best way to automate workflow in azure

Question

best way to automate workflow in azure

Azure-learning 56

I have to develop a process in azure which has step by step flow for patching process. first script is taking backup ,next script is scheduling and deploying patchs to azure vm . what is the best way I can keep and run all these script in one place and run step by step.

example - logic app or automation account , what is the suggested way to achieve this.

2 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Andrew Blumhardt 10,051 Microsoft Employee

This sounds like a job for Azure Automation Runbooks. These seem to map better to traditional batch and PowerShell automation. A Logic App or Azure Function may also be an option. I find that logic apps and functions work best when the primary goal is system integration. It probably depends on the tool that you and your organization are more likely to use regularly.

Azure-learning 56 Reputation points

2022-08-22T05:33:17.767+00:00

@Andrew Blumhardt I have to run 2-3 scripts(powershell) , condition is that when first scripts completes then only second script should start automatically. Can we achieve this using azure automation run book?

also I have to trigger first scripts based on condition when a storage account gets a new file(new updates) . as per my understanding azure function app can do this task but I want to know if any such functionality we can achieve using automation runbook?
Carlos Villagomez 1,106 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2022-08-25T17:27:31.083+00:00

Hello @NGaur-3476,

Thank you for your response! I was able to do some further research into your requirements and can confirm that Azure Automation Runbooks can be scheduled on time or frequency, but not in order. Whereas Azure Logic Apps can be used to trigger the Runbooks in order and thus would be recommended to use both services for this reason and per the requirements you have listed above.

Please let us know if this helps or if you have any further questions or concerns.

Thanks!
Carlos V.
Azure-learning 56 Reputation points

2022-08-26T15:32:58.93+00:00

@Carlos Villagomez Could you please help me with below query in the request

Answer 2

Maxim Sergeev 6,586 Microsoft Employee

Hi @NGaur-3476,

Azure Functions (Powershell-based), Azure Automation Account - this is a most right toolset to achieve that.
Both of them support PowerShell natively, support Webhooks that could include all required input as parameters.

If your trigger is a new file in a storage account, I would recommend to use a mix of services :

Azure LogicApps checks the new file, and if it exists - run a first script in Azure Functions or Azure Automation Account
If the script1 is completed successfully, trigger a second script in Azure Automation or Azure Functions via a webhook with required inputes
Scale the flow as needed

Azure-learning 56 Reputation points

2022-08-26T07:52:48.263+00:00

@Maxim Sergeev I am using azure function to run the scripts .this function checks the excel file from a storage account.

1 - this function --powershell script(1) will run every day once(at 10 am) which take input(excel) from a storage account.

2 - when it completes it will trigger a new powershell function(2) .

3-if it fails it should not execute further scripts and stop the flow and send notification in email.

4- when it is done(function 2) , it will execute new powershell function(3).

5-if it fails it should not execute further script(new powershell function(3)) and send notification.

how to achieve this , please suggest if there is any article for for reference .
Azure-learning 56 Reputation points

2022-08-26T11:20:19.293+00:00

also how to us webhook to start a new powershell function when first scripts completes. Can you please help me some example @Maxim Sergeev @Andrew Blumhardt @Carlos Villagomez

Carlos Villagomez 1,106 Microsoft Employee Moderator

Hello @NGaur-3476,
To provide some more guidance, you can use a webhook to start a published runbook following the document here. As part of the request body, you can pass it a function name, however the webhook is for the entire runbook, for example:

##  Invoking the runbook  
##  Home > Automation Accounts > AutomationAccountXYZ - Runbooks > RunbookXYZ  
##  The webhook name will be in the blade.  However, after the webhook is created the URI is no longer displayed for security reasons  
##  If you don't have the URI you'll need to recreate the webhook  
  
$uri ="https://s1events.azure-automation.net/webhooks?token=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"  
  
$vms  = @(  
            @{ Name="xyRedHat76";ResourceGroup="ResourceGroupXYZ"},  
            @{ Name="vm02";ResourceGroup="ResourceGroupXYZ"}  
        )  
$body = ConvertTo-Json -InputObject $vms  
$header = @{ message="StartedbyContoso"}  
$response = Invoke-WebRequest -Method Post -Uri $uri -Body $body -Headers $header; $response  
  
Instead of passing the VM data, you can pass a function, then your runbook would need to check the parameter:  
param  
(  
    [Parameter (Mandatory = $false)]  
    [object] $WebhookData  
  
)  
  
$requestBody = (ConvertFrom-Json -InputObject $WebhookData.RequestBody)  
if ($requestBody.xxxx -eq "yyyy") {zzzzzz}

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you!

Carlos Villagomez 1,106 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2022-08-26T22:34:39.27+00:00
In your case, instead of passing the VM data, you could instead pass a function and then your runbook would need logic to check the parameter per the following example:

param ( [Parameter (Mandatory = $false)] [object] $WebhookData ) $requestBody = (ConvertFrom-Json -InputObject $WebhookData.RequestBody) if ($requestBody.xxxx -eq "yyyy") {zzzzzz}

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks!
Carlos V.
Azure-learning 56 Reputation points

2022-08-28T12:48:31.683+00:00

Thank you @Carlos Villagomez . I will try with the suggestions provided
Azure-learning 56 Reputation points

2022-08-28T12:57:02.7+00:00

@Carlos Villagomez - Can't we use webhook with functions only ? I dont want to use automation account runbook ,just want to make use of logic app and function app to run sequentially powershell functions. will it be possible to use webhook without automation account runbook?
Carlos Villagomez 1,106 Reputation points Microsoft Employee Moderator

2022-08-29T14:53:28.793+00:00

@NGaur-3476,

Thank you for your comment! So, connecting from PowerShell into Logic Apps is not supported as Logic Apps doesn't contain any action but just a workflow for triggers so the PowerShell can be used somewhere else such as a webhook and then the Logic App can just call the webhook since webhooks themselves are triggered by HTTPS calls.

I did find that you can use Azure Functions as a webhook and when calling an HTTP endpoint will kick off a process which you can reference the following 2 examples here and here on how to create a basic webhook using Azure Functions and to assist with the integration process.

Hope this helps and please let me know should you have any further questions or concerns.

Thanks!
Carlos V.

Share via

best way to automate workflow in azure

2 answers

Your answer