Azure Data Explorer (Kusto) is a fast and highly scalable data exploration service for log and telemetry data. If you are managing Azure Data Explorer databases, you might need to delete a database at some point. PowerShell provides a cmdlet called Remove-AzKustoDatabase that allows you to delete a Kusto database easily. This article will guide you through the process of using Remove-AzKustoDatabase in PowerShell to delete databases.

Prerequisites

Before you proceed, ensure you have the following:

1. Azure PowerShell module installed. If not, you can install it using:

   Install-Module -Name Az -AllowClobber -Scope CurrentUser

2. Logged into your Azure account using:

   Connect-AzAccount

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Import the Az.Kusto Module

First, make sure you have the Az.Kusto module installed. If not, install it using:

Install-Module -Name Az.Kusto -AllowClobber -Scope CurrentUser

Step 2: Connect to Your Azure Account

If you haven't already connected to your Azure account, do so by running:

Connect-AzAccount

Step 3: Set the Context

Set the context to the appropriate subscription where your Kusto database resides:

Set-AzContext -SubscriptionId "your-subscription-id"

Step 4: Remove the Kusto Database

To remove a Kusto database, you need to know the resource group name, the Kusto cluster name, and the database name. Use the following command:

Remove-AzKustoDatabase -ResourceGroupName "your-resource-group" -ClusterName "your-cluster-name" -Name "your-database-name" -Force

The -Force parameter is used to bypass the confirmation prompt.

Examples

Example 1: Deleting a Kusto Database

Let's say you have a Kusto database named TelemetryDB in a cluster named MyKustoCluster within the resource group MyResourceGroup. The command to delete this database would be:

Remove-AzKustoDatabase -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -ClusterName "MyKustoCluster" -Name "TelemetryDB" -Force

Example 2: Deleting a Kusto Database with Confirmation

If you prefer to be prompted for confirmation before deletion, omit the -Force parameter:

Remove-AzKustoDatabase -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" -ClusterName "MyKustoCluster" -Name "TelemetryDB"

This will prompt you to confirm the deletion.

Conclusion

Using the Remove-AzKustoDatabase cmdlet in PowerShell makes it straightforward to manage and delete your Azure Data Explorer databases. Always ensure you have the correct permissions and double-check the database name before executing the delete command to avoid accidental data loss.