Azure:- Schedule VM startup/shutdown times

No Powershell/AzureCLI experience? Don’t worry, Azure have created a solution to Start/Stop VMs during office hours without any coding required

A great solution for cost saving, no need to have VMs running when they are not going to be used.

I will document on how to enable this solution:-

1. An automation account and Log Analytics workspace is required. I have created tamopsAutomation & tamopsWorkspace
2. Select Start/Stop VM under Related Resources

3. This will open the Start/Solution solution, as this has not created – you will need to create this. Select Manage this solution

4. Now search for start/stop VM solution – click create & assign your workspace to this.

5. Configure VM Runbook parameters

• Target Resource Group: Can use wild card “*” to target all ResourceGroups or specific Resource Groups separated by a comma
• VM Exclude List: Include VMs that you do not want to be powered off using this solution
• Schedule: Configure daily start and stop times
• Email functionality: Configure if required, email addresses separated by a comma

7. Click validate and now your solution will build.

A simple solution to start/stop virtual machines without the need to code any script!

What you have created following this tutorial:

• Automation Account
• Log Analytics Workspace
• Azure Alerts to assist with Solution
• Start/Stop VM Solution