Azure Cloud Shell

  • Author: Ronald Fung

  • Creation Date: 31 May 2023

  • Next Modified Date: 31 May 2024

A. Introduction

Azure Cloud Shell is an interactive, authenticated, browser-accessible terminal for managing Azure resources. It provides the flexibility of choosing the shell experience that best suits the way you work, either Bash or PowerShell.

Cloud Shell runs on a temporary host provided on a per-session, per-user basis. Your Cloud Shell session times out after 20 minutes without interactive activity. Cloud Shell persists your files in your $HOME location using a 5-GB file share.

Multiple access points Cloud Shell is a flexible tool that can be used from:

B. How is it used at Seagen

As a biopharma research company that uses Microsoft Azure, you can use Azure Cloud Shell to help manage your Azure resources and perform tasks in the cloud. Here are some ways you can use Azure Cloud Shell:

  1. Manage Azure resources: You can use Azure Cloud Shell to manage your Azure resources, such as virtual machines, storage accounts, and databases. The Cloud Shell provides a command-line interface (CLI) that allows you to manage your resources using popular tools like Azure CLI and PowerShell.

  2. Deploy applications: You can use Azure Cloud Shell to deploy applications to Azure, such as web apps, functions, and containers. The Cloud Shell provides a pre-configured environment with tools and languages like Git, Node.js, and Python.

  3. Configure network settings: You can use Azure Cloud Shell to configure network settings, such as virtual networks, subnets, and network security groups. The Cloud Shell provides a set of Azure networking tools, such as the Azure Network CLI and Azure PowerShell.

  4. Monitor Azure resources: You can use Azure Cloud Shell to monitor your Azure resources, such as virtual machines, storage accounts, and databases. The Cloud Shell provides tools like the Azure Monitor CLI and Azure PowerShell to help you monitor and troubleshoot your resources.

  5. Automate tasks: You can use Azure Cloud Shell to automate tasks, such as provisioning resources, running scripts, and scheduling tasks. The Cloud Shell provides access to popular automation tools like Azure Automation, Azure Functions, and Azure Logic Apps.

Overall, Azure Cloud Shell can be a useful tool for managing your Azure resources and performing tasks in the cloud. By using the pre-configured environment and CLI tools provided by the Cloud Shell, you can simplify and streamline your Azure management tasks, and focus on your core research and development work.

C. Features

Azure Cloud Shell is a browser-based shell environment that allows users to manage Azure resources and perform tasks in the cloud. Here are some of the key features of Azure Cloud Shell:

  1. Pre-configured environment: Azure Cloud Shell provides a pre-configured environment with all the necessary tools and settings to manage Azure resources. This includes popular CLI tools like Azure CLI and PowerShell, as well as languages like Node.js, Python, and Ruby.

  2. Persistent storage: Azure Cloud Shell provides persistent storage that is automatically associated with your Azure account. This allows you to easily access and save your scripts, files, and configurations.

  3. Browser-based: Azure Cloud Shell can be accessed from any modern web browser, without the need to install any additional software or tools.

  4. Multi-platform: Azure Cloud Shell can be used on Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing a consistent management experience across different platforms.

  5. Secure: Azure Cloud Shell is built on top of Azure infrastructure and uses HTTPS to secure your connections. Additionally, the Cloud Shell automatically logs you out after a period of inactivity to help protect your account.

  6. Accessible: Azure Cloud Shell can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, making it easy to manage your Azure resources from anywhere.

  7. Integration with Azure Portal: Azure Cloud Shell is integrated with Azure Portal, providing a seamless management experience across different Azure services and resources.

Overall, Azure Cloud Shell provides a powerful and flexible environment for managing Azure resources and performing tasks in the cloud. By leveraging the pre-configured environment, persistent storage, and access to popular tools and languages, users can simplify and streamline their Azure management tasks, and focus on their core business needs.

D. Where Implemented

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E. How it is tested

Testing Azure Cloud Shell involves verifying that the environment is properly configured and that it can perform tasks as expected. Here are some steps you can take to test Azure Cloud Shell:

  1. Verify configuration: Verify that Azure Cloud Shell is properly configured and integrated with your Azure account and resources.

  2. Test performance: Test Azure Cloud Shell by running scripts and commands to verify that they perform as expected and that there are no performance issues or bottlenecks.

  3. Test security: Test the security of Azure Cloud Shell by verifying that access controls are properly configured and that data is properly encrypted and secured.

  4. Test integration: Test the integration of Azure Cloud Shell with other Azure services and resources by verifying that data and workflows are properly integrated and that there are no compatibility issues.

  5. Test persistence: Test the persistence of Azure Cloud Shell by verifying that your scripts, files, and configurations are properly saved and accessible across different sessions.

  6. Test accessibility: Test the accessibility of Azure Cloud Shell by accessing it from different locations and devices to verify that it can be used from anywhere with an internet connection.

  7. Test documentation: Test the documentation of Azure Cloud Shell by verifying that it is up-to-date, accurate, and comprehensive.

Overall, testing Azure Cloud Shell involves verifying that the environment is properly configured and functioning as expected, testing performance, security, integration, persistence, accessibility, and documentation. By testing Azure Cloud Shell, you can ensure that you are effectively using the environment to manage your Azure resources, and that you are benefiting from the ease-of-use, flexibility, and security it provides.

F. 2023 Roadmap

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G. 2024 Roadmap

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H. Known Issues

As with any software or service, there may be known issues or limitations that users should be aware of when using Azure Cloud Shell. Here are some of the known issues for Azure Cloud Shell:

  1. Limited customization: Azure Cloud Shell has limited customization options, which can limit the ability of users to configure the environment to their specific needs.

  2. Limited tool availability: Azure Cloud Shell may not support all the tools and languages that users need, which can limit its usefulness for certain tasks.

  3. Network latency: Azure Cloud Shell may be affected by network latency, which can impact the speed and reliability of data transfers and application performance.

  4. Cost: Azure Cloud Shell can be expensive for users with limited budgets, particularly if they use it frequently or for resource-intensive tasks.

  5. Complexity: Azure Cloud Shell can be complex to configure and use, particularly for users who are not familiar with CLI tools and workflows.

  6. Session timeout: Azure Cloud Shell sessions may time out after a period of inactivity, which can cause users to lose their work and configurations.

Overall, while Azure Cloud Shell offers a powerful and flexible environment for managing Azure resources and performing tasks in the cloud, users must be aware of these known issues and take steps to mitigate their impact. This may include carefully selecting the tools and languages that are supported by Azure Cloud Shell, carefully configuring the environment to meet the specific needs of their tasks, carefully monitoring the cost and complexity of the solutions to ensure that they are a good fit for their budget and skills, and carefully saving their work and configurations to avoid losing them due to session timeouts or other issues. By taking these steps, users can ensure that they are effectively using Azure Cloud Shell to manage their Azure resources and that they are benefiting from the ease-of-use, flexibility, and security it provides.

[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture

[x] Reviewed by Application Development

[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture