How to trigger python script on an Azure windows VM when my Azure vm is started

Question

I have created an azure virtual machines which starts and stops at particular times. This is performed by Azure Logic Apps.

How can I run a python script on my azure VM when the VM is started?

Answer 1

Hello @Benoy Mammen Mathew !

Welcome to Microsoft QnA!

I understand you need to execute a python script once the Azure VM is starting

The feature of Task Scheduler is the easy way on Windows or CRON on Linux

For Windows :

1. Ensure your Python script is on the Azure VM and that you have Python installed.

• Go to Start > Windows Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler.

1. Create Basic Task:
   • In the Actions Pane, click on "Create Basic Task".
     • Name your task and provide a description if desired.
       • Click "Next".
         • Choose the "When the computer starts" trigger.
           • Click "Next".
             • In the "Action" step, choose "Start a program".
               • Click "Next".
                 • Browse and select your Python executable (usually located in the Scripts folder of your Python installation, and named python.exe).
                   • In the "Add arguments (optional)" field, type the path to your script, e.g., C:\path\to\your\script.py.
                     • Click "Next", review your settings, and click "Finish".

For Linux :

Upload Your Script: Ensure your Python script is on the Azure VM and that you have Python installed.

1. Make Your Script Executable:
2. chmod +x /path/to/your/script.py
3. Edit the rc.local File:
   • Open the rc.local file (or create it if it doesn't exist) using a text editor:
4. sudo nano /etc/rc.local
5. Before the exit 0 line, add the path to your Python script:
6. /usr/bin/python3 /path/to/your/script.py
7. Ensure rc.local is Executable:
8. sudo chmod +x /etc/rc.local
9. Enable and Start rc.local Service:
10. sudo systemctl enable rc-local sudo systemctl start rc-local.service

Your Python script should now run whenever the VM starts.

You can also leverage Azure Managed Identity if you want the script to execute and Integrate for example a Storage Account , or Azure SQL or another Sevice

Read more here :

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/managed-identities-azure-resources/overview

---

I hope this helps!

Kindly mark the answer as Accepted and Upvote in case it helped!

Regards