scripted actions Archives | XOAP

How to remove unused images in Azure with Scripted Actions

Mario — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 13:20:43 +0000

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In Azure environments, unused resources, such as orphaned virtual machine disk images, can build up over time. These unused images not only clutter your resource inventory but also result in unnecessary storage costs. Manually identifying and removing these images is a tedious and inefficient process, particularly in large-scale or dynamic setups. This article introduces a practical and automated solution for identifying and cleaning up unused images in Azure using XOAP’s Scripted Action module. By following the outlined steps, you can simplify resource management, lower costs, and keep your Azure environment clean and well-organized.

Automating image cleanup in Azure with one script

The script identifies unused images in Azure using the following logic:

Retrieve VMs: It fetches a list of all virtual machines (VMs) in the Azure subscription using the Get-AzVM -Status command. This ensures it has the most up-to-date information about the VMs and their status.

Compare image IDs: The script iterates through each VM and checks its StorageProfile.ImageReference.Id property, which indicates the image used by the VM. For each image in the specified resource group (retrieved with Get-AzImage -ResourceGroupName), it compares the image’s ID against the ImageReference.Id of the VMs.

Determine usage: If a match is found, the function Is-ImageInUse returns $true, indicating the image is currently in use by a VM. Moreover, if no match is found, the function returns $false, marking the image as unused.

Output and actions: For each image, the script logs its name and whether it is in use. If the image is not in use, additional actions (such as deletion) can be implemented following this check.

This approach makes sure that only images with no active VM dependencies are identified as unused, preventing accidental deletion of critical resources. Removing unused images from your Azure subscription is a simple process with XOAP. It involves just three easy steps:

Add an Azure connection to your XOAP Workspace
Create a Scripted Action with defined parameters
Run the Scripted Action to remove unused images

Step 1: Add a Connection for your Azure Subscription

To begin, make sure your Azure subscription is connected to XOAP. If you haven’t set up a connection yet, navigate to the Connections section in XOAP. Click the green plus (+) button to create a new connection. Follow the on-screen instructions to securely link your Azure subscription. Once the connection is successfully established, you can proceed to the next steps.

In the “Add New Connection” slide-out panel, enter all the required connection details and click Save to complete the setup.

If you need additional guidance on adding a connection in XOAP, feel free to visit our documentation page.

Step 2: Create your scripted action

Next, navigate to Platform Management and select Scripted Actions. In the upper-right corner, click the green plus (+) button to create a new Scripted Action.

Give your Scripted Action a name and select the “Remove-UnusedImages.ps1” script from the resources. Optionally, you can add tags and a description to organize and document it. You can get the script at the end of this blog.

In the second step, define your parameters. Some parameters are mandatory and must be provided, while others are optional. These optional parameters allow you to customize the script.

Explanation of Key Fields:

DryRun: It allows you to simulate the execution of a script or command without actually making any changes to the system.

ResourceGroup: Azure Resource Group that a particular command should target. If this field is left empty, the command will be applied to all resource groups.

Step 3: Complete the process

In the third step, select your connection and click Finish to complete the setup.

The final step is to run the Scripted Action you created. Locate your Scripted Action in the table, open the action menu, and select Run.

The Scripted Action will progress through the Queued and Running phases. Once completed, its status will change to Success and the unused images will be removed from Azure.

Safeguard critical resources

Using XOAP’s Scripted Actions module to delete unused Azure images is a great way to optimize costs and improve your resource management. Its flexibility to target specific resource groups or default to all secures a comprehensive cleanup. Key considerations include accurate detection of unused images, verifying dependencies, maintaining detailed logs, and adhering to RBAC policies.

Testing the script in a non-production environment and implementing a backup strategy further improve reliability. This approach boosts automation while safeguarding critical resources, making it a practical solution for Azure optimization.

Get the free script from our GitHub (don’t forget to follow us!) and test it out in XOAP for free. If you need help, fill out the form here and one of our experts will reach out.

Additional resources for Scripted Actions:
→ Scripted Actions tutorial: Step by step
→ How to spin up multiple VMs for Azure with Scripted Actions
→ Top 4 use cases for Scripted Actions
→ Cross-platform cloud automation with Scripted Actions
→ Scripted Actions documentation

Get the free script on GitHub →

Want us to deliver scripts directly to your inbox?

The post How to remove unused images in Azure with Scripted Actions appeared first on XOAP.

