As organizations adopt Azure VMware Solution (AVS) to modernize their infrastructure, the need for repeatable, script-driven deployment patterns becomes increasingly important. Whether you're preparing for a new AVS deployment or enhancing an existing AVS environment, automation can significantly reduce manual effort, improve consistency, and accelerate readiness for workload migration.
AVS Landing Zone already provides a rich repository of Terraform, Azure Resource manager (ARM), Bicep and PowerShell scripts to automate deployment as well as management operations. For example, we recently added a collection of PowerShell-based automation scripts that simplify the deployment of key AVS components. This article highlights three such scripts that help accelerate AVS migrations:
- Jumpbox Deployment for secure access to private AVS components
- HCX Connector Deployment for enabling hybrid connectivity
- HCX Service Mesh Deployment for configuring workload mobility
Each script is designed to be executed using PowerShell, with clearly defined parameters and prerequisites. These scripts are particularly useful for platform teams supporting repeatable AVS deployments across multiple environments.
Jumpbox Deployment: Enabling Secure Access to AVS Resources
The Jumpbox deployment script provisions a Windows-based Azure Virtual Machine (VM) in a specified Azure Subnet within the AVS-connected Azure Virtual Network. This VM acts as a secure access point to AVS components such as vCenter, NSX-T Manager, and HCX Manager, which are typically only accessible via private IP addresses.
Key features of the script include:
- Parameter-driven deployment using PowerShell
- Jumpbox is securely protected behind an Azure Bastion thus avoiding any exposure using Public IP address. This is further enhanced by Network Security Group (NSG) rules.
- It uses Azure Verified Modules (AVM) for improved maintainability and best practices.
- Jumpbox is configured with a cost-optimized VM SKU and is configured with auto-shutdown schedule making it cost effective.
This script is especially useful in scenarios where direct access to AVS components is restricted due to network isolation or security policies. By deploying a jumpbox within the same virtual network as connected to the AVS private cloud, administrators can securely access management interfaces without exposing them to the public internet.
The script is designed to be executed from a machine with the necessary permissions in the target Azure subscription. It simplifies the process of provisioning a jump host and ensures that essential tools are pre-installed, reducing setup time and improving operational readiness.
In environments where multiple AVS private clouds are deployed across regions or business units, this script can be reused to create consistent access patterns. It also supports rapid re-deployment in case of failure or reconfiguration, making it a valuable tool for both initial setup and ongoing operations.
HCX Connector Deployment: Automating Hybrid Connectivity Setup
The HCX Connector deployment script automates the installation of the VMware HCX Connector virtual appliance in an on-premises vSphere environment. This connector is a critical component for enabling hybrid connectivity between on-premises infrastructure and AVS.
The script performs the following tasks:
- Connects to the vCenter Server using provided credentials.
- Deploys the HCX Connector OVA to a specified cluster, datastore, and network.
- Configures the appliance with static IP settings, DNS, and NTP.
- Registers the connector with the HCX Cloud Manager hosted in AVS.
The script is intended to be run from a jumpbox that has access to AVS vCenter. It requires access to the OVA file and appropriate permissions in the vSphere environment. By automating these steps, the script reduces the complexity and potential for error associated with manual deployment.
This script is particularly useful in large-scale migration programs where multiple on-premises sites need to be connected to AVS. It ensures that each connector is deployed consistently and configured according to best practices. The script also supports parameterization, allowing teams to tailor deployments to specific environments while maintaining a standardized approach.
In addition to simplifying deployment, the script helps accelerate the overall migration timeline by reducing the time required to prepare the on-premises environment for workload mobility. It also supports repeatable testing and validation in lab or staging environments before production rollout.
HCX Service Mesh Deployment: Automating Workload Mobility Configuration
Once the HCX Connector is deployed and registered, the next step is to configure Service Mesh—a logical construct that defines how workloads are migrated between sites.
The HCX Service Mesh deployment script automates the following:
- Authentication to both HCX Cloud (AVS) and HCX Connector (on-prem).
- Validation of existing compute profiles, network profiles, and site pairings.
- Creation of these components if they do not already exist.
- Deployment of a Service Mesh using the specified profiles.
This script ensures that all required building blocks for a Service Mesh are in place and creates them as needed. It simplifies what would otherwise be a multi-step manual process into a single, repeatable operation.
Once deployed, Service Mesh can be configured with advanced options such as mobility types, bandwidth limits, or appliance counts, these can be configured manually or through additional automation.
This script is especially valuable in environments where consistent workload mobility configurations are required across multiple sites. It helps reduce setup time, ensures alignment with migration planning, and supports operational consistency.
The script is designed to be executed from a machine with access to both the HCX Cloud and Connector endpoints. It uses REST APIs to interact with the HCX systems and provides logging to help troubleshoot any issues during execution.
Conclusion: Practical Automation for AVS Success
The PowerShell-based automation scripts in the AVS Landing Zone provide practical, field-tested solutions for accelerating AVS migrations. By automating the deployment of jumpboxes, HCX connectors, and service meshes, organizations can:
- Reduce manual configuration steps
- Improve consistency across environments
- Accelerate time-to-migration for critical workloads
These scripts are especially valuable for platform teams or partners supporting repeatable AVS deployments across multiple business units, geographies or customers. They also serve as a foundation for integrating AVS into broader infrastructure-as-code and CI/CD workflows.
By using these automation scripts, customers and partners can reduce operational overhead, improve deployment accuracy, and ensure that VMware environments are consistently configured and are migration-ready. Whether you're just starting or scaling out across multiple regions, these scripts can help you move faster—with confidence.
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