Azure PowerShell vs. Azure CLI: A Practical Guide

Amaresh Pelleti

In the world of Azure management, two powerful command-line tools stand out: Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI. Both offer robust capabilities for managing your Azure resources, but which one should you choose? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the differences between these tools, explore their strengths, and provide real-time examples to help you make an informed decision.

What are Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI?

Before we jump into the comparison, let’s briefly define each tool:

  • Azure PowerShell: A module that you can install for Windows PowerShell or PowerShell Core, providing cmdlets to manage Azure resources.
  • Azure CLI: A cross-platform command-line tool that can be installed on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering commands to manage Azure resources.

Key Differences

1. Syntax

The most noticeable difference between Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI is their syntax.

Azure PowerShell uses verb-noun cmdlets, typical of PowerShell:

New-AzResourceGroup -Name "MyResourceGroup" -Location "EastUS"

Azure CLI uses a more bash-like syntax:

az group create --name MyResourceGroup --location EastUS

2. Platform Compatibility

Azure PowerShell:

  • Runs on Windows PowerShell and PowerShell Core
  • Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux (via PowerShell Core)

Azure CLI:

  • Runs on bash, cmd.exe, and PowerShell
  • Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux

3. Language and Scripting

Azure PowerShell:

  • Uses PowerShell scripting language
  • Great for complex scripting and automation tasks
  • Integrates well with other PowerShell modules

Azure CLI:

  • Uses simple command-line syntax
  • Easy to use in bash scripts
  • Can be easily integrated into CI/CD pipelines

Real-Time Examples

Let’s look at some common Azure management tasks and how they’re performed in both tools.

Example 1: Creating a Virtual Machine

Azure PowerShell:

# Create a resource group
New-AzResourceGroup -Name "MyResourceGroup" -Location "EastUS"

# Create a virtual machine
New-AzVM -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -Name "MyVM" -Location "EastUS" -VirtualNetworkName "MyVNet" -SubnetName "Default" -SecurityGroupName "MyNSG" -PublicIpAddressName "MyPublicIP" -OpenPorts 80,3389

Azure CLI:

# Create a resource group
az group create --name MyResourceGroup --location eastus

# Create a virtual machine
az vm create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --name MyVM --image Win2019Datacenter --admin-username azureuser --admin-password ComplexPassword123!

Example 2: Listing Resources

Azure PowerShell:

# List all resource groups
Get-AzResourceGroup

# List all virtual machines
Get-AzVM

Azure CLI:

# List all resource groups
az group list --output table

# List all virtual machines
az vm list --output table

Which One Should You Choose?

The choice between Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI often comes down to personal preference and specific use cases. Here are some factors to consider:

  1. Familiarity: If you’re already comfortable with PowerShell, Azure PowerShell might be the better choice. If you prefer bash-like syntax, go with Azure CLI.
  2. Cross-platform needs: While both tools are cross-platform, Azure CLI has a slight edge in terms of native support across different operating systems.
  3. Scripting complexity: For complex scripting and automation tasks, Azure PowerShell’s integration with the broader PowerShell ecosystem can be advantageous.
  4. Team skills: Consider the existing skills in your team. If most team members are familiar with bash, Azure CLI might be a better fit.
  5. Specific Azure services: Some newer or less common Azure services might have better support in one tool over the other. Check the documentation for your specific needs.

Conclusion

Both Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI are powerful tools for managing Azure resources. They each have their strengths, and the best choice depends on your specific needs, existing skillset, and the nature of your Azure management tasks. Many Azure professionals become proficient in both, allowing them to choose the right tool for each specific task or project.

Remember, regardless of which tool you choose, the most important thing is to become proficient with it and leverage its capabilities to manage your Azure resources effectively and efficiently.

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