How to Call a C# Console Application from Azure Data Factory

Discover how to effectively call, monitor, and run your C# console applications from Azure Data Factory using Azure Batch and more. Get insights on permissions and suitable technologies.
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Introduction

In the cloud computing era, integrating various technologies is essential for efficient workflow management. If you're a developer or a cloud architect, you may face situations where you need to execute a C# console application in response to an activity in Azure Data Factory (ADF). This post dives into how you can effectively call, monitor, and run your C# console applications from ADF, exploring solutions like Azure Batch and the necessary permissions for Azure services.

The Problem

Suppose you have a C# console application that performs specific functions, like downloading files from Azure Storage and sending notifications through SNMP traps. However, you want to integrate this functionality within an Azure Data Factory pipeline while maximizing server-less architecture options. Your main concerns include:

How to trigger your C# console application from Azure Data Factory?

Monitoring this application during its execution.

Ensuring that it can interact with Azure Storage and Azure Key Vault securely for permissions.

Great news! A solution exists, and it involves using Azure Batch—a powerful service that will meet your requirements.

Solution: Running Your C# Console Application via Azure Batch

Step 1: Understanding Azure Batch

Azure Batch is a cloud service that allows you to run a large number of applications efficiently in parallel. It dynamically provisions clusters for your application and manages the resources needed for them. Since your C# application doesn't require hefty processing or extensive parallelism, Azure Batch is the perfect fit.

Step 2: Create and Configure Azure Batch

Set Up Your Azure Batch Account:

Log in to your Azure portal.

Create a new Batch account by specifying the resource group and location.

Configure Storage Account:

Your Batch account needs access to Azure Storage where your application files are stored. Create or use an existing Azure Storage account.

Step 3: Deploy Your C# Console Application

Package your C# console application into a zip file.

Upload it to Azure Storage, making it accessible for Azure Batch to retrieve when needed.

Step 4: Integrating with Azure Data Factory

Create a Linked Service in ADF to Azure Batch:

In the Azure Data Factory workspace, create a new linked service pointing to your Azure Batch account.

Utilize the Azure Batch Activity:

In your ADF pipeline, add an "Azure Batch" activity. Specify your Batch account, pool, and point to the location of your C# application's runnable files within Azure Storage.

This activity will act as a trigger to call the application whenever the pipeline runs.

Step 5: Managing Permissions

An important aspect of this process is security. You need to ensure that your Azure Batch has the necessary permissions to access Azure Storage and Azure Key Vault.

Set Up Managed Service Identity (MSI):

Enable managed identity for your Azure Batch account. This allows it to access Azure resources securely without storing credentials in your application.

Grant Access in Azure Key Vault:

Add your Batch account’s managed identity to the access policies of Key Vault to allow required operations, such as retrieving connection strings or secrets.

Conclusion

By implementing the steps above, you can easily integrate your existing C# console application with Azure Data Factory using Azure Batch. This solution provides a seamless way to trigger and monitor your application while ensuring security and performance within a server-less architecture.

Whether you are managing data operations or orchestrating complex workflows, Azure Batch can enhance your Azure Data Factory experience, allowing your applications to