---
title: "Azure Cloud Shell"
description: "Manage Azure from any browser using Azure Cloud Shell."
date: 2017-12-14
updated: 2025-01-07
author: Martin Ehrnst
section: azure
categories: [Azure, Powershell]
tags: [Azure, AzureCloudShell, AzureRM, Powershell]
url: "https://adatum.no/azure/azure-cloud-shell/"
canonicalUrl: "https://adatum.no/azure/azure-cloud-shell"
---

Azure Cloud Shell have been available through the Azure Portal for some time now. Just recently Microsoft released cloud shell as a “stand-alone” web page, [shell.azure.com](https://shell.azure.com/) both Bash and Powershell (preview) are available.
That means you can access a Powershell (or bash) console from any browser at any time and from what I can see, both Azure RM and Azure AD modules are available. To get started, visit [shell.azure.com](https://shell.azure.com/) and sign in.
### First time setup
When you sign in using Cloud Shell for the first time you will have to create a storage account. I am not certain, but I assume the storage account is used for Powershell modules etc.
Select your subscription and continue.
![azure cloud shell select subscription](/assets/blog-images/2017/2017-12-14-10_43_53-Azure-Cloud-Shell-300x117.png)
First initialization can take some time, but when storage is created and Azure have done a few compute transactions, things should look something like this. In the below image I have started a Powershell session. From here on you can start exploring. Try to run help, Get-CloudDrive etc to get a little more information.
![Azure cloud shell start](/assets/blog-images/2017/2017-12-14-12_08_55-Azure-Cloud-Shell-300x153.png)
 
### Cloud Drive
Cloud drive is the storage account for Azure Cloud Shell. I was a little interested in how it works and what possibilities it have. After a little investigation it turns out Cloud Drive is mounted in to cloud shell by default, mapped to letter Y: (see picture). Not sure how supported this is, but you can easially create folders, script etc inside your Cloud Drive which will be available on **any device** you use
![Azure Cloud Shell cloud drive](/assets/blog-images/2017/2017-12-14-12_40_16-Azure-Cloud-Shell-300x132.png)
 
### Cmdlet examples
Azure Cloud Shell comes with all built-in Powershell modules and the whole AzureRM module loaded by default. And let’s not forget you also have text editors, source control and Pester available. To see a complete list of whats included in Cloud Shell, visit [https://docs.microsoft.com/nb-no/azure/cloud-shell/features-powershell#tools](https://docs.microsoft.com/nb-no/azure/cloud-shell/features-powershell#tools)
Apart from AzureRM (run **Get-AzureRMCommand**) you have Azure AD (AAD) available. For example Get-AzureAdUser.
I really like this new world, hopefully even better with Azure Cloud Shell.
Have fun!

### Other resources

- [Azure Powershell Overview](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/azure/overview?view=azurermps-5.0.0)
- [Azure Resource Manager Overview](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/resource-group-overview)

PS: If you run $PSVersiontable you will see that Azure Cloud Shell actually runs on the native powershell (Deskop), version 5.1 and not version 6 which is Powershell Core…
 
 
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