Windows Azure PowerShell for Node.js

The Windows Azure PowerShell for Node.js is a command-line tool that  allows the Node developers to build and deploy Node.js apps in Windows Azure using Windows PowerShell cmdlets. Using Windows Azure PowerShell for Node.js, you can develop, test, deploy and manage Node based hosted service in Windows Azure.

For getting the PowerShell for Node.js, click All Programs, Windows Azure SDK Node.js and run  Windows Azure PowerShell for Node.js, as Administrator.

The followings are the few PowerShell cmdlets that lets you to work with Node.js apps in Windows Azure

Create New Hosted Service

New-AzureService <HostedServiceName>

The below cmdlet will created a Windows Aazure hosted service named NodeOnAzure in the folder C:\nodejs and this will also create ServiceConfiguration.Cloud.cscfg, ServiceConfiguration.Local.cscfg and ServiceDefinition.csdef and deploymentSettings.json files for the hosted service.

PS C:\nodejs> New-AzureService NodeOnAzure

The below picture shows the files after creating the hosted service

Create Web Role

Add-AzureNodeWebRole <RoleName>

The following cmdlet will create a hosted service named MyNodeApp along with web.config file.

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure> Add-AzureNodeWebRole MyNodeApp

The below picture shows the files after creating the web role app.

Install Node Module

npm install <NodeModule>

The following command will install Node Module Express onto your web role app.

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp> npm install Express

Run Windows Azure Apps Locally in the Emulator

 Start-AzureEmulator -launch

The following cmdlet will create a local package and run Windows Azure app locally in the emulator

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp> Start-AzureEmulator -launch

Stop Windows Azure Emulator

Stop-AzureEmulator

The following cmdlet will stop your Windows Azure in the emulator.

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp> Stop-AzureEmulator

Download Windows Azure Publishing Settings

Get-AzurePublishSettings

The following cmdlet will redirect to Windows Azure portal where we can download Windows Azure publish settings

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp> Get-AzurePublishSettings

Import Windows Azure Publishing Settings

Import-AzurePublishSettings <Location of .publishSettings file>

The following cmdlet will import the publish settings file from the location c:\nodejs

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp>  Import-AzurePublishSettings c:\nodejs\shijuvar.publishSettings

Publish Apps to Windows Azure

Publish-AzureService –name <Name> –location <Location of Data centre>

The following cmdlet will publish the app to Windows Azure with name “NodeOnAzure” in the location Southeast Asia. Please keep in mind that the service name should be unique.

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp> Publish-AzureService –name NodeonAzure –location "Southeast Asia” –launch

Stop Windows Azure Service

Stop-AzureService

The following cmdlet will stop your service which you have deployed previously.

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp> Stop-AzureService

Remove Windows Azure Service

Remove-AzureService

The following cmdlet will remove your service from Windows Azure.

PS C:\nodejs\NodeOnAzure\MyNodeApp> Remove-AzureService

Quick Summary for PowerShell cmdlets