Administering Azure Cloud Using PowerShell #2: Setting Up Your Environment – Installing Azure PowerShell

Azure Cloud, Azure Powershell 2 Minutes

Introduction

Welcome to the second article in our series, “Administering Azure Cloud Using PowerShell.” In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up your environment by installing Azure PowerShell. We will cover the installation process for various platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Azure PowerShell

Azure PowerShell is a module that provides a set of cmdlets to manage Azure resources using PowerShell. It allows you to interact with Azure services, automate tasks, and streamline your workflow. Before you can use Azure PowerShell, you need to install the module and configure it on your system.

Installing Azure PowerShell on Windows

  1. Prerequisites: Make sure you have PowerShell 5.1 or later installed on your Windows system. You can check your PowerShell version by running the following command in the PowerShell console:
$PSVersionTable.PSVersion
  1. Install the Azure PowerShell module: Run the following command in an elevated PowerShell session (Run as Administrator):
Install-Module -Name Az -AllowClobber

This command will install the latest version of the Azure PowerShell module from the PowerShell Gallery.

Installing Azure PowerShell on Linux and macOS:

  1. Prerequisites: Ensure that you have PowerShell Core 6.x or later installed on your system. You can check your PowerShell version by running the following command in the terminal:
pwsh -version

If you do not have PowerShell Core installed, follow the installation instructions for your platform from the official PowerShell GitHub repository: https://github.com/powershell/powershell#get-powershell

  1. Install the Azure PowerShell module: Run the following command in the PowerShell Core console:
Install-Module -Name Az -AllowClobber -Scope CurrentUser

This command installs the latest version of the Azure PowerShell module from the PowerShell Gallery.

Post-Installation Configuration:

After installing Azure PowerShell, it is essential to configure it to interact with your Azure account. Follow these steps to connect your Azure account with PowerShell:

  1. Sign in to your Azure account: Run the following command in the PowerShell console:
Connect-AzAccount

This command will open a browser window prompting you to sign in to your Azure account. Enter your credentials, and the session will be established.

  1. Select your subscription (optional): If you have multiple Azure subscriptions, you can specify which one to use for your PowerShell session. Run the following command to list your available subscriptions:
Get-AzSubscription

Then, use the following command to select the desired subscription:

Set-AzContext -SubscriptionId <YourSubscriptionId>

Replace <YourSubscriptionId> with the actual subscription ID obtained from the previous command.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured Azure PowerShell on your system. With your environment set up, you are now ready to manage Azure resources using PowerShell effectively. In the next article of this series, “Administering Azure Cloud Using PowerShell #3: Connecting and Authenticating with Azure Cloud Services,” we will explore various authentication and connection options to help you securely manage your Azure resources.

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