Linux worker for PowerShell templates

Octopus Deploy offers over 400 step templates, many of which are written in PowerShell, enabling a wide range of deployment tasks across different environments, including Linux. With the advent of PowerShell Core, these templates can now be used on Linux without needing to convert them to Bash. This guide demonstrates how to execute Octopus Deploy step templates on a Linux Worker using PowerShell Core, particularly within an Azure environment. By utilizing Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and Octopus Deploy's Runbooks, users can automate the creation and management of Linux VMs, including tasks such as installing and configuring the Octopus Tentacle for deployment purposes. The process includes setting up a resource group, converting cloud init scripts to Base64, and performing health checks on the newly created workers. The ability to use PowerShell Core on Linux significantly broadens the scope of templates available to Linux users, enhancing flexibility and functionality in deployment operations.