic App ARM template
Upload code to Logic App from VSTS/DevOps
There is a good article on how to prepare the logic apps for CI/CD into multiple environments using ARM template.
You just need to download the ARM template for the Logic app and make changes in the template file, declaring parameters. You will also need to create parameter files for each environment. You can then create a Azure Pipelines and upload the files to the build and release definition.
https://platform.deloitte.com.au/articles/preparing-azure-logic-apps-for-cicd
You should extract the ARM template for your logic app and upload it to DevOps, then make a build and release definition
there are several helpful links available, here is one:
https://platform.deloitte.com.au/articles/preparing-azure-logic-apps-for-cicd
Edit: Link to Logic App Extractor:
If you just want to know how to deploy Logic App with VSTS, maybe this doc could help you.
Am working on Secure DevOps Kit for Azure(AzSK) using VSTS CI&CD. For working AzSK in VSTS there were two tasks named "AzSK ARM Templete Checker" and "Secure DevOps Kit(AzSK) CICD Extensions for Azure" which are available from Market place. But, here am unable to access "Secure DevOps Kit(AzSK) CICD Extensions for Azure" task after adding both to my organisation. Is there any extension/install additional tasks to add them for accessing it?
Please suggest me to "How to add it to my CI-Build Definition"
Based on the screenshot, you have installed the extension.
Secure DevOps Kit(AzSK) CICD Extensions for Azure is just the name of the extension. And the real task is AzSK ARM Template Checker.
So, you just need to add the AzSK ARM Template Checker task under test hub.
UPDATE:
Well, please note that another AzSK_SVT task (AzSK Security Verification Tests) is available in 'Release' pipeline tasks only.
So to use it you need to create a release pipeline,... then add the AzSK_SVT task from Test category. Please see Security Verification Tests (SVTs) for details.
First of all I am sorry to ask you a question not relative to your question.
(as it seems that your question is already anwered :) )
I am using the same task in my relaese pipeline and I am trying to add custom checks because the default checks this task is doing is not good enough for me.
This tutorial is really helpfull for trying to set things up, only I seem to just get to add custom baselinecontrols for a local module and not getting it to add it in the azure devops pipeline (more info about my question .
As you are also working on the same task I was hoping that you maybe could me help me figure it out.
We are working on following within Azure portal
Azure Functions
Data Factory
Logic Apps
Storage account (not files)
Now as we are done with development, we need to deploy these azure resources in client's UAT environment
I looked around (might be missing something) and found that deployment of Azure resources is not straightforward.
In Azure, it is like another subscription, correct?
So found this blog, which works with different PowerShell scripts to copies from one subscription to another
This is the right approach? & it cover everything required for resources to execute flawless (I still need to go thru scripts) for e.g. permissions, Data Factory datasets, etc?
Any other way to deploy (kind of export & import)?
Basically what you need is to create a reusable arm template, your question lacks some details yet ARM templates are the way of automated deployment in Azure, on a high-level
start by authoring your arm template to deploy the vanilla required resources look here
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/templates/microsoft.web/sites/functions
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/templates/microsoft.datafactory/factories
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/templates/microsoft.logic/integrationaccounts
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/templates/microsoft.datalakeanalytics/accounts/storageaccounts
you can combine all of them in one big template using ARM template dependency and other functions
look here
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-template-functions
after you finish ARM templates can be used in many ways including PowerShell, direct API calls or even you can create a deployment in Azure and save it to be reused with a click
look here, also if there will be a high volume of users consider adding it to market place.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/
after finishing your implementation of vanilla resources you can then move into adding any customization you might have.
this is the right and best way to do "afaik"
also look here to see all of your existing resources in an arm template view
https://resources.azure.com/
my understanding of Azure is that almost everything with some few exceptions has an ARM template representation
hope this would help.
For example, if I have a whole stack of services on Azure - a database, redis, front end web app, back end web app, storage, and whatever else...and I want to be able to package this up in a way that I can easily deploy a whole new clone of that set of services easily. Spin up a new dev environment, or QA, or as a backup in case production goes down, whatever.
This is part of CICD (Continuous Integration Continuous Deployment). The most common way with Azure (without 3rd party) is to construct ARM template to deploy in different environment such as dev, testing, staging or production. In ARM template you need to define different resource types, its name and properties in JSON format. If you haven't worked in ARM template, here is the article to get started https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-manager-create-first-template and also from here with Visual Studio https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/vs-azure-tools-resource-groups-deployment-projects-create-deploy
In more complex environment and deployment, you might consider looking into another 3rd options such as Jenkin, Ansible, Chef, Octopus, Puppet which gives you comprehensive CICD solution.