How to control to run Powershell scripts?

Question

How to control to run Powershell scripts?

Nikunj Patel 61

I have 3 PowerShell script and it published in azure automation account. Now my requirement is out of 3, two scripts run parallelly and one script run only when first 2 scripts are completed. As third script dependent on first 2 scripts results. Is there any way in azure we can control the execution of power shell scripts.

Your input is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

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Answer 1

Andreas Baumgarten 123.4K MVP Volunteer Moderator

Hi @Nikunj Patel ,

maybe a Graphical Powershell runbook in Azure Automation is what you are looking for?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/automation/automation-graphical-authoring-intro

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten

Nikunj Patel 61 Reputation points

2022-07-21T04:55:43.637+00:00

@Andreas Baumgarten Thank you for your input. I accepted answer now. In case I need your help will comment here.
Nikunj Patel 61 Reputation points

2022-07-21T12:55:48.937+00:00

@Andreas Baumgarten Graphical PowerShell not supported parallel running of 2 scripts. have you know how we make it possible to run in parallel. My scripts are PowerShell only, not PowerShell workflow scripts.
Nikunj Patel 61 Reputation points

2022-07-21T14:18:24.147+00:00

To validate it run parallel or not so I created attached Graphical runbook and it ran successfully but log only display for last runbook activity only (samplepoc1). Not able to seen other activity log so I am not able to measure it run parallel or not. Is there any reason why it not display all logs for all activity?
Andreas Baumgarten 123.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2022-07-21T15:17:37.95+00:00

Hi @Nikunj Patel ,

I created a runbook per PowerShell script.
I added each PowerShell runbook in a Graphical PowerShell.

To see the result in the log you need to enable logging:

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten
Nikunj Patel 61 Reputation points

2022-07-22T08:03:20.86+00:00

@Andreas Baumgarten I tried with enable logging on graphic power shell script. But still I am not able to seen Write output message in log. Can you please try with Write output cmdlet and let me know.

Using Verbose logs I notices each activity run in sequence only. not in parallel. So can you please confirm my understanding on same.

Thank you for all this support on same.
Andreas Baumgarten 123.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2022-07-22T11:55:38.683+00:00

Hi @Nikunj Patel ,

here it looks like this if you click on the marked line in the log.:

The output is shown in the Data: [........]

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(If the reply was helpful please don't forget to upvote and/or accept as answer, thank you)

Regards
Andreas Baumgarten
Nikunj Patel 61 Reputation points

2022-07-22T14:02:30.77+00:00

Can anyone confirm Graphical PowerShell script run parallel or not? I tried with multiple ways ans it seems it run in sequence only. But As per Microsoft it is parallel.
Is there any configuration to make it parallel run? thank you in advance.
Nikunj Patel 61 Reputation points

2022-07-22T14:05:13.97+00:00

Yes I saw detail message in Verbose. But it make it more confusion I just need output which we return from activity. not detail level log.
tbgangav-MSFT 10,426 Reputation points Moderator

2022-08-10T08:47:39.847+00:00

Hi @Nikunj Patel ,

Yes, the statement in the document is: If multiple activites do not have an incoming link, the runbook starts by running them in parallel. It follows the links to run other activities as each completes. I would interpret it as, in this scenario where there are multiple activities at the start of the runbook, it helps to just start those multiple activities in parallel but it might not always complete in parallel. If the requirement is also to complete those first 2 activities in parallel and continue to next step then I would recommend to use Junction at that point as well because Junction helps to wait until all incoming branches complete which allows runbook to run multiple activities in parallel and ensures that all have completed before moving on to next step. So, you may try approach mentioned in the below screenshot and see if it helps.
tbgangav-MSFT 10,426 Reputation points Moderator

2022-08-10T08:48:08.03+00:00

Hi @Nikunj Patel ,

On the other hand, to avoid dependency on graphical runbooks, try modular runbooks i.e., have a parent runbook with parallel keyword and call child runbooks inline as mentioned here / here. Below are the screenshot of the same for just illustration purpose.

Answer 2

If you are looking for the best solution to achieve that, Azure Functions with Powershell is better for your use-case. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-functions/functions-reference-powershell

But if you don't want to use Runbooks Powershell Workflows or you have to use your previously created runbooks, you can enable Diagnostics Logs in Azure Automation account integrated with Log Analytics Workspace, and then to trigger an alert rule with preconfigure Action Group with enabled webhooks for other runbook.

But once again, I would highly recommend moving to Azure Functions.

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How to control to run Powershell scripts?

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