Automatically start lab VMs with autostart in Azure DevTest Labs

This article shows how to configure and apply an autostart policy for Azure DevTest Labs virtual machines (VMs). Autostart automatically starts up lab VMs at specified times and days.

To implement autostart, you first configure an autostart policy for the lab. You can then enable the policy for individual lab VMs. Requiring individual VMs to enable autostart helps prevent unnecessary startups that could increase costs.

You can also configure autoshutdown policies for lab VMs. For more information, see Configure autoshutdown for lab VMs in DevTest Labs.

Prerequisites

None

Configure autostart for the lab

To configure an autostart policy for a lab, complete these steps. After you configure the policy, enable autostart for each VM that you want to start automatically.

1. On your lab Overview page, select Configuration and policies under Settings in the left navigation.

   

2. On the Configuration and policies page, select Auto-start under Schedules in the left navigation.

3. Select Yes for Allow auto-start.

   

4. Enter a Scheduled start time, select a Time zone, and select the checkboxes next to the Days of the week that you want to add to the schedule.

5. Select Save.

   

Add VMs to the autostart schedule

After you configure the autostart policy, complete these steps for each VM that you want to start automatically.

1. On your lab Overview page, select the VM under My virtual machines.

   

2. On the VM's Overview page, select Auto-start under Operations in the left navigation.

3. On the Auto-start page, select Yes for Allow this virtual machine to be scheduled for automatic start, and then select Save.

   

4. On the VM Overview page, your VM shows Opted-in status for autostart.

   

   You can also see the autostart status for the VM on the lab Overview page.

   

Related content

• Configure autoshutdown for lab VMs in DevTest Labs
• Use command lines to start and stop DevTest Labs VMs

This article shows how to configure and apply an autostart policy for Azure DevTest Labs virtual machines (VMs). Autostart automatically starts up lab VMs at specified times and days.

To implement autostart, you first configure an autostart policy for the lab. You can then enable the policy for individual lab VMs. Requiring individual VMs to enable autostart helps prevent unnecessary startups that could increase costs.

You can also configure autoshutdown policies for lab VMs. For more information, see Configure autoshutdown for lab VMs in DevTest Labs.

To configure an autostart policy for a lab, complete these steps. After you configure the policy, enable autostart for each VM that you want to start automatically.

1. On your lab Overview page, select Configuration and policies under Settings in the left navigation.

   

2. On the Configuration and policies page, select Auto-start under Schedules in the left navigation.

3. Select Yes for Allow auto-start.

   

4. Enter a Scheduled start time, select a Time zone, and select the checkboxes next to the Days of the week that you want to add to the schedule.

5. Select Save.

   

After you configure the autostart policy, complete these steps for each VM that you want to start automatically.

1. On your lab Overview page, select the VM under My virtual machines.

   

2. On the VM's Overview page, select Auto-start under Operations in the left navigation.

3. On the Auto-start page, select Yes for Allow this virtual machine to be scheduled for automatic start, and then select Save.

   

4. On the VM Overview page, your VM shows Opted-in status for autostart.

   

   You can also see the autostart status for the VM on the lab Overview page.