AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam

Exporting Deployments as ARM Templates

Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates are JSON files that define the infrastructure and configuration for your Azure projects. They use declarative syntax, allowing you to specify what you intend to deploy without writing the sequence of programming commands to create it. ARM templates are essential for automating the deployment of resources in Azure.

Exporting Templates

You can export templates from existing resources using the Azure portal, PowerShell, or Azure CLI. This process helps you understand the syntax and properties needed for resource deployment. The exported template can be customized for future deployments.

Steps to Export Templates Using Azure Portal

1. Select the resource group you want to export.
2. Navigate to Deployments and select the deployment history.
3. Choose a specific deployment from the history.
4. Select Template to view and download the template used for the deployment.

Export Options

There are two main ways to export templates:

• Export from resource group or resource: Generates a new template from existing resources, capturing the current state of the resource group.
• Save from history: Retrieves an exact copy of the template used for deployment, which can be decompiled into Bicep files.

Exporting Templates Using PowerShell and Azure CLI

PowerShell:

• Use Export-AzResourceGroup to export all resources in a resource group.
• Specify individual resources by passing their resource IDs.

Azure CLI:

• Use az group export to export all resources in a resource group.
• Specify individual resources by passing their resource IDs.

Limitations

Exporting templates is not always guaranteed to succeed. It is better to create resources from scratch using hand-written Bicep files, ARM templates, or Terraform. Some resources, like Azure Data Factory, are not supported for export. Additionally, there is a limit of 200 resources per resource group for export.

Converting ARM Templates to Bicep Files

Bicep is a new language that offers the same capabilities as ARM templates but with easier syntax. You can convert ARM templates to Bicep files using the decompile command in Azure CLI or Visual Studio Code. This conversion helps streamline the deployment process and improve template readability.

Conclusion

Exporting deployments as ARM templates is a crucial step in automating resource management in Azure. By understanding the processes and tools involved, you can effectively manage and deploy resources using best practices. Whether using the Azure portal, PowerShell, or Azure CLI, the ability to export and customize templates ensures consistent and repeatable deployments.