Document Details
Start Machines Use Automation Runbooks
❌
This page contains Windows bias
About This Page
This page is part of the Azure documentation. It contains code examples and configuration instructions for working with Azure services.
Bias Analysis
Bias Types:
⚠️
powershell_heavy
⚠️
windows_tools
⚠️
missing_linux_example
⚠️
windows_first
Summary:
The documentation page exclusively uses PowerShell scripts and Azure Automation runbooks, which are Windows-centric tools. There are no examples or instructions for Linux users, such as Bash, Azure CLI, or Python runbooks. The workflow and tooling described are tailored for Windows environments, with no mention of Linux alternatives or parity.
Recommendations:
- Provide equivalent examples using Azure CLI and/or Bash scripts for Linux users.
- Include instructions for creating and running Python runbooks in Azure Automation, which are cross-platform.
- Mention that Azure Automation supports multiple runbook types (PowerShell, Python, Graphical, etc.), and link to relevant Linux-friendly documentation.
- Where possible, use cross-platform Azure modules (e.g., Az instead of AzureRM) and clarify their compatibility.
- Add a section or note explicitly addressing Linux/macOS users and how they can achieve the same VM startup order using their preferred tools.
Create pull request
Scan History
| Date | Scan ID | Status | Bias Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-17 00:01 | #83 | in_progress | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-07-13 21:37 | #48 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-07-09 13:09 | #3 | cancelled | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-07-08 04:23 | #2 | cancelled | ❌ Biased |
Flagged Code Snippets
#Requires -Version 3.0
#Requires -Module AzureRM.Resources
param
(
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false, HelpMessage="Name of the subscription that has the lab")]
[string] $SubscriptionName,
[Parameter(Mandatory=$false, HelpMessage="Lab name")]
[string] $LabName
)
# Connect and add the appropriate subscription
$Conn = Get-AutomationConnection -Name AzureRunAsConnection
Add-AzureRMAccount -ServicePrincipal -Tenant $Conn.TenantID -ApplicationID $Conn.ApplicationId -Subscription $SubscriptionName -CertificateThumbprint $Conn.CertificateThumbprint
# Find the lab
$dtLab = Find-AzResource -ResourceType 'Microsoft.DevTestLab/labs' -ResourceNameEquals $LabName
# Get the VMs
$dtlAllVms = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList
$AllVMs = Get-AzResource -ResourceId "$($dtLab.ResourceId)/virtualmachines" -ApiVersion 2016-05-15
# Get the StartupOrder tag. If missing, set to start up last (10).
ForEach ($vm in $AllVMs) {
if ($vm.Tags) {
if ($vm.Tags['StartupOrder']) {
$startupValue = $vm.Tags['StartupOrder']
} else {
$startupValue = 10
}
} else {
$startupValue = 10
}
$dtlAllVms.Add(@{$vm.Name = $startupValue}) > $null
}
# Setup for the async multiple vm start
# Save profile
$profilePath = Join-Path $env:Temp "profile.json"
If (Test-Path $profilePath){
Remove-Item $profilePath
}
Save-AzContext -Path $profilePath
# Job to start VMs asynch
$startVMBlock = {
Param($devTestLab,$vmToStart,$profilePath)
Import-AzContext -Path ($profilePath)
Invoke-AzResourceAction `
-ResourceId "$($devTestLab.ResourceId)/virtualmachines/$vmToStart" `
-Action Start `
-Force
Write-Output "Started: $vmToStart"
}
$current = 0
# Start in order from 0 to 10
While ($current -le 10) {
# Get the VMs in the current stage
$tobeStarted = $null
$tobeStarted = $dtlAllVms | Where-Object { $_.Values -eq $current}
if ($tobeStarted.Count -eq 1) {
# Run sync – jobs not necessary for a single VM
$returnStatus = Invoke-AzResourceAction `
-ResourceId "$($dtLab.ResourceId)/virtualmachines/$($tobeStarted.Keys)" `
-Action Start `
-Force
Write-Output "$($tobeStarted.Keys) status: $($returnStatus.status)"
} elseif ($tobeStarted.Count -gt 1) {
# Start multiple VMs async
$jobs = @()
Write-Output "Start Jobs start: $(Get-Date)"
# Jobs
$jobs += Start-Job -ScriptBlock $startVMBlock -ArgumentList $dtLab, $($singlevm.Keys), $profilePath
Write-Output "Start Jobs end: $(Get-Date)"
}
# Get results from all jobs
if($jobs.Count -ne 0) {
Write-Output "Receive Jobs start: $(Get-Date)"
foreach ($job in $jobs){
$jobResult = Receive-Job -Job $job -Wait | Write-Output
}
Remove-Job -Job $jobs -Force
}
else
{
Write-Output "Information: No jobs available"
}
}