Managing optimization schedules

Create a Schedule

1. Go to Optimization section in a Cost group.
2. Click Add / Create optimization schedule.
3. Enter a name for the schedule.
4. Set a timezone based on which scheduling is to be performed.
5. Click Next.

Scheduling configuration

6. The next step is to specify the up, down, or skip hours for the selected schedule type for the associated resources, and set the recurrence as required.

The optimization schedule includes two types for processing the associated resources, which are:

i) Weekly Schedule: Enables the user to configure the resource's uptime and downtime on a weekly basis based on usage patterns.

Additionally, it enables users to set up recurrence, allowing the schedule to process automatically at regular intervals within the specified time range. Users can also define a custom recurrence pattern to match specific needs, such as repeating every second Wednesday and Friday.

ii) Monthly Schedule: Enables the user to configure the resource's uptime and downtime on a monthly basis based on usage patterns.

Additionally, it enables the schedule to repeat automatically at regular monthly intervals and offers the option to define a time range for ending the recurrence.

The hours in green will be considered Up hours, those in red will be considered Down hours, and grey will be considered Skip hours.

The resources will be configured to the Up setting or started at the beginning of each Up hour, set to the Down setting or stopped at the beginning of each Down hour, or skipped at the beginning of each skip hour, based on the specified configuration.

7. Click Next.

Resource selection

The column configuration grid in the Resource selection screen allows users to customize the resource view by adding or removing columns, including those related details. Additionally, users can rearrange the column order to ensure the displayed information aligns with their scheduling preferences and requirements.

8. Choose the required resources available in the selected subscriptions for optimization.

Additionally, the user can add a custom comment to the resource included in the schedule.

At present, the following resource types are available for optimization:

• App service plan
• Cosmos SQL container
• Cosmos SQL database
• Cosmos table
• Data Factory Pipeline
• Logic Apps
• SQL Database
• SQL Elastic pool
• SQL Managed Instances
• Synapse Pipeline
• Virtual machine
• Virtual machine scale set

9. Provide the Up and Down config values to the corresponding resources for the selected Up and Down hours.

10. Click Next.

Notification Settings

11. Configure notification channels to the schedule to receive notification when the optimization schedule run is complete.
12. Click Next.

The user can also choose to receive alerts only when there is a failure for any of the scheduled resources while running the optimization schedule.

Summary

The schedule summary displays detailed information about the optimization schedule, including a Cost Savings chart that helps users gain insights on the cost that can be saved when resources are scheduled for optimization.

13. Click Create optimization schedule to finish creating the schedule.

The Schedule runs once in every hour based on the provided timezone.

Currency selection

When creating a schedule, the Currency filter available in Resource selection allows users to select any available currency types to display cost values based on their preferences.

If the currency filter value is updated, any resource chosen prior to the update will be updated with the new currency type.

The currency type can be updated from the Schedule settings as well.

Export schedules

Optimization schedules can be downloaded as an excel workbook.

1. Move to the Schedules section and click the Download icon.

The downloaded file includes available schedules along with associated cost details.

Scheduled resources

A resource can be added to an existing optimization schedule at any point by using the Schedule resources option available in the Scheduled Resources tab within Resources section.

All the scheduled resources will be listed in the Scheduled Resources tab within the Resources section.

Export scheduled resources

Scheduled resources can be downloaded as an excel workbook.

1. Move to the Scheduled resource section and click the Download icon.

The downloaded file includes detailed resource information along with its scheduled configuration.

Adding resources to the schedule

Any unscheduled resource can be added to a schedule by clicking the Schedule resources option and selecting the required resource.

Enable/Disable scheduled resources

The user can enable or disable resources mapped to a schedule to determine their inclusion or exclusion in the subsequent run.

1. Enable/Disable the toggle next to the required resource
2. Click Update

Scheduling for mapped resources will be reflected based on the recent changes made to the toggle status.

Update configuration values

The configuration values of App Service Plans and Cosmos resources can be updated even after creating the schedule.

1. Navigate to the following path: Optimization schedule -> Resources -> Scheduled Resources.
2. The Up and Down config values can be modified.
3. Click Update.

Update a Schedule

1. Go to Optimization schedule -> Settings.
2. The schedule name, currency type, timezone, and scheduling configuration can be modified.
3. Click Update.

On demand runs

Optimization schedules can be started manually right away, without having to wait for their scheduled time.

1. Navigate to the following path: Cost group -> Optimization -> Schedules.
2. Click the Run Schedule icon next to the relevant schedule. The resources mapped to the schedule will be listed here, allowing for selection according to user preferences.

3. Choose Start (Scale Up) or Stop (Scale Down) to trigger the schedule according to the Up and Down settings configured for the mapped resources.

4. Click Initiate to run the schedule.

Run history

The optimization schedule runs only once every hour, irrespective of the Up and Down hours specified, and performs the necessary action.

The History section of an optimization schedule will display the details of the schedule run only when the previous and the next state are different.

Delete a Schedule

1. Navigate to Optimization section in a Cost Group.
2. Click the Delete icon next to the schedule to be deleted.
3. Click Delete.