How to use Azure DevOps Pipelines Machine File Copy Using Environments? - azure-devops

Question

I need to move files from ADO to a VM. This VM is set up using "Environments" and tagged appropriately. I would like to copy those files to that VM using its environment name and tag. So far I've only found "Windows machine file copy" which requires storing a admin login. Is there a way to use the Environments instead of hardcoding a login?

Answer 1

You can set up the YAML pipeline like as below:
If you want to copy the build artifact files to the VM, reference below sample.
In the Build stage set up the jobs to build the source code, and publish the artifact files for use.
In the Deploy stage, when setting the deployment job with an environment on an VM, all steps in this job will be run on this VM. In the deployment job, at the very first step, it will automatically download the artifact files to the working directory on the VM.
Then you can use the CopyFiles task to the copy the artifact files to any accessible directory on the VM.
stages:
- stage: Build
displayName: 'Build'
. . .
- stage: Deploy
displayName: 'Deploy'
dependsOn: Build
condition: succeeded()
jobs:
- deployment: Deployment
displayName: 'Deployment'
environment: '{EnvironmentName.ResourceName}'
strategy:
runOnce:
deploy:
steps:
- task: CopyFiles#2
displayName: 'Copy Files to: {Destination Directory}'
inputs:
SourceFolder: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)/drop'
Contents: '**'
TargetFolder: '{Destination Directory}'
CleanTargetFolder: true
If the files you want to copy the VM are the source files in the repository, reference below sample.
stages:
- stage: Deploy
displayName: 'Deploy'
dependsOn: Build
condition: succeeded()
jobs:
- deployment: Deployment
displayName: 'Deployment'
environment: '{EnvironmentName.ResourceName}'
strategy:
runOnce:
deploy:
steps:
- checkout: self
- task: CopyFiles#2
displayName: 'Copy Files to: {Destination Directory}'
inputs:
SourceFolder: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)'
Contents: '**'
TargetFolder: '{Destination Directory}'
CleanTargetFolder: true
For more details, you can see: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/pipelines/process/environments-kubernetes?view=azure-devops

Answer 2

I have been struggling for a while with setting up an Azure Pipeline to deploy .Net Core service to VM. I had the following requirements:
to use YAML files instead of classic UI
to deploy as a windows service not to IIS
to use stages in pipeline
I was using monorepo with the service residing in MyService folder
In addition I had an external NuGet feed
My solution consisted of several projects and I was building only one of them
appsettings.release.json was being replaced with the one persisted on the server to preserve settings
I was inspired by Bright Ran-MSFT answer and suggest my complete azure-pipelines.yml file
trigger:
branches:
include:
- staging
paths:
include:
- MyService
pool:
vmImage: "windows-latest"
variables:
solution: "MyService/MyService.sln"
buildPlatform: "Any CPU"
buildConfiguration: "Release"
stages:
- stage: Build
jobs:
- job: BuildJob
steps:
- task: NuGetCommand#2
inputs:
restoreSolution: "$(solution)"
feedsToUse: "config"
nugetConfigPath: "MyService/NuGet.Config"
- task: VSBuild#1
inputs:
solution: "$(solution)"
msbuildArgs: '/t:MyService:Rebuild /p:DeployOnBuild=true /p:WebPublishMethod=Package /p:SkipInvalidConfigurations=true /p:OutDir="$(build.artifactStagingDirectory)\service_package"'
platform: "$(buildPlatform)"
configuration: "$(buildConfiguration)"
- task: VSTest#2
inputs:
platform: "$(buildPlatform)"
configuration: "$(buildConfiguration)"
- task: PublishPipelineArtifact#1
inputs:
targetPath: '$(build.artifactStagingDirectory)\service_package'
artifactName: "service_package"
- stage: Deploy
displayName: 'Deploy'
dependsOn: Build
condition: succeeded()
jobs:
- deployment: Deployment
displayName: 'Deployment'
environment: 'MainDeployEnv.MY_VM_SERVER'
strategy:
runOnce:
deploy:
steps:
- task: CopyFiles#2
displayName: 'Copy Package to: C:\azservices\MyService\service'
inputs:
SourceFolder: '$(Pipeline.Workspace)/service_package'
Contents: '**'
TargetFolder: 'C:\azservices\MyService\service\'
CleanTargetFolder: true
- task: CopyFiles#2
displayName: 'Replace appsettings.release.json'
inputs:
SourceFolder: 'C:\azservices\MyService\settings'
Contents: 'appsettings.release.json'
TargetFolder: 'C:\azservices\MyService\service\'
OverWrite: true