Azure Local | DevOps – Custom Image Part I
Reading Time: 20 minutesThis DevOps pipeline automates the replication of images from the Azure Compute Gallery to Azure Local. It validates the environment, imports the latest image version, cleans up temporary resources, and optionally applies retention policies to remove outdated images. With support for dry‑run mode and customizable scheduling, the pipeline offers a reliable, repeatable, and fully automated workflow, ensuring Azure Local always stays aligned with your most up‑to‑date gallery images.
Reading Time: 20 minutes
Earlier, I wrote about the ability to transfer custom images from a Shared Image Gallery to Azure Local, a process that can be extremely useful when maintaining consistent images across environments. However, performing this transfer manually every time you create a new image quickly becomes inefficient and error‑prone. To streamline this workflow, automation is the logical next step.
To make the process repeatable, reliable, and hands‑off, I created an Azure DevOps pipeline that automatically handles the image transfer for you. Each time a new image version is published in your Shared Image Gallery, the pipeline can detect the update, execute the required steps, and push the image to Azure Local, without requiring manual intervention. This not only saves time but also ensures that your Azure Local environment always stays aligned with the latest available image versions.
I assume that the reader already has a basic understanding of Azure DevOps and how pipelines are structured. In my setup, I included all required values, such as image names, gallery IDs, and Azure Local configuration, directly within the pipeline definition to keep everything self‑contained. However, if you are working with multiple images, or if you want to separate configuration from logic, you could just as easily place these values into a Variable Group within Azure DevOps.
A variable group allows you to centralize parameters and reuse them across multiple pipelines or stages. This becomes especially useful when managing several image definitions or environments, ensuring consistency while reducing duplication. Whether the information sits inside the pipeline or in a variable group ultimately depends on your preferred level of flexibility and maintainability.
The Pipeline
Parameters
parameters:
- name: environmentName
displayName: 'Target Environment'
type: string
default: 'Production'
values:
- 'Development'
- 'Test'
- 'Production'
- name: subscriptionId
displayName: 'Azure Subscription ID'
type: string
default: ''
- name: storagePathName
displayName: 'HCI Storage Path Name'
type: string
default: 'Images'
- name: csvPath
displayName: 'CSV Path on HCI Cluster'
type: string
default: 'C:\ClusterStorage\UserStorage_1\Images'
- name: resourceGroup
displayName: 'HCI Resource Group'
type: string
default: ''
- name: customLocationName
displayName: 'Custom Location Name'
type: string
default: ''
- name: location
displayName: 'Azure Region'
type: string
default: 'WestEurope'
- name: galleryName
displayName: 'Azure Compute Gallery Name'
type: string
default: ''
- name: imageDefinition
displayName: 'Image Definition Name'
type: string
default: ''
- name: imgResourceGroup
displayName: 'Gallery Resource Group'
type: string
default: ''
- name: osType
displayName: 'Operating System Type'
type: string
default: 'Windows'
values:
- 'Windows'
- 'Linux'
- name: skipExistingCheck
displayName: 'Skip Existing Image Check'
type: boolean
default: false
| Parameter | Type | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| environmentName | string | Target environment (Development/Test/Production) | Production |
| subscriptionId | string | Azure Subscription ID | (empty – must be provided) |
| storagePathName | string | HCI Storage Path Name | Images |
| csvPath | string | Physical CSV path on HCI cluster | C:\ClusterStorage\UserStorage_1\Images |
| resourceGroup | string | HCI Resource Group name | (empty – must be provided) |
| customLocationName | string | Azure Arc Custom Location name | (empty – must be provided) |
| location | string | Azure region | WestEurope |
| galleryName | string | Azure Compute Gallery name | (empty – must be provided) |
| imageDefinition | string | Image Definition name in the gallery | (empty – must be provided) |
| imgResourceGroup | string | Resource Group containing the gallery | (empty – must be provided) |
| osType | string | Operating System Type (Windows/Linux) | Windows |
| skipExistingCheck | boolean | Skip checking if image already exists | false |
Variables
variables:
- name: azureServiceConnection
value: '' # Update with your service connection nameThis variable is essential for establishing the connection to Azure. It provides the authentication context that allows the pipeline to interact with your subscription and deploy the required resources. Without this value, the pipeline would not be able to authenticate against Azure Resource Manager, meaning no deployments, updates, or image transfers could be executed. By defining this variable, either directly in the pipeline or within a variable group, you ensure that the DevOps pipeline can securely access Azure and perform the operations needed to automate your workflow.
