Accessing and Using the Azure Cloud Shell

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Accessing and Using the Azure Cloud Shell

This hands-on lab will introduce you to Azure Cloud Shell, a web-based virtual terminal that allows you full access to Azure PowerShell and the CLI — right from your browser. There's nothing to install and no plugins — just scripting goodness. We'll take a look at how to set up Cloud Shell and run a few commands in both the Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell. When we're finished, you'll have the knowledge necessary to run Cloud Shell in your own Azure subscription. Our key objectives include configuring the Azure Cloud Shell, running sample commands in Azure CLI (PowerShell Environment), creating a Linux virtual machine using the Azure CLI (PowerShell Environment), viewing Azure resources in Azure PowerShell, and removing a Linux virtual machine using Azure PowerShell.

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Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Sep 24, 2025

Duration

45m

Challenge

Configure Cloud Shell
1. In the Azure portal, click the Cloud Shell icon (>_) in the top right corner of the screen.
2. In the Cloud Shell welcome menu, click PowerShell.
3. In the storage menu, click Show advanced settings.
4. Use the lab-provided subscription. Use the existing resource group. Use Central US for the location. Create a new, uniquely named Storage account and a new, uniquely named File Share.
5. Click Create storage.
Challenge

Execute Azure CLI Commands in the Cloud Shell
1. Use Azure CLI commands to list the resource groups, storage accounts, virtual machines, and all resources available in our Azure subscription.
2. Note the output.
Challenge

Create a Virtual Machine Using the Azure CLI
1. Create a virtual machine in the cloud shell, using the actual name of your lab resource group for the resource-group.
2. Verify the creation of the virtual machine.
Challenge

Run PowerShell cmdlets in the Cloud Shell
1. Run PowerShell cmdlets to list resource groups, storage accounts, virtual machines, and all resources available in the lab.
2. Note the output.
Challenge

Remove the Virtual Machine
1. Use a cmdlet to remove the virtual machine, providing the names of the virtual machine and resource group for the -Name and -ResourceGroupName parameters, respectively.
2. Verify that the virtual machine has been deleted.

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