Use C# to Get Every Azure App Service Plan Configuration That Is Available

Understanding App Service Plan Configurations in Azure

When deploying applications on Azure App Service, selecting the right App Service Plan is crucial. Each plan comes with different configurations such as tier, size, and family, which affect pricing and performance. But how do you programmatically retrieve all the possible configurations available in your Azure subscription? 🤔

Many developers assume that fetching this data is straightforward using the Azure SDK for .NET. However, when attempting to use `GetSkusAsync()`, they often encounter null results. This can be frustrating, especially when the same information is clearly visible in the Azure portal. So, what is going wrong?

One possible reason is that the `SubscriptionResource` object might not have direct access to SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) for App Service Plans. Another approach, such as leveraging `MockableAppServiceSubscriptionResource`, might be required. But does this method actually work? Let's dive deeper into the issue. 🔍

In this guide, we will explore how to properly retrieve all available App Service Plan configurations in your Azure subscription using C# and .NET 8.0. We'll analyze potential pitfalls, provide working code samples, and discuss alternative solutions if the SDK does not yet support this feature. Stay tuned! 🚀

Retrieving Azure App Service Plans: Understanding the Code

When working with Azure App Service Plans, it’s essential to understand how to fetch available configurations using the Azure SDK for .NET. Our scripts aim to retrieve all possible App Service Plan SKUs (pricing tiers) available in a given subscription. The first method utilizes the Azure Resource Manager (ARM) SDK, which allows us to interact directly with Azure services. The second approach leverages the Azure REST API, providing flexibility when the SDK does not return the expected results. 🚀

In the first script, we begin by initializing an `ArmClient` instance, which serves as the entry point for interacting with Azure resources. The `DefaultAzureCredential` is used for authentication, eliminating the need for manually handling API keys or passwords. Then, we retrieve the SubscriptionResource, which contains information about the Azure subscription. By calling `GetAppServicePlansAsync()`, we attempt to retrieve all available App Service Plans, iterating through them asynchronously with `await foreach`. This ensures that we process the data efficiently, even for large result sets. However, if the method returns null, it could indicate that the current SDK version does not support retrieving SKUs this way.

For situations where the SDK does not provide the expected data, our second script uses the Azure REST API to fetch the same information. Here, we construct a request URL based on the subscription ID and append the appropriate API version. Before making the request, we generate an OAuth token using `DefaultAzureCredential`, which authenticates our request. The `HttpClient` then sends a GET request to Azure’s management endpoint, retrieving the available App Service Plans in JSON format. This method is useful when SDK limitations prevent direct retrieval of SKUs. If a developer encounters an issue with SDK updates or deprecated methods, this API approach provides a reliable alternative. 🔍

Additionally, we’ve included a unit test to verify that the SDK method works correctly. Using the XUnit testing framework, the test initializes an `ArmClient`, retrieves the subscription, and calls `GetAppServicePlansAsync()`. The result is then checked to ensure it is not null, confirming that the SDK is properly returning data. Writing unit tests like these is crucial when working with cloud-based APIs, as they help detect potential failures early. If the test fails, it might indicate an authentication issue, missing permissions, or an incorrect API version.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Azure.ResourceManager;
using Azure.ResourceManager.AppService;
using Azure.ResourceManager.Resources;

class Program
{
    static async Task Main()
    {
        ArmClient client = new ArmClient(new DefaultAzureCredential());
        SubscriptionResource subscription = client.GetDefaultSubscription();

        var skus = await subscription.GetAppServicePlansAsync();

        if (skus != null)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Available App Service SKUs:");
            await foreach (var sku in skus)
            {
                Console.WriteLine($"Tier: {sku.Data.Sku.Tier}, Name: {sku.Data.Sku.Name}, Size: {sku.Data.Sku.Size}, Family: {sku.Data.Sku.Family}");
            }
        }
        else
        {
            Console.WriteLine("No SKUs found.");
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Azure.Identity;
using Azure.Core;

class Program
{
    static async Task Main()
    {
        string subscriptionId = "your-subscription-id";
        string resourceUrl = $"https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/providers/Microsoft.Web/skus?api-version=2021-02-01";

        var credential = new DefaultAzureCredential();
        var token = await credential.GetTokenAsync(new TokenRequestContext(new[] { "https://management.azure.com/.default" }));

        using HttpClient client = new HttpClient();
        client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = new System.Net.Http.Headers.AuthenticationHeaderValue("Bearer", token.Token);

        HttpResponseMessage response = await client.GetAsync(resourceUrl);
        string result = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();

        Console.WriteLine(result);
    }
}

using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Xunit;
using Azure.ResourceManager;
using Azure.ResourceManager.Resources;

public class AppServiceSkuTests
{
    [Fact]
    public async Task Test_GetAppServiceSkus_ReturnsResults()
    {
        ArmClient client = new ArmClient(new DefaultAzureCredential());
        SubscriptionResource subscription = client.GetDefaultSubscription();

        var skus = await subscription.GetAppServicePlansAsync();

        Assert.NotNull(skus);
    }
}

Exploring Advanced Methods for Retrieving App Service Plan Configurations

When working with Azure App Service Plans, retrieving all possible configurations requires more than just calling an API. One often-overlooked aspect is the need for proper permissions and role assignments in Azure. Even if you are using DefaultAzureCredential, your account or service principal must have the necessary "Reader" or "Contributor" roles assigned to the subscription or resource group. Without these, calling GetSkusAsync() will result in a null or empty response, which can be frustrating for developers. 🔐

Another challenge is handling regional availability of SKUs. Not all App Service Plans are available in every Azure region. If your subscription is tied to a specific location, it may not return all possible SKUs. A workaround is to query different Azure regions explicitly using location-based API calls. This ensures you gather comprehensive data across multiple geographies, which is crucial for multi-region deployments. 🌍

Additionally, caching retrieved SKUs can significantly improve performance. If your application frequently fetches SKUs, implementing a caching layer (e.g., MemoryCache or Redis) can reduce the number of calls made to Azure, leading to faster responses and lower API rate limits. By combining these techniques—correct permissions, regional queries, and caching—you can optimize your approach to fetching App Service Plans efficiently while ensuring a seamless developer experience. 🚀