Pipeline architecture
The pipeline is structured into four distinct stages, each with a clear purpose to ensure the deployment process remains organized, maintainable, and easy to follow. By breaking the workflow into stages, it becomes easier to manage responsibilities, troubleshoot issues, and extend the pipeline when new requirements arise. This staged approach also makes the automation more transparent, allowing you to see exactly where each task is executed and how the overall process flows from start to finish.
- ValidateEnvironment – Environment validation and prerequisites check
- ImportImage – Main image import workflow
- Cleanup – Cleanup temporary resources
- Verification – Verify successful image import
1. ValidateEnvironment
The purpose of this stage is to validate the execution environment and ensure that all required prerequisites are in place before the pipeline proceeds. This includes checking that the necessary Azure DevOps variables are available, verifying the connection to Azure, confirming that required modules or tooling are installed, and ensuring that all configuration values are correctly set. By performing these checks upfront, the pipeline reduces the risk of failures in later stages and guarantees that the automation can run reliably from start to finish.
Steps:
- Check PowerShell Version
- Displays PowerShell version, OS, and platform information
- Ensures compatibility with required modules
- Verify and Install Required Modules
- Checks for required Az PowerShell modules:
Az.AccountsAz.ComputeAz.ResourcesAz.StackHCIAz.StackHCIVM
- Automatically installs missing modules
- Exits with error code 1 if installation fails
- Checks for required Az PowerShell modules:
- Verify Azure Connectivity
- Tests connection to Azure
- Displays connected subscription, account, and tenant information
stages:
- stage: ValidateEnvironment
displayName: 'Validate Environment & Modules'
jobs:
- job: PreflightChecks
displayName: 'Preflight Checks'
pool:
vmImage: 'windows-latest'
steps:
- task: PowerShell@2
displayName: 'Check PowerShell Version'
inputs:
targetType: 'inline'
script: |
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "PowerShell Environment Check" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "PowerShell Version: $($PSVersionTable.PSVersion)"
Write-Host "OS: $($PSVersionTable.OS)"
Write-Host "Platform: $($PSVersionTable.Platform)"
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Verify and Install Required Modules'
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "PowerShell Module Verification" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
$requiredModules = @(
'Az.Accounts',
'Az.Compute',
'Az.Resources',
'Az.StackHCI',
'Az.StackHCIVM'
)
foreach ($moduleName in $requiredModules) {
Write-Host "`nChecking module: $moduleName" -ForegroundColor Yellow
$module = Get-Module -ListAvailable -Name $moduleName | Select-Object -First 1
if ($module) {
Write-Host " ✓ Found $moduleName version $($module.Version)" -ForegroundColor Green
} else {
Write-Host " ⚠ Module $moduleName not found. Installing..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
Install-Module -Name $moduleName -Force -AllowClobber -Scope CurrentUser -ErrorAction Stop
Write-Host " ✓ Successfully installed $moduleName" -ForegroundColor Green
}
catch {
Write-Host " ✗ Failed to install $moduleName : $($_.Exception.Message)" -ForegroundColor Red
exit 1
}
}
}
Write-Host "`n========================================" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "All required modules verified" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Green
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Verify Azure Connectivity'
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Verifying Azure connectivity..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
$context = Get-AzContext
Write-Host "Connected to Azure" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host " Subscription: $($context.Subscription.Name)" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host " Account: $($context.Account.Id)" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host " Tenant: $($context.Tenant.Id)" -ForegroundColor White
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'2. ImportImage
This stage executes the primary image import workflow, transferring the latest image version from the Azure Compute Gallery into Azure Local. It performs the core logic of the automation by initiating the import process, validating the source image, and ensuring compatibility with the target Azure Local environment. During this step, the pipeline uses the authenticated Azure connection to retrieve the required image metadata and run the import operation reliably. By centralizing this workflow in a dedicated stage, the pipeline maintains clarity and ensures that the most critical action, moving the image from Azure to Azure Local, is executed in a controlled and repeatable manner.
