Tutorial: Deploy virtual machine extensions with ARM templates

Learn how to use Azure virtual machine extensions to perform post-deployment configuration and automation tasks on Azure VMs. Many different VM extensions are available for use with Azure VMs. In this tutorial, you deploy a Custom Script extension from an Azure Resource Manager template (ARM template) to run a PowerShell script on a Windows VM. The script installs Web Server on the VM.

This tutorial covers the following tasks:

If you don't have an Azure subscription, create a trial subscription before you begin.

Prerequisites

To complete this article, you need:

• Visual Studio Code with Resource Manager Tools extension. See Quickstart: Create ARM templates with Visual Studio Code.

• To increase security, use a generated password for the virtual machine administrator account. You can use the local Shell to run the following command in PowerShell or CLI:

  openssl rand -base64 32
  

  To learn more, run man openssl rand to open the manual page.

  Azure Key Vault is designed to safeguard cryptographic keys and other secrets. For more information, see Tutorial: Integrate Azure Key Vault in your ARM template deployment. We also recommend that you update your password every three months.

Prepare a PowerShell script

You can use an inline PowerShell script or a script file. This tutorial shows how to use a script file. A PowerShell script with the following content is shared from GitHub:

Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-Server -IncludeManagementTools

If you choose to publish the file to your own location, update the fileUri element in the template later in the tutorial.

Open a quickstart template

Azure Quickstart Templates is a repository for ARM templates. Instead of creating a template from scratch, you can find a sample template and customize it. The template used in this tutorial is called Deploy a simple Windows VM.

1. In Visual Studio Code, select File > Open File.

2. In the File name box, paste the following URL:

   https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Azure/azure-quickstart-templates/master/quickstarts/microsoft.compute/vm-simple-windows/azuredeploy.json
   

3. To open the file, select Open. The template defines five resources:

   • Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts.
   • Microsoft.Network/publicIPAddresses.
   • Microsoft.Network/networkSecurityGroups.
   • Microsoft.Network/virtualNetworks.
   • Microsoft.Network/networkInterfaces.
   • Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines.

   It's helpful to get some basic understanding of the template before you customize it.

4. Save a copy of the file to your local computer with the name azuredeploy.json by selecting File > Save As.

Edit the template

Add a virtual machine extension resource to the existing template with the following content:

{
  "type": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/extensions",
  "apiVersion": "2021-04-01",
  "name": "[format('{0}/{1}', variables('vmName'), 'InstallWebServer')]",
  "location": "[parameters('location')]",
  "dependsOn": [
    "[format('Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/{0}',variables('vmName'))]"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "publisher": "Microsoft.Compute",
    "type": "CustomScriptExtension",
    "typeHandlerVersion": "1.7",
    "autoUpgradeMinorVersion": true,
    "settings": {
      "fileUris": [
        "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Azure/azure-docs-json-samples/master/tutorial-vm-extension/installWebServer.ps1"
      ],
      "commandToExecute": "powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -File installWebServer.ps1"
    }
  }
}

The following are some important elements:

• name: Because the extension resource is a child resource of the virtual machine object, the name must have the virtual machine name prefix. See Set name and type for child resources.
• dependsOn: Create the extension resource after you've created the virtual machine.
• fileUris: The locations where the script files are stored. If you choose not to use the provided location, you need to update the values.
• commandToExecute: This command invokes the script.

To use an inline script, remove fileUris, and update commandToExecute to:

powershell.exe Install-WindowsFeature -name Web-Server -IncludeManagementTools && powershell.exe remove-item 'C:\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\iisstart.htm' && powershell.exe Add-Content -Path 'C:\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\iisstart.htm' -Value $('Hello World from ' + $env:computername)

This inline script also updates the iisstart.html content.

You must also open the HTTP port so that you can access the web server.

1. Find securityRules in the template.

2. Add the following rule next to default-allow-3389.

   {
     "name": "AllowHTTPInBound",
     "properties": {
       "priority": 1010,
       "access": "Allow",
       "direction": "Inbound",
       "destinationPortRange": "80",
       "protocol": "Tcp",
       "sourcePortRange": "*",
       "sourceAddressPrefix": "*",
       "destinationAddressPrefix": "*"
     }
   }
   

Deploy the template

For the deployment procedure, see the Deploy the template section of Tutorial: Create ARM templates with dependent resources. We recommended that you use a generated password for the virtual machine administrator account. See this article's Prerequisites section.

From the Azure PowerShell, run the following command to retrieve the public IP address of the VM:

(Get-AzPublicIpAddress -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroupName).IpAddress

Paste the IP address into a Web browser. The default Internet Information Services (IIS) welcome page opens:

Clean up resources

When you no longer need the Azure resources you deployed, clean them up by deleting the resource group.

1. In the Azure portal, in the left pane, select Resource group.
2. In the Filter by name box, enter the resource group name.
3. Select the resource group name. Six resources are displayed in the resource group.
4. In the top menu, select Delete resource group.

Next steps

In this tutorial, you deployed a virtual machine and a virtual machine extension. The extension installed the IIS web server on the virtual machine. To learn how to use the Azure SQL Database extension to import a BACPAC file, see: