Use Azure Cloud Shell

  • 3 minutes

Azure Cloud Shell is an interactive, browser-accessible shell for managing Azure resources. It provides the flexibility of choosing the shell experience that best suits the way you work. Linux users can opt for a Bash experience, while Windows users can opt for PowerShell.

Cloud Shell enables access to a browser-based command-line experience built with Azure management tasks in mind. You can use Cloud Shell to work untethered from a local machine in a way only the cloud can provide.

Screenshot of the Azure portal showing the cloud shell icon.

Azure Cloud Shell features

  • Is temporary and requires a new or existing Azure Files share to be mounted.
  • Offers an integrated graphical text editor based on the open-source Monaco Editor.
  • Authenticates automatically for instant access to your resources.
  • Runs on a temporary host provided on a per-session, per-user basis.
  • Times out after 20 minutes without interactive activity.
  • Requires a resource group, storage account, and Azure File share.
  • Uses the same Azure file share for both Bash and PowerShell.
  • Is assigned to one machine per user account.
  • Persists $HOME using a 5-GB image held in your file share.
  • Permissions are set as a regular Linux user in Bash.