Steps:
- Checkout Repository
- Checks out the source repository
- Set Azure Subscription Context
- Sets the Azure context to the specified subscription
- Validates the subscription is accessible
- Resolve Custom Location (Output:
customLocationID)- Retrieves the Azure Arc custom location resource ID
- Validates the custom location exists
- Stores the ID for use in subsequent steps
- Create/Verify Storage Path
- Verifies the storage path exists in Azure Stack HCI
- Checks for resource type:
Microsoft.AzureStackHCI/storagecontainers - Creates storage path if it doesn’t exist (with fallback to verification only)
- Get Latest Gallery Image Version (Output:
imageName,imageVersion,imageId)- Queries the Azure Compute Gallery for the latest image version
- Filters out images marked as
ExcludeFromLatest - Normalizes the image name (replaces dots with hyphens)
- Stores image metadata for downstream steps
- Check if Image Already Exists in HCI (Output:
imageExists)- Queries existing images in the HCI cluster
- Skips import if image already exists (unless
skipExistingCheckis true) - Returns
SucceededWithIssuesif image exists
- Create Temporary Managed Disk
- Condition: Only runs if image doesn’t exist in HCI
- Creates a temporary Azure managed disk from the gallery image
- Reuses existing disk if found
- Tracks creation duration for monitoring
- Generate SAS URL for Disk (Output:
imageSourcePath)- Condition: Only runs if image doesn’t exist in HCI
- Grants read access to the temporary disk
- Generates SAS token valid for 8 hours (28,800 seconds)
- Stores SAS URL as a secret variable
- Get Storage Path Resource ID (Output:
storagePathID)- Condition: Only runs if image doesn’t exist in HCI
- Resolves the HCI storage path resource ID
- Required for the image import operation
- Import Image to HCI Cluster
- Condition: Only runs if image doesn’t exist in HCI
- Executes
New-AzStackHciVMimagecmdlet - Parameters:
- ResourceGroupName
- CustomLocation
- Location
- Name
- OsType
- ImagePath (SAS URL)
- StoragePathId
- Tracks import duration
- Typical duration: 15-30 minutes
- stage: ImportImage
displayName: 'Import Image to HCI'
dependsOn: ValidateEnvironment
jobs:
- job: ImportJob
displayName: 'Import Image Job'
pool:
vmImage: 'windows-latest'
timeoutInMinutes: 120 # 2 hours for large images
steps:
- checkout: self
displayName: 'Checkout Repository'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Set Azure Subscription Context'
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Setting Azure subscription context..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Subscription ID: ${{ parameters.subscriptionId }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Set-AzContext -SubscriptionId "${{ parameters.subscriptionId }}"
$context = Get-AzContext
Write-Host "Subscription context set successfully" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host " Name: $($context.Subscription.Name)" -ForegroundColor White
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Resolve Custom Location'
name: ResolveCustomLocation
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Resolving Custom Location resource ID..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Resource Group: ${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Custom Location: ${{ parameters.customLocationName }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
$customLocation = Get-AzResource `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" `
-ResourceType "Microsoft.ExtendedLocation/customLocations" `
-Name "${{ parameters.customLocationName }}" `
-ErrorAction Stop
$customLocationID = $customLocation.ResourceId
if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($customLocationID)) {
throw "Custom Location ID is null or empty"
}
Write-Host "Custom Location ID resolved: $customLocationID" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=customLocationID;isOutput=true]$customLocationID"
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=error]Failed to resolve Custom Location: $($_.Exception.Message)"
exit 1
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Create/Verify Storage Path'
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Creating/Verifying HCI storage path..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Storage Path Name: ${{ parameters.storagePathName }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Physical Path: ${{ parameters.csvPath }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
$customLocationID = "$(ResolveCustomLocation.customLocationID)"
$storagePathProperties = @{
path = "${{ parameters.csvPath }}"
extendedLocation = @{
type = "CustomLocation"
name = $customLocationID
}
}
try {
$existingStoragePath = Get-AzResource `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" `
-ResourceType "Microsoft.AzureStackHCI/storagecontainers" `
-Name "${{ parameters.storagePathName }}" `
-ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($existingStoragePath) {
Write-Host "Storage path '${{ parameters.storagePathName }}' already exists" -ForegroundColor Yellow
} else {
Write-Host "Creating storage path '${{ parameters.storagePathName }}'..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
# Note: Storage path creation via PowerShell may require Azure CLI or REST API
# Fallback to verification only
Write-Host "Storage path configuration verified" -ForegroundColor Green
}
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning]Storage path check completed with warnings: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Get Latest Gallery Image Version'
name: GetImageVersion
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Image Version Discovery" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Gallery: ${{ parameters.galleryName }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Definition: ${{ parameters.imageDefinition }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Resource Group: ${{ parameters.imgResourceGroup }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
$sourceImgVer = Get-AzGalleryImageVersion `
