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1.5. Navigating the Azure Portal and CLI

šŸ’” First Principle: The choice between a graphical interface (Portal) and a command-line interface (CLI) is a fundamental decision that impacts administrative efficiency, repeatability, and the ability to automate cloud operations at scale.

Scenario: You need to perform a quick, one-time check of a Virtual Machine's settings. Later, you also need to automate the deployment of a complex Azure environment for a new project.

Azure offers two main interfaces for managing resources: the Azure Portal and the Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI). Each is designed for different workflows and user preferences, but both interact with the same underlying Azure Resource Manager (ARM) API.

What It Is:
  • Azure Portal: A web-based graphical interface accessed via a browser.
  • Azure CLI: A cross-platform command-line tool (az) for managing resources via commands.
Key Differences and Strengths:
FeatureAzure PortalAzure CLI
InterfaceGraphical User Interface (GUI)Command-Line Interface (CLI)
AccessibilityWeb-based, requires a browserCross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux), requires terminal
Ease of UseIntuitive, discoverable, best for new users, visual tasksRequires learning commands, ideal for experienced users
AutomationLimited direct automation; primarily manual interactionHighly scriptable, integrates well with DevOps pipelines
WorkflowExploring resources, ad-hoc configuration, troubleshooting visuallyRepetitive tasks, bulk operations, repeatable deployments (IaC)
FeedbackVisual dashboards, wizards, integrated monitoringFast, direct output to terminal, suitable for parsing output
Practical Implementation: Creating a Resource Group
  • Azure CLI: 
    # Login to Azure
az login
# Create a resource group
az group create --name MyResourceGroup --location eastus
  • Azure Portal:
    1. Navigate to "Resource groups" in the portal.
    2. Click "+ Create".
    3. Fill in the subscription, resource group name, and region.
    4. Click "Review + create", then "Create".
Visual: Azure Portal vs. Azure CLI Interactions
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āš ļø Common Pitfall: Relying exclusively on the Azure Portal for production deployments. This leads to manual, error-prone processes that are not repeatable or auditable.

Key Trade-Offs:
  • Speed of Exploration (Portal) vs. Speed of Execution (CLI): The Portal is faster for exploring and learning about new services. The CLI is faster for executing known, repetitive tasks.

Reflection Question: How does strategically choosing between the Azure Portal (for visual tasks) and the Azure CLI (for automation) fundamentally impact your efficiency and the repeatability of your Azure administration tasks?