Scripting with variables and loops in Azure - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ service_behavior

intermediate

Azure CLI Loop Variable Behavior

Consider this Azure CLI script snippet that loops to create resource groups with variable names. What will be the name of the last resource group created?

Azure

for i in {1..3}; do az group create --name myResourceGroup$i --location eastus; done

A myResourceGroup3

B myResourceGroup1

C myResourceGroup4

D myResourceGroup0

💡 Hint

The loop runs from 1 to 3 inclusive, appending the loop variable to the name.

The loop variable i takes values 1, 2, and 3. The last iteration creates 'myResourceGroup3'.

❓ Configuration

intermediate

Azure ARM Template Loop Variable Usage

In an Azure ARM template, you want to create 3 storage accounts with names 'storageacct1', 'storageacct2', and 'storageacct3' using a loop. Which of the following 'copy' loop configurations correctly sets the storage account names?

A "copy": { "name": "storageLoop", "count": 3 }, "name": "storageacct${copyIndex()}"

B "copy": { "name": "storageLoop", "count": 3 }, "name": "storageacct[copyIndex()+1]"

C "copy": { "name": "storageLoop", "count": 3 }, "name": "storageacct[copyIndex()]"

D "copy": { "name": "storageLoop", "count": 3 }, "name": "storageacct${copyIndex()+1}"

💡 Hint

copyIndex() starts at 0, so add 1 to start names at 1.

copyIndex() returns 0,1,2. Adding 1 produces 1,2,3 for the names as required.

❓ Architecture

advanced

Automating VM Creation with Azure CLI Loops

You want to create 5 Azure virtual machines named vm1 to vm5 in a loop using Azure CLI. Which script snippet correctly uses a loop and variable to create these VMs with the name pattern?

A for i in {1..5}; do az vm create --resource-group myRG --name vm$i --image UbuntuLTS --admin-username azureuser; done

B for i in $(seq 1 5); do az vm create --resource-group myRG --name vm$i --image UbuntuLTS --admin-username azureuser; done

C for i in 1 2 3 4 5; do az vm create --resource-group myRG --name vm$i --image UbuntuLTS --admin-username azureuser; done

D for i in 5 4 3 2 1; do az vm create --resource-group myRG --name vm$i --image UbuntuLTS --admin-username azureuser; done

💡 Hint

Use brace expansion {1..5} for a simple loop from 1 to 5.

Brace expansion {1..5} loops from 1 to 5 inclusively, creating vm1 to vm5 as desired.

❓ security

advanced

Looping Over Secrets in Azure Key Vault

You have a script that loops over a list of secret names to retrieve their values from Azure Key Vault. Which approach correctly uses variables and loops to fetch and print each secret's value securely?

A for secret in secret1 secret2 secret3; do az keyvault secret show --vault-name myVault --name $secret --query value -o table; done

B for secret in secret1 secret2 secret3; do az keyvault secret show --vault-name myVault --name "$secret" --query value -o json; done

C for secret in secret1 secret2 secret3; do az keyvault secret show --vault-name myVault --name $secret --query value -o tsv; done

D for secret in secret1 secret2 secret3; do az keyvault secret show --vault-name myVault --name $secret --query value -o json; done

💡 Hint

Use -o tsv to get raw secret value without extra formatting.

Using '-o tsv' outputs the secret value as plain text, suitable for secure handling in scripts.

✅ Best Practice

expert

Efficient Variable Use in Azure CLI Loops for Resource Tagging

You want to tag multiple Azure resources in a loop with a variable tag value that changes each iteration. Which script snippet correctly updates the tag value variable inside the loop and applies it to each resource?

A tagValue="env"; for i in {1..3}; do az resource tag --tags environment=$tagValue$i --ids /subscriptions/xxx/resourceGroups/myRG/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/vm$i; done

B for i in {1..3}; do az resource tag --tags environment=env$i --ids /subscriptions/xxx/resourceGroups/myRG/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/vm$i; done

C for i in {1..3}; do tagValue=env$i; az resource tag --tags environment=$tagValue --ids /subscriptions/xxx/resourceGroups/myRG/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/vm$i; done

D for i in {1..3}; do tagValue="env$i"; az resource tag --tags environment=$tagValue --ids /subscriptions/xxx/resourceGroups/myRG/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/vm$i; done

💡 Hint

Assign the variable inside the loop with quotes to handle the string correctly.

Assigning tagValue="env$i" inside the loop ensures the variable updates each iteration and is used correctly in the tag command.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of using variables in Azure scripting?

easy

A. To store values that can be reused throughout the script

B. To create loops that repeat commands

C. To delete resources automatically

D. To connect to the internet

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what variables do

   Variables hold information like names or numbers that you want to use again without typing them multiple times.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct purpose in scripting

   Variables help scripts remember values so you can use them repeatedly and easily change them if needed.

3. Final Answer:

   To store values that can be reused throughout the script -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Variables = reusable values [OK]

Hint: Variables hold values to reuse in scripts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing variables with loops
• Thinking variables delete resources
• Believing variables connect to internet

2. Which of the following is the correct way to declare a variable named count with value 5 in an Azure CLI script?

easy

A. var count = 5

B. let count = 5

C. set count=5

D. count=5

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Azure CLI variable syntax

   In Azure CLI scripts (bash style), variables are assigned without keywords using name=value format.

2. Step 2: Match the correct syntax

   count=5 uses count=5, which is the correct bash style assignment.

3. Final Answer:

   count=5 -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Azure CLI variable = name=value [OK]

Hint: Use name=value to assign variables in Azure CLI [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'var' or 'let' which are not bash syntax
• Using 'set' which is Windows CMD syntax
• Adding spaces around '=' which breaks assignment

3. What will be the output of this Azure CLI script snippet?

for i in 1 2 3; do
  echo $((i * 2))
done

medium

A. 2 4 6

B. 0 1 2

C. 1 2 3

D. Syntax error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the loop iterations

   The loop runs with i values 1, then 2, then 3.

2. Step 2: Calculate the expression inside echo

   Each iteration prints i multiplied by 2: 1*2=2, 2*2=4, 3*2=6.

3. Final Answer:

   2 4 6 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Loop * 2 = 2 4 6 [OK]

Hint: Multiply loop variable inside $(( )) for math [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing echo $i with echo $((i * 2))
• Expecting space-separated output on one line
• Thinking syntax error due to missing semicolons

4. Identify the error in this Azure CLI script snippet:

for i in 1 2 3 do
  echo $i
done

medium

A. echo command is incorrect

B. Variable $i is not defined

C. Missing semicolon or newline after for statement

D. done keyword is missing

Solution

1. Step 1: Check for correct for loop syntax

   In bash scripts, the for loop header must end with a semicolon or a newline before the do keyword.

2. Step 2: Identify the missing semicolon or newline

   The snippet has no semicolon or newline after for i in 1 2 3, causing syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing semicolon or newline after for statement -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   For loop header needs semicolon/newline before do [OK]

Hint: Add semicolon or newline before do in for loops [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting semicolon after for statement
• Assuming $i is undefined
• Thinking echo syntax is wrong

5. You want to create 3 Azure resource groups named rg1, rg2, and rg3 using a script with a loop and a variable prefix rg. Which script snippet correctly achieves this?

hard

A. prefix=rg
for i in 1 2 3; do
az group create --name $prefix + $i --location eastus
done

B. prefix=rg
for i in 1 2 3; do
az group create --name "$prefix$i" --location eastus
done

C. prefix=rg
for i in 1 2 3; do
az group create --name prefix$i --location eastus
done

D. for i in 1 2 3; do
az group create --name "rg" + i --location eastus
done

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand variable concatenation in bash

   To combine a variable and a number, use double quotes and place variables side by side like "$prefix$i".

2. Step 2: Check each option for correct syntax

   prefix=rg for i in 1 2 3; do az group create --name "$prefix$i" --location eastus done correctly uses "$prefix$i" to form names rg1, rg2, rg3. Others use invalid concatenation or miss quotes.

3. Final Answer:

   prefix=rg for i in 1 2 3; do az group create --name "$prefix$i" --location eastus done -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use "$prefix$i" to join strings in bash [OK]

Hint: Use "$prefix$i" to join variable and number in bash [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using + for string concat in bash
• Not quoting variable expansions
• Writing variable names without $ sign