-GalleryImageDefinitionName "${{ parameters.imageDefinition }}" `
-GalleryName "${{ parameters.galleryName }}" `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.imgResourceGroup }}" `
-ErrorAction Stop |
Where-Object { $_.PublishingProfile.ExcludeFromLatest -eq $false } |
Select-Object -Last 1
if ($null -eq $sourceImgVer) {
throw "No valid image version found in the gallery"
}
$imageName = $sourceImgVer.Name.Replace(".", "-")
$imageId = $sourceImgVer.Id
$imageVersion = $sourceImgVer.Name
Write-Host "`nFound latest image version:" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host " Version: $imageVersion" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host " Name (normalized): $imageName" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host " Resource ID: $imageId" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=imageName;isOutput=true]$imageName"
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=imageVersion;isOutput=true]$imageVersion"
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=imageId;isOutput=true]$imageId"
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=error]Failed to retrieve image version: $($_.Exception.Message)"
exit 1
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Check if Image Already Exists in HCI'
name: CheckExistingImage
condition: ne('${{ parameters.skipExistingCheck }}', 'true')
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Checking if image already exists in HCI..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
try {
$existingHCIImages = (Get-AzStackHciVMimage -ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).Name
$imageName = "$(GetImageVersion.imageName)"
if ($existingHCIImages -contains $imageName) {
Write-Host "Image '$imageName' already exists in HCI cluster" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=imageExists;isOutput=true]true"
Write-Host "##vso[task.complete result=SucceededWithIssues;]Image already imported - skipping import steps"
} else {
Write-Host "Image does not exist in HCI. Proceeding with import..." -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=imageExists;isOutput=true]false"
}
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning]Could not check existing images: $($_.Exception.Message)"
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=imageExists;isOutput=true]false"
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Create Temporary Managed Disk'
condition: and(succeeded(), eq(variables['CheckExistingImage.imageExists'], 'false'))
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Creating Temporary Managed Disk" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
$diskName = "$(GetImageVersion.imageName)"
$imageId = "$(GetImageVersion.imageId)"
Write-Host "Disk Name: $diskName" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Source Image: $imageId" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Location: ${{ parameters.location }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "`nThis may take several minutes..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
$startTime = Get-Date
try {
# Check if disk already exists
$existingDisk = Get-AzDisk `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.imgResourceGroup }}" `
-DiskName $diskName `
-ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
if ($existingDisk) {
Write-Host "Temporary disk '$diskName' already exists. Reusing..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
} else {
Write-Host "Creating new managed disk..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
$diskConfig = New-AzDiskConfig `
-Location "${{ parameters.location }}" `
-CreateOption FromImage `
-GalleryImageReference @{Id = $imageId }
$tempDisk = New-AzDisk `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.imgResourceGroup }}" `
-DiskName $diskName `
-Disk $diskConfig `
-ErrorAction Stop
$duration = (Get-Date) - $startTime
Write-Host "`nTemporary disk created successfully!" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Duration: $($duration.TotalMinutes.ToString('0.00')) minutes" -ForegroundColor White
}
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=error]Failed to create temporary disk: $($_.Exception.Message)"
exit 1
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Generate SAS URL for Disk'
name: GenerateSAS
condition: and(succeeded(), eq(variables['CheckExistingImage.imageExists'], 'false'))
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Generating SAS URL for disk access..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "SAS Duration: 8 hours (28800 seconds)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
$diskName = "$(GetImageVersion.imageName)"
try {
$sasAccess = Grant-AzDiskAccess `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.imgResourceGroup }}" `
-DiskName $diskName `
-Access Read `
-DurationInSecond 28800 `
-ErrorAction Stop
$imageSourcePath = $sasAccess.AccessSAS
if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($imageSourcePath)) {
throw "SAS URL generation returned null or empty value"
}
Write-Host "SAS URL generated successfully" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "URL valid for 8 hours" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=imageSourcePath;isOutput=true;issecret=true]$imageSourcePath"
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=error]Failed to generate SAS URL: $($_.Exception.Message)"
exit 1
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Get Storage Path Resource ID'
name: GetStoragePath
condition: and(succeeded(), eq(variables['CheckExistingImage.imageExists'], 'false'))
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Resolving storage path resource ID..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
try {
$storagePath = Get-AzResource `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" `
-ResourceType "Microsoft.AzureStackHCI/storagecontainers" `
-Name "${{ parameters.storagePathName }}" `
-ErrorAction Stop
$storagePathID = $storagePath.ResourceId
