Скачать или смотреть How to Configure VMSS Azure DevOps Agent VMs for Automated UI Tests

Discover how to effectively configure Azure VM Scale Sets for running interactive tests without needing new un-elevated accounts, ensuring smooth automated UI testing in Azure DevOps pipelines.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/77144109/ asked by the user 'Mare Milojkovic' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4360287/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/78232511/ provided by the user 'Mare Milojkovic' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/4360287/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Configuring VMSS Azure DevOps Agent VMs for Interactive Tests

When it comes to running Automated UI tests within Azure DevOps pipelines, utilizing Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS) can be a game-changer. However, many developers face a challenge: how to configure these agent VMs to run interactive tests without being hampered by un-elevated accounts with auto-login. In this guide, we will explore the issues surrounding using VMSS agent VMs and provide detailed solutions to effectively run your tests.

The Problem at Hand

While trying to run your automated UI tests using TestExecute, you may hit a roadblock where the Azure DevOps agent VMs automatically switch to a generic auto-login user named "AzDevOps." This user is not the one you previously set up in your gallery image, which presents two critical problems:

The "AzDevOps" account lacks the necessary licensing for running TestExecute.

You may want to check configurations or files but face challenges accessing the "AzDevOps" user if a password has been automatically generated.

Solutions to Configure Interactive Testing

After extensive exploration and testing, the following solutions have been identified to overcome the obstacles presented by this default configuration:

1. Create and Configure the "AzDevOps" User

It’s important to note that there’s no option to select users other than the "AzDevOps" account in interactive mode when using Azure DevOps agents on Azure VMSS instances. However, you can still work around this limitation by:

Creating a new user called "AzDevOps" in your base gallery image.

Adding any required licenses to this newly created user account. This way, you can ensure that your user has the necessary permissions to execute tests without hindrance.

2. Set a Known Password for the "AzDevOps" User

To avoid the complications of a randomly generated password for the "AzDevOps" account, you can implement a custom extension to the VMSS. The steps include:

Adding a custom script extension to the VMSS that automatically changes the "AzDevOps" account password to a known value upon the creation of each new VM instance.

This allows you to log in and make necessary configurations, thereby resolving access issues to the VM instance.

3. Using TestExecute's SessionCreator

An additional method to bypass the complications of the "AzDevOps" account is to utilize TestExecute's SessionCreator feature. This tool can help you:

Create specific user sessions tailored for your tests.

Evade the issues associated with the default "AzDevOps" account, allowing you to manage user configurations on a per-test run basis.

Conclusion

Configuring Azure DevOps agent VMs within Azure VM Scale Sets for interactive testing may seem daunting at first. However, by making the right configurations and utilizing the tools available to you, it's possible to streamline your automated UI tests effectively. Whether you opt to establish a sufficiently licensed user account, configure a reliable password management extension, or tap into the functionalities of SessionCreator, you can ensure a smoother testing experience for your CI/CD pipelines.

Final Thoughts

Adapting to these configurations is vital for maintaining efficiency and functionality in your automated testing workflows. If you encounter issues or have additional questions, don't hesitate to reach out to the community for support. Happy testing!