AZ-400 Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions Exam

Optimize GitHub Runner and Azure DevOps Agent Architecture

Overview

Optimizing GitHub runners and Azure DevOps agents involves designing and implementing an infrastructure that is cost-effective, reliable, and maintainable. To achieve this, students must evaluate various hosting and licensing models, analyze the compatibility of tools, and connectivity requirements. Essential elements include automated updates, scalability policies, and effective monitoring.

Cost Optimization

When designing this infrastructure, focusing on cost models is crucial:

• Utilize the Azure pricing calculator to estimate expenses accurately.
• Understand the tiers offered by API Management like Consumption, Developer, Basic, Standard, and Premium.
• While GitHub offers free services, advanced features might require a Team plan.

Tool Selection and Licenses

Selecting the right tools involves:

• Comparing functionalities of Azure Repos, GitHub Actions, and other CI/CD solutions to find the best fit.
• Ensuring appropriate licensing for both GitHub and Azure DevOps tools to avoid compliance issues.
• Evaluating tool compatibility helps streamline integration without performance problems.

Connectivity

Efficient network connectivity is integral for optimized pipeline management:

• Configure repository permissions effectively to control access.
• Implement security measures such as Pull Request reviews, multi-factor authentication, signed commits, and immutable history.
• Ensure connectivity between agents and the repository to maintain constant synchronization.

Maintainability

Maintaining the infrastructure efficiently is achieved through:

• Automated updates that reduce the manual workload and keep the system up to date.
• Implementing scalable policies to allow infrastructure to expand based on demand.
• Monitoring systems to track performance and deploy changes proactively, preventing issues before they escalate.

Security Considerations

Security practices should be prioritized:

• Apply the principle of least privilege to both GitHub runners and Azure DevOps agents, minimizing risks.
• Use tools for continuous unit testing and review processes to get early feedback.
• Protect branches by requiring PRs with multiple reviewers to adhere to auditing standards.

Operational Excellence

To maintain operational excellence:

• Use Git operations for quick rollback of unexpected changes.
• Manage multiple environments efficiently using version control systems like Git, ensuring consistency across different setups.
• Audit API changes through detailed commit graphs for transparency and performance efficiency.

By focusing on these areas, students will be able to design a resilient GitHub runner and Azure DevOps agent infrastructure. This infrastructure will withstand cost constraints, tool compatibility issues, network connectivity challenges, and maintainability hurdles effectively.