How to Use the `az term` Command (with examples)

The az term command is a part of the Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface) toolkit, which empowers users to manage marketplace agreements with Azure’s marketplace ordering service. By utilizing this tool, users can access and handle the terms of service for various marketplace products and plans before any transactions take place, ensuring compliance and understanding of the contractual obligations involved.

Use Case 1: Print Marketplace Terms

Code:

az term show --product "product_identifier" --plan "plan_identifier" --publisher "publisher_identifier"

Motivation:

When considering a new product from the Azure Marketplace, customers and organizations might want to review the terms and conditions before committing to a purchase. Accessing the terms beforehand allows them to make informed decisions, ensuring that the product aligns with their policies and requirements. This proactive approach mitigates the risk of committing to a product with terms that may not be favorable or permitted by their organization.

Explanation:

• az term: This is the Azure CLI command used to manage marketplace terms.
• show: This subcommand is used to display the terms for a specific product, plan, and publisher.
• --product "product_identifier": This flag specifies the unique identifier of the product whose terms are to be viewed. Products in the Azure Marketplace often have distinct IDs that differentiate them from others.
• --plan "plan_identifier": This argument refers to the specific plan associated with the product. Different plans might offer variations in features, pricing, or terms.
• --publisher "publisher_identifier": This indicates the publisher of the product. Knowing the publisher can help users determine the reliability and reputation of the product offered.

Example output:

{
  "id": "/providers/Microsoft.MarketplaceOrdering/offerTerms/publisher/product/plan/current",
  "licenseTextLink": "https://...",
  "privacyPolicyLink": "https://...",
  "productDisplayName": "Product Name",
  "publisherDisplayName": "Publisher Name",
  "retrieveDatetime": "2023-10-08T10:00:00Z",
  "signature": "54446453e...",
  "terms": {
    "type": "Agreement",
    "effectiveDate": "2023-09-01T00:00:00Z",
    "market": "US"
  }
}

The output here includes a JSON object stating the product and publisher names, the effective date of these terms, and links to further reading materials like the full license text and privacy policy, facilitating a comprehensive review process.

Use Case 2: Accept Marketplace Terms

Code:

az term accept --product "product_identifier" --plan "plan_identifier" --publisher "publisher_identifier"

Motivation:

Once an organization or user has reviewed the terms and decided to proceed with a marketplace product, the terms must be officially accepted before any transactions can be completed. This step is crucial as it formalizes agreement to the terms and conditions, allowing the user to then purchase or deploy the product within their Azure environment. Accepting terms is a necessary administrative step to unlock the full use of the product.

Explanation:

• az term: Refers to the Azure CLI command used to manage marketplace terms.
• accept: This command is utilized to indicate formal acceptance of the service terms for a specific product, plan, and publisher.
• --product "product_identifier": Just like in the show command, this flag identifies the marketplace product for which the terms are being accepted.
• --plan "plan_identifier": This specifies the plan under the product that entails specific terms and conditions.
• --publisher "publisher_identifier": Identifying the publisher reinforces which entity’s terms are being agreed to, ensuring that the user fully understands who they are entering a contract with.

Example output:

{
  "id": "/providers/Microsoft.MarketplaceOrdering/offerTerms/publisher/product/plan/current",
  "accepted": true,
  "acceptanceDatetime": "2023-10-08T10:05:00Z",
  "productDisplayName": "Product Name",
  "publisherDisplayName": "Publisher Name"
}

The resulting confirmation indicates successful acceptance of the terms, with a timestamp to record the exact time and date of agreement, alongside mirroring information of the product and publisher as seen in the terms display.

Conclusion

The az term command simplifies the process of managing marketplace agreements by allowing users to easily display and accept terms for Azure Marketplace products through the command line. Both viewing and accepting terms are essential parts of engaging with marketplace offerings, ensuring that users make well-informed decisions and maintain compliance with necessary legal agreements. Through these examples, users should be equipped to understand the functionality that az term offers and how it can be employed efficiently within their Azure management workflows.