Azure Local
MicrosoftOfficialCreated by Microsoft
- Skill
- Tool integration
- Cloud and DevOps
- MIT
- No issues found
AutoGineer summary
Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author
This skill provides a structured approach to managing Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI) environments. It covers the full lifecycle from initial planning and prerequisites to deployment, workload management (including VMs and AKS on Azure Local), networking, security, and ongoing maintenance. The skill emphasizes safety by requiring read-only verification before executing any destructive or configuration-changing operations and provides guidance on when to escalate to specialized multi-rack procedures.
What it does
- Guides users through Azure Local planning, sizing, and deployment prerequisites.
- Manages lifecycle updates and cluster maintenance tasks.
- Facilitates the management of workloads including Azure Local VMs and AKS on Azure Local.
- Assists in configuring SDN, network security, and load balancing.
- Provides troubleshooting steps for cluster failures and health issues.
- Ensures safe operations by requiring confirmation before risky changes.
When to use it
- When planning or deploying a standard 1-16 node hyperconverged or up to 64-node disaggregated Azure Local cluster.
- When performing lifecycle updates or managing cluster health.
- When managing VMs, AKS clusters, or network resources on Azure Local.
- When troubleshooting connectivity, SDN, or cluster-level issues.
- When you need to verify prerequisites for Arc registration or custom location setup.
Advantages
- Ensures adherence to official Microsoft Learn documentation and best practices.
- Promotes operational safety through a read-only-first approach.
- Provides clear boundaries between standard deployments and complex multi-rack scenarios.
- Centralizes guidance for both Azure control-plane and local cluster management tasks.
Usage examples
- “What are the network prerequisites for deploying a new Azure Local cluster?”
- The agent will provide a summary of physical and host network requirements, including links to the relevant Microsoft Learn documentation for network patterns.
- “How do I check the update status of my Azure Local cluster?”
- The agent will guide you through using the appropriate Azure CLI or PowerShell commands to assess and report the current update status of your cluster.
- “I need to troubleshoot a VM that is not