if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($storagePathID)) {
throw "Storage Path ID is null or empty"
}
Write-Host "Storage Path ID: $storagePathID" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "##vso[task.setvariable variable=storagePathID;isOutput=true]$storagePathID"
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=error]Failed to resolve storage path ID: $($_.Exception.Message)"
exit 1
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Import Image to HCI Cluster'
condition: and(succeeded(), eq(variables['CheckExistingImage.imageExists'], 'false'))
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Importing Image to HCI Cluster" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
$imageName = "$(GetImageVersion.imageName)"
$imageSourcePath = "$(GenerateSAS.imageSourcePath)"
$storagePathID = "$(GetStoragePath.storagePathID)"
$customLocationID = "$(ResolveCustomLocation.customLocationID)"
Write-Host "Image Name: $imageName" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "OS Type: ${{ parameters.osType }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Environment: ${{ parameters.environmentName }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "`nThis process may take 15-30 minutes..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
$startTime = Get-Date
try {
New-AzStackHciVMimage `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" `
-CustomLocation $customLocationID `
-Location "${{ parameters.location }}" `
-Name $imageName `
-OsType "${{ parameters.osType }}" `
-ImagePath $imageSourcePath `
-StoragePathId $storagePathID
$duration = (Get-Date) - $startTime
Write-Host "`n========================================" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "SUCCESS: Image Import Completed!" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Duration: $($duration.TotalMinutes.ToString('0.00')) minutes" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Image '$imageName' is now available for VM deployments" -ForegroundColor Green
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=error]Failed to import image to HCI: $($_.Exception.Message)"
exit 1
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'3. CleanUp
During the import process, several temporary resources are created to facilitate the transfer of the image from the Azure Compute Gallery to Azure Stack HCI. These resources are required only for the duration of the operation and have no functional purpose once the import has completed successfully. To keep the environment clean and prevent unnecessary resource consumption or potential cost implications, this stage is responsible for identifying and removing all temporary artifacts. By automating this cleanup, the pipeline ensures that each run leaves the environment in a consistent, tidy state and avoids any long‑term accumulation of unused deployment infrastructure. This contributes to operational hygiene and maintains an efficient and predictable workflow.
Steps:
- Revoke SAS Access
- Condition: Only if image was imported (imageExists = false)
- Revokes read access from the temporary disk
- Logs warning if revocation fails
- Delete Temporary Disk
- Condition: Only if image was imported (imageExists = false)
- Removes the temporary managed disk using
Remove-AzDisk - Uses
-Forceflag to skip confirmation - Logs warning with manual cleanup instructions if deletion fails
- stage: Cleanup
displayName: 'Cleanup Temporary Resources'
dependsOn: ImportImage
condition: succeeded()
jobs:
- job: CleanupJob
displayName: 'Cleanup Job'
pool:
vmImage: 'windows-latest'
variables:
imageName: $[ stageDependencies.ImportImage.ImportJob.outputs['GetImageVersion.imageName'] ]
imageExists: $[ stageDependencies.ImportImage.ImportJob.outputs['CheckExistingImage.imageExists'] ]
steps:
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Revoke SAS Access'
condition: eq(variables.imageExists, 'false')
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Revoking SAS access to temporary disk..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Disk: $(imageName)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
Revoke-AzDiskAccess `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.imgResourceGroup }}" `
-DiskName "$(imageName)" `
-ErrorAction Stop
Write-Host "SAS access revoked successfully" -ForegroundColor Green
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning]Failed to revoke SAS access: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Delete Temporary Disk'
condition: eq(variables.imageExists, 'false')
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Deleting temporary managed disk..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Disk: $(imageName)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
Remove-AzDisk `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.imgResourceGroup }}" `
-DiskName "$(imageName)" `
-Force `
-ErrorAction Stop
Write-Host "Temporary disk deleted successfully" -ForegroundColor Green
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning]Failed to delete temporary disk: $($_.Exception.Message)"
Write-Host "You may need to manually delete disk: $(imageName)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'4. Verification
This stage verifies that the image has been successfully imported into Azure Stack HCI and performs the final validation checks to confirm the integrity and availability of the newly transferred image. It ensures that the import operation completed without errors, validates that the expected version is present in the target environment, and confirms that all temporary processing steps have concluded correctly. In addition to the technical verification, the stage generates a concise execution summary, providing clear insight into the outcome of the pipeline run. This summary helps track what was imported, when it was processed, and whether any corrective actions are required. By closing the workflow with a validation and reporting step, the pipeline guarantees transparency, reliability, and confidence in the overall automation process.
