Using custom pipelines in Azure DevOps can overcome limitations of Microsoft-hosted pipelines, such as accessing private networks and disk size restrictions.
Utilizing Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS) allows for scalable deployment of identical virtual machines in Azure Pipelines.
By creating a custom VM image using Packer and Azure CLI, you can include specific tools like Azure CLI not available in base images.
Steps to create a VM image include defining VM details in Packer, installing required tools, and deprovisioning to maintain a clean state.
Creating the VMSS involves specifying image, resource group, VM size, and authentication type using Azure CLI commands.
Service principal creation is necessary to manage VMSS in Azure DevOps, granting Contributor role and configuring service connection.
Configure VMSS to access Azure Key Vault by assigning Key Vault Administrator role, disabling public access, and attaching to VMSS network.
The process can be automated using Azure DevOps pipelines, ensuring efficient resource usage and access control.
Additional references are provided for detailed guides on building VM images with Packer, installing Azure CLI, and creating service connections.
Overall, custom pipelines and VMSS integration offer more control and scalability in Azure DevOps for unique project requirements.