Automate azure VM creation with PAM integration for azure linux vm

Question

We plan to enable Active directory integration to Azure LINUX VM , with PAM.

Via ARM template, is it possible to automate

1. creation of Azure LINUX VM
2. install PAM module for AD authentication
3. Install some SSSD tools --> yum -y install sssd sssd-tools
4. create or edit the file --> /etc/sssd/sssd.conf
5. Update /etc/ssh/sshd_config
6. Create the /etc/skel_ad directory , create AD cert

etc..... more steps....

Is it possible to automate the above the steps via ARM script. May be some ARM VM extension ?
What options are available to automate this ?

Answer 1

@MS Techie

Firstly, apologies for the delay in responding here.

There are multiple ways you can achieve your ask. Below are few suggestions, please check and see what works for your better.

1. You can use Custom Script Extension for your requirement. The Custom Script Extension is primarily used for post deployment configuration and software installation. Please refer this document for more details on this. Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/extensions/custom-script-linux

Here is a walkthrough tutorial on how to run tasks while a VM is created, Custom Script for Linux extension.

2. Action Run commands for Linux. Refer this document for details on this.
3. Azure automation to run scripts inside a Linux VM. Here is an example on how to use Azure Automation to run scripts inside Linux VM.
4. You can also consider using deployment scripts in ARM templates. Please refer to this document.

Hope this helps.
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