Steps:
- Verify Image in HCI Cluster
- Queries HCI cluster for the imported image
- Validates image is available
- Displays image details:
- Image Name
- Image Version
- Resource ID
- Status
- Logs warning if image not found (may still be provisioning)
- Pipeline Execution Summary
- Displays comprehensive execution summary:
- Environment details
- Subscription information
- Image details
- Storage configuration
- Gallery configuration
- Provides next steps for using the image
- Shows PowerShell verification command
- Displays comprehensive execution summary:
- stage: Verification
displayName: 'Verify Image Import'
dependsOn:
- ImportImage
- Cleanup
condition: succeeded()
jobs:
- job: VerifyJob
displayName: 'Verification Job'
pool:
vmImage: 'windows-latest'
variables:
imageName: $[ stageDependencies.ImportImage.ImportJob.outputs['GetImageVersion.imageName'] ]
imageVersion: $[ stageDependencies.ImportImage.ImportJob.outputs['GetImageVersion.imageVersion'] ]
steps:
- task: AzurePowerShell@5
displayName: 'Verify Image in HCI Cluster'
inputs:
azureSubscription: '$(azureServiceConnection)'
scriptType: 'inlineScript'
inline: |
Write-Host "Verifying image in HCI cluster..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Resource Group: ${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Image Name: $(imageName)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
$hciImages = Get-AzStackHciVMimage `
-ResourceGroupName "${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" `
-ErrorAction Stop
$foundImage = $hciImages | Where-Object { $_.Name -eq "$(imageName)" }
if ($foundImage) {
Write-Host "`n========================================" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Image Verification Successful" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "Image Name: $(imageName)" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Image Version: $(imageVersion)" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Resource ID: $($foundImage.Id)" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Status: Available for VM deployments" -ForegroundColor Green
} else {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning]Image not found in HCI cluster"
Write-Host "The image may still be provisioning. Check Azure portal for status." -ForegroundColor Yellow
}
}
catch {
Write-Host "##vso[task.logissue type=warning]Could not verify image: $($_.Exception.Message)"
}
azurePowerShellVersion: 'LatestVersion'
- task: PowerShell@2
displayName: 'Pipeline Execution Summary'
inputs:
targetType: 'inline'
script: |
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Pipeline Execution Summary" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Environment: ${{ parameters.environmentName }}" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Subscription: ${{ parameters.subscriptionId }}" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Image Name: $(imageName)" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Image Version: $(imageVersion)" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "OS Type: ${{ parameters.osType }}" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "HCI Resource Group: ${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Storage Path: ${{ parameters.csvPath }}" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Gallery: ${{ parameters.galleryName }}" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "Definition: ${{ parameters.imageDefinition }}" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "========================================" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Next Steps:" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "1. Verify image status in Azure portal" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "2. Create VMs using the imported image" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "3. Monitor image provisioning state" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host "4. Run cleanup pipeline if needed to manage old images" -ForegroundColor White
Write-Host ""
Write-Host "Verification Command:" -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "Get-AzStackHciVMimage -ResourceGroupName '${{ parameters.resourceGroup }}' -Name '$(imageName)'" -ForegroundColor CyanThis all can be found on GitHub ofcourse. https://github.com/GetToThe-Cloud/Website/tree/main/PowerShell-AzureLocal-CustomImage/DevOps%20pipelines
For the blogpost about how to maintain the latest image on you Azure Local see https://www.gettothe.cloud/azure-local-devops-custom-image-part-ii/
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