Implement DSC and Linux automation on Azure

  • 2 minutes

DSC for Linux enables you to manage Linux systems using the same Desired State Configuration approach used for Windows systems. This ensures consistent configuration management across hybrid environments.

For more specific and up-to-date details, visit Get started with Desired State Configuration (DSC) for Linux.

Supported Linux operating systems

The following Linux operating system versions are currently supported by both PowerShell DSC and Azure Automation State Configuration:

  • CentOS: 6, 7, and 8 (x64).
  • Debian GNU/Linux: 8, 9, and 10 (x64).
  • Oracle Linux: 6 and 7 (x64).
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server: 6, 7, and 8 (x64).
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: 12 and 15 (x64).
  • Ubuntu Server: 14.04 LTS, 16.04 LTS, 18.04 LTS, and 20.04 LTS (x64).

DSC for Linux resources

DSC for Linux includes built-in resources for managing Linux systems:

  • nxFile: Manage files and directories.
  • nxScript: Run scripts to configure resources.
  • nxUser: Manage user accounts.
  • nxGroup: Manage user groups.
  • nxService: Manage services using systemd, upstart, or System V.
  • nxPackage: Manage packages using apt, yum, or zypper.

Implementing DSC for Linux on Azure

To implement DSC for Linux on Azure, you can use Azure Automation State Configuration to:

  • Create DSC configurations for Linux systems using PowerShell.
  • Upload and compile configurations in Azure Automation.
  • Onboard Linux VMs to Azure Automation State Configuration.
  • Apply configurations to Linux nodes through the built-in pull server.

This approach provides centralized management and monitoring of both Windows and Linux systems from a single platform.