How to List Virtual Machines by Specific Azure Resource Group

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What Will You Learn?

By following this tutorial, you will master the process of retrieving a list of virtual machines associated with a specific Azure resource group using Python. This practical guide will equip you with the skills needed to interact with Azure services programmatically.

Introduction to the Problem and Solution

Imagine the need to fetch a collection of virtual machines linked to a particular Azure resource group effortlessly. This scenario can be efficiently addressed by leveraging the power of the Azure SDK for Python. This SDK empowers developers to seamlessly interact with various Azure services through code, enabling streamlined management and automation.

To tackle this challenge effectively, we will: 1. Authenticate our script using Azure credentials. 2. Utilize SDK methods to query and filter virtual machines based on their resource group affiliation.

Code

# Import necessary libraries
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
from azure.mgmt.compute import ComputeManagementClient

# Authenticate using default credentials
credential = DefaultAzureCredential()

# Specify your subscription ID and resource group name
subscription_id = "YOUR_SUBSCRIPTION_ID"
resource_group_name = "YOUR_RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME"

# Create an instance of the Compute Management Client
compute_client = ComputeManagementClient(credential, subscription_id)

# Get a list of virtual machines in the specified resource group
vms_in_resource_group = compute_client.virtual_machines.list(resource_group_name)

for vm in vms_in_resource_group:
    print(vm.name)

# Copyright PHD

Note: Make sure to replace “YOUR_SUBSCRIPTION_ID” and “YOUR_RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME” with your actual values.

Credits: PythonHelpDesk.com

Explanation

To achieve our goal: – We begin by importing essential libraries. – Authentication is established using default credentials via DefaultAzureCredential. – After defining our subscription ID and resource group name, we instantiate ComputeManagementClient from azure.mgmt.compute. – By invoking virtual_machines.list(resource_group_name) on our compute_client, we retrieve a collection of virtual machine objects belonging to the specified resource group. – Finally, we iterate through these VM objects and display their names.

    How do I install the Azure SDK for Python?

    You can easily install it using pip: pip install azure-mgmt-compute.

    Can I use a service principal instead of default credentials?

    Certainly! You have the option to specify your application ID, tenant ID, and client secret for authentication instead of relying on default credentials.

    How can I handle pagination for large result sets?

    The SDK automatically manages pagination when dealing with extensive data sets, eliminating the need for manual intervention in your code.

    Is it possible to apply filters based on additional criteria?

    Yes, you can customize filters based on attributes like VM size or status by adjusting request parameters accordingly.

    What other information can be extracted about each VM besides its name?

    In addition to names, you can access details such as OS type, location, networking configurations, assigned tags, etc., catering to diverse requirements.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, we have illustrated how straightforward it is to engage with Azure resources utilizing Python, particularly in fetching virtual machine details associated with resource groups. This methodology offers versatility and automation capabilities for efficient resource management at scale.

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