How to Install the Azure PowerShell Module

This blogs post describes how you can install the Azure PowerShell module. Microsoft a couple of weeks ago released version one of their new Azure PowerShell module on .NET Core called the Az module. The Az module will replace the AzureRM module over time. however, the AzureRM module is still supported. The new Az module is a cross-platform module.

Well if you are working with Microsoft Azure you may need the PowerShell Modules for automation and some settings which are only available in PowerShell. With the latest releases you can install the Azure PowerShell Module using the package management in PowerShell, and install the Azure PowerShell module form the PowerShell Gallery.

• PowerShell Gallery Azure Az Module

Az module features

• Az is a replacement for AzureRM and AzureRM.Netcore.
• Runs on PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell Core.
• It is always up to date with the latest tooling for Azure services.
• Az ships in Cloud Shell.
• It shortens and normalizes cmdlet names. All cmdlets use “Az” as their noun prefix.
• Az will simplify and normalize module names. Data plane and management plane cmdlets for each service will use the same Az module.
• It ships with new cmdlets to enable script compatibility with AzureRM (Enable/Disable-AzureRmAlias).

Supported platforms

• PowerShell 5.1 – Windows 7 or greater with .Net Framework 4.7.2 or greater installed
• PowerShell Core 6.0 – Windows, Mac OS, Linux
• PowerShell Core 6.1 – Windows, Mac OS, Linux

Install Azure PowerShell module

For me using the PowerShell Package Management and the PowerShell Gallery is may the easiest and fastest way to install it. In Windows 10 or a computer with the Windows Management Framework 5 installed, you can use the following PowerShell cmdlets to install it.

You should not install Az side-by-side with AzureRM. Remove all AzureRM modules before installing Az.

 
Install-Module Az

You can also update the AZ module using the following command:

 
Update-Module Az

And you can use the following command to login:

 
Connect-AzAccount

You can also see the Azure PowerShell Modules and versions using the PowerShell Package Management:

 
Find-Module -ListAvailable *Az*

AzureRM compatibility

If you would like to run scripts developed for AzureRM using Az, use the Enable/Disable-AzureRmAlias cmdlets to add or remove aliases from AzureRM cmdlets to Az cmdlets.

This can be enabled and disabled:

 
Enable-AzureRmAlias
 
Disable-AzureRMAlias

Run Azure PowerShell from Cloud Shell

You can also run the latest Azure PowerShell module version directly from Cloud Shell, with no need to install it.

This blog post was updated with the release 1.0.0 of the Azure Az module based on .NET Core. You can find more about the new Azure PowerShell module on the GitHub repo.

Also check out my blog post: Mastering Azure using Cloud Shell