Cross-platform cloud automation with Scripted Actions

Ante — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 10:34:47 +0000

If you’re managing and executing scripts across multiple cloud platforms like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, you know how challenging it can be. It often feels like a never-ending cycle of repetitive tasks and inconsistencies, which can be frustrating.

We get it, and we want to help. XOAP’s Scripted Actions feature is here to make your life easier. It allows you to run a single script across various cloud connections, reducing the hassle of managing multiple environments. This means less time spent on repetitive work and more consistency in your operations.

If you’re dealing with these challenges, this quick guide is designed for you! Have a look.

Want to know what else you can do with Scripted Actions? Find out here: Top 4 use cases for Scripted Actions

How to achieve cross-platform cloud automation with Scripted Actions

First, if you don’t have a XOAP account yet, you can create a free one here.

Before creating your scripted action, add cloud provider connections to your Workspace. Go to Connections and then click +.

Insert the required data into the connection you want to add.

To know how to add a connection, visit our documentation.

In the next step, you need to upload your PowerShell scripts to the Resources section to use them with the Scripted Action feature. To do that, go to Resources and click +.

Follow the steps to upload your scripts. For more details about Resources, visit this documentation page.

Now you’re ready to create your scripted actions! Navigate to Platform Management and click on the Scripted Actions navigation item. Then click + to create a new scripted action.

Fill in the Details data, select the script from resources and the specific resource version, and click “Next”.

Add script parameters values and click “Next”.

In the Connections step, select the cloud provider(s) you want to run the scripted action on and click “Finish”.

Now the scripted action is ready to be run. Find your scripted action in the Scripted Actions table, click on the action menu and select “Run”.

This will execute the script to all selected cloud provider connections. In this example, the new AWS Account will be created on all selected connections.

If you’d like to schedule the created scripted action, please have a look at the Schedules area in XOAP.

Implement cross-platform solutions ASAP

The Scripted Actions feature of the XOAP platform represents a significant advancement in multi-cloud management. From a technical perspective, it simplifies the complexities of operating across diverse cloud environments by allowing a single script to be executed seamlessly on various customer infrastructures. This innovation not only improves operational efficiency but also ensures consistency, reduces the risk of human error, and provides scalability in managing cloud resources.

With Scripted Actions, XOAP empowers technical teams to focus more on innovation and less on repetitive cloud management tasks, thus driving greater productivity and strategic growth.

You may also be interested in:
Scripted Actions documentation
Step-by-step guide to Scripted Actions
Video tutorial: How to create and run Scripted Actions

Use Scripted Actions for free

The post Cross-platform cloud automation with Scripted Actions appeared first on XOAP.

Top 4 use cases for Scripted Actions

Sinisa — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 06:42:07 +0000

Scripted Actions, a key feature within XOAP, provide a flexible way to execute automated sequences, bridging the gap between diverse systems and applications. This blog post explores some of the practical use cases for Scripted Actions and how businesses can leverage them to streamline operations. Let’s go!

Top 4 practical use cases for Scripted Actions

Cross-platform cloud automation

One of the most significant benefits of XOAP’s Scripted Actions is the ability to integrate and automate tasks across different platforms. Imagine an organization using multiple cloud platforms to deliver infrastructure components.

Through XOAP, companies can automate processes like:

Automatically creating a new AWS account, when a new customer needs to be onboarded.
Generating and updating infrastructure components inside different tenants and subscriptions

This cross-platform automation eliminates manual deployments and reduces errors, creating a more seamless workflow.

Click here for a guide to cross-platform automation

Network and infrastructure management

For IT administrators, XOAP’s Scripted Actions can be a game changer in managing complex network infrastructures. Routine tasks such as configuration updates, system monitoring, and backup management can be scripted and scheduled. For instance:

Automating the configuration of security groups and firewall rules.
Assigning standards in all tenants and subscriptions.
Running regular updates on all network-related components.

These automated actions reduce downtime, minimize manual effort, and increase the reliability of network operations.

Incident response and security automation

Cybersecurity threats are growing, and organizations need faster, more intelligent ways to respond to incidents. Scripted Actions in XOAP can be configured to automatically handle a variety of security-related tasks:

Deploying system configuration updates when an unusual activity is detected on the network.
Isolating compromised devices from the network to prevent the spread of malware.

By automating parts of the incident response process, organizations can react to threats faster, minimizing potential damage.

Cloud resource management

As organizations increasingly move to the cloud, managing cloud resources manually can become time-consuming and error-prone. XOAP can automate cloud resource management tasks such as:

Scaling cloud resources up or down based on real-time demand via our API.
Automating backups and disaster recovery processes across cloud environments.
Managing and monitoring the health of virtual machines, storage, and other resources.
Starting and stopping VMs based on schedules.

By automating these actions, companies can reduce cloud-related costs while ensuring optimal performance of their cloud infrastructure.

Tackle tasks across systems

Scripted Actions open up a world of possibilities for businesses looking to streamline and automate their operations. Whether it’s integrating disparate platforms, enhancing security protocols, or improving customer service, XOAP provides the flexibility needed to tackle complex tasks across diverse systems.

By leveraging XOAP’s capabilities, organizations can reduce manual effort, increase efficiency, and focus more on strategic initiatives.

As automation continues to evolve, XOAP and its Scripted Actions will play an increasingly important role in helping businesses adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Start using Scripted Actions for free right away!

You may also be interested in:

Scripted Actions documentation
Step-by-step guide to Scripted Actions

Use Scripted Actions for free

The post Top 4 use cases for Scripted Actions appeared first on XOAP.

Latest AVD host pools challenge – solve it with a simple script

Ante — Thu, 23 May 2024 14:59:46 +0000

In this post, we’re going to introduce you to a simple yet powerful solution: a script made to address the latest AVD pooled host pools challenges. This script is available for every XOAP user, and if you’re not one yet (What are you waiting for? ), join our community today and experience the difference firsthand.

The script is designed to be used with our Scripted Actions feature that supports automation scripts based on PowerShell. But here’s the best part – this script is just one example of Scripted Actions capabilities. You can also (not only):

Create Azure Application groups for Azure Host Pools,
Create Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pools,
Update Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pools,
Create Azure Virtual Desktop workspaces, and
Delete Azure Image Builder templates and the corresponding Azure Resource groups.

Now let’s tackle what you came here for.

Problem with AVD pooled host pools?

You might be facing some common problems due to the enforcement of the Preferred App Group Type setting:

System slow or unresponsive due to too many users;
Users unable to log in;
Frequent connection failures;
Black screens;
Application crashes.

Our script offers a straightforward fix. By changing the host pool’s Preferred App Group Type, it effectively balances the workload, optimizes logins, improves connection and application stability and prevents black screens.

It updates an Azure Virtual Desktop Host Pool and uses the Azure CLI command.

Here's how to solve it quickly

To proceed with the following, create your free account (we won’t ask for credit card details). This way, you’re able to use our Scripted Actions feature needed to solve your problem. Done? Great, let’s continue.

Start creating a new Scripted Action. In Step 1 out of 3, define the details and add this script from Resources: az-cli-update-avd-hostpool.ps1. Click “Next”.

In Step 2, edit script parameters. Choose your “AzResourceGroupName”, “AzHostPoolName” and “AzTags”. Then, select the “Desktop” or “RemoteApp” value for the “AzPreferredAppGroupType” parameter.

Now you can move on to Step 3 to define a connection. Use the correct connection type based on the script you are using. In case you didn’t add a connection before, just click + to do so. After that, click “Finish”.

When you’re done creating a new Scripted Action, you can run it. See how to do that in our Scripted Actions guide.

Depending on the selection, after running the Scripted Action, the Preferred App Group Type for a specific Host Pool (as defined in the “AzHostPoolName” parameter) will be set to either “Desktop” or “RemoteApp.”

Use this script for free in XOAP

The post Latest AVD host pools challenge – solve it with a simple script appeared first on XOAP.

Step-by-step guide to Scripted Actions

Ante — Tue, 14 May 2024 12:05:13 +0000

Struggling with manual and repetitive tasks? Look no further than the powerful Scripted Actions of platform.XO, the latest addition to XOAP.

platform.XO (Platform Management) enables you to deploy infrastructure-related components to the cloud provider of your choice. It bridges the gap between image.XO and config.XO.

We currently support PowerShell scripts with Azure CLI, AWS CLI, Azure and AWS PowerShell integration. Soon, we’ll add support for ARM and Bicep deployments and Google CLI integration.

In addition to that, you can take advantage of our centralized Resources area where you store parameter files, complete automation scripts and whatever you might need to deploy your infrastructure components. Also, our Parameters area enables centralized management of all the parameters you need, depending on the cloud provider of your choice.

Sounds good? Then let us show you how to use Scripted Actions right away.

How to create and run Scripted Actions

Before we begin, create your free account here (if you already haven’t). It has all the modules, configurations and applications integrated, including platform.XO with Scripted Actions.

This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video.

Check out our YouTube channel for more videos like this!

Upload your automation scripts to the central resource area

Scripted Actions uses uploaded PowerShell scripts to configure your infrastructure components. The first thing you have to do is to upload your PowerShell scripts to the central resources area.

To do that go to the Resources and click on the green + button to start the upload process. If you currently do not have any scripts ready, you can check on our GitHub repository for scripts that you can use to get you started. You’ll also find a template script you can use to create your own scripts.

Create a new Scripted Action

Now that you have uploaded your first scripts, you can create a new Scripted Action. Navigate to Platform Management and then select Scripted Actions.

On the Scripted Actions overview click on the green + to create a new Scripted Action.

In the “New Scripted Action” window define the Name and then Choose the script you uploaded from Resources. You can also select or create new tags and assign them to your Scripted Action. It is always a good practice to define a Description. When you are ready, click Next.

In step number 2 (Edit parameters), you must define the parameters of your script. Many scripts we provide have mandatory parameters that must be filled. You can either add values by directly typing them into the parameter field or by choosing parameters that are defined in our central parameters module. When you are ready, click Next.

The last step defines the connection to the cloud provider that should be used with the Scripted Action. In case you didn’t add a connection before running the “New Scripted Action” wizard, you can use the green + button to add it now.

Use the correct connection type based on the script you are using. The credentials are handled in the backend without the need to add additional connection specific information inside the scripts.

When you’re ready, click Finish to add your new Scripted Action.

Run a Scripted Action

Once created, you can run the Scripted Action from the Scripted Actions overview table. Just click on the Action menu, and select Run. You can also run the Scripted Action from the details page of each action.

After running the Scripted Action, and in case of a successful run, you should be able to see the results on your cloud provider. In this example, an Azure Resource Group was created.

And in XOAP, if you select “View Log” from the action menu or if you click on the status pill, you’ll get a log in a slideout.

Check the details and edit a Scripted Action

If you need to change parameters, adjust the script or change tags, as well as history of specific Scripted Actions, you need to select details in the “Action Menu”.

Make the necessary changes and click Save changes when you’re ready. If you want to delete the scripted action click on the three dots menu and select Delete.

Now it's your turn

By following the simple steps above, you can easily create and run Scripted Actions. Try it out! Automate infrastructure deployment on Azure or AWS, use it to deploy virtual machines based on images created with image.XO or run commands inside virtual machines.

Plus, the Scripted Actions feature is just the beginning! It’s only the first part of our new module – platform.XO – with many more exciting things coming soon. We hope this guide has been helpful, but if you need more assistance, you can book a free demo.

Use Scripted Actions for free

The post Step-by-step guide to Scripted Actions appeared first on XOAP.

scripted actions Archives | XOAP

How to remove unused images in Azure with Scripted Actions

Table of contents

Automating image cleanup in Azure with one script

Step 1: Add a Connection for your Azure Subscription

Step 2: Create your scripted action

Step 3: Complete the process

Safeguard critical resources

Get the free script on GitHub →

Want us to deliver scripts directly to your inbox?

Cross-platform cloud automation with Scripted Actions

How to achieve cross-platform cloud automation with Scripted Actions

Implement cross-platform solutions ASAP

Use Scripted Actions for free

Top 4 use cases for Scripted Actions

Table of contents

Top 4 practical use cases for Scripted Actions

Cross-platform cloud automation

Network and infrastructure management

Incident response and security automation

Cloud resource management

Tackle tasks across systems

Use Scripted Actions for free

Latest AVD host pools challenge – solve it with a simple script

Problem with AVD pooled host pools?

Here's how to solve it quickly

Use this script for free in XOAP

Step-by-step guide to Scripted Actions

Table of contents

How to create and run Scripted Actions

Upload your automation scripts to the central resource area

Create a new Scripted Action

Run a Scripted Action

Check the details and edit a Scripted Action

Now it's your turn

Use Scripted Actions for free