Table of Contents
ARM templates are comprised of the following key sections:
$schema
: Specifies the location of the JSON schema file that describes the version of the template language.contentVersion
: Provides a version for the template (defined by the author).parameters
: Accepts values that are passed in to customize the deployment.variables
: Contains values that are used throughout the template.resources
: Specifies the resources to deploy.outputs
: Returns values from the deployed resources.Use the Export-AzResourceGroup
cmdlet to export the current state of your resource group as a template.
Export-AzResourceGroup -ResourceGroupName “YourResourceGroupName” -Path “C:\ARMTemplate”
This will create an ARM template file that represents the current state of all resources in the specified resource group.
Use the az group export
command to achieve the same result via Azure CLI.
az group export –name YourResourceGroupName –path “C:\ARMTemplate”
You can also add the --include-comments
and --include-parameter-default-value
options to control the export behavior.
When saving your deployment as an ARM template, it is recommended to follow these best practices:
Test-AzResourceGroupDeployment
cmdlet in PowerShell or az group deployment validate
in the CLI to validate your template before actual deployment.Aspect | ARM Templates | Other Deployment Options (e.g., Azure CLI, PowerShell) |
---|---|---|
Declarative | Yes (States what to create) | No (Explains how to create) |
Idempotent | Yes (Can be applied multiple times) | No (May need additional scripting for idempotency) |
Automation | Highly suitable | Partially suitable |
State Management | Managed by Azure | Managed by scripts/user |
Reusability | High with parameterization | Lower unless scripted with care |
Version Control | Easy to version control JSON files | Script files can be version controlled |
Error Checking | Validation tools available | More prone to runtime errors |
Using ARM templates to save and deploy your Azure environments provides a structured, standardized, and version-controlled way of managing the infrastructure, which is key to the Azure Administrator role. ARM templates allow for reusability, are idempotent, and maintain state, which helps prevent deployment inconsistencies and configuration drift over time. Therefore, an understanding of how to create, manage, and deploy ARM templates is a vital part of the skills assessed in the AZ-104 exam.
Answer: A) True
Explanation: You can export an ARM template from the Azure portal after successfully deploying a resource. This is available in the resource group’s “Deployments” section, where you can view a template for any deployment.
Answer: D) Template and parameters
Explanation: An exported ARM template includes the template and parameters files, which define the infrastructure and configuration for the deployment. Other information like subscription ID or resource group information is not included in the template files themselves.
Answer: A) True
Explanation: You can export an ARM template for a resource group regardless of how resources were initially deployed (e.g., Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, Portal). The export will capture the current state of the resources in the ARM template.
Answer: D) Microsoft Word
Explanation: Microsoft Word is not a suitable tool for editing ARM templates. Instead, ARM templates should be edited using code editors or scripting tools, such as Azure Portal’s ARM template editor, Visual Studio Code, or Azure CLI.
Answer: B) False
Explanation: After saving a deployment as an ARM template, you can modify the template before redeploying it. The template is essentially a JSON file that can be edited to make necessary changes.
Answer: A) Resource groups
Explanation: ARM templates are typically used to deploy resources to a specific resource group within a subscription, although they can also be used for subscription, management group, and tenant scopes with certain restrictions.
Answer: B) Resource names and C) Resource locations
Explanation: In an ARM template, you can parameterize values like resource names and locations to allow for more flexibility and reuse of the template across different environments or scenarios. Resource types and subscription IDs typically are not parameterized.
Answer: B) False
Explanation: After exporting an ARM template, it can be saved for later use or version-controlled using a source control system. There is no requirement to deploy it immediately after export.
Answer: C) A parameters file
Explanation: When an ARM template is exported, a parameters file is typically generated along with the template file. This parameters file allows for configuring the deployment with different values for each parameter.
Answer: A) True
Explanation: ARM templates are specifically designed for Azure resources and deployments. They are not general configuration management tools and are not compatible with other cloud platforms or services outside of Azure.
An ARM template is a JSON file that describes the infrastructure and configuration of your Azure resources.
To create an Azure Virtual Machine using the Azure Portal, navigate to the “Virtual Machine” resource and fill out the “Basics” tab with the required information.
Yes, you can save an Azure Virtual Machine deployment as an ARM template.
Saving an Azure Virtual Machine deployment as an ARM template allows you to automate the deployment of resources and ensure consistency across environments.
To save an Azure Virtual Machine deployment as an ARM template, select the virtual machine in the Azure portal, click the “Export template” button, and download the ARM template.
Yes, you can edit an ARM template using any text editor, such as Visual Studio Code.
Yes, you can deploy an ARM template using the Azure Portal by selecting “Template Deployment” from the list of available resources.
You can customize an ARM template by modifying the JSON file and changing the values of the resource properties.
A parameter is a value that is passed into an ARM template at deployment time, while a variable is a value that is defined within the template itself.
Yes, you can include conditional logic in an ARM template by using the “if” and “equals” functions.
Yes, you can reference resources from other ARM templates in an ARM template by using the “resourceId” function.
Yes, using parameters in an ARM template can make the template more flexible and reusable across different environments.
Yes, you can test an ARM template using the Azure Resource Manager template test tool.
Yes, you can validate an ARM template using the Azure Resource Manager template validation tool.
You can find existing ARM templates for different Azure resources in the Azure Quickstart Templates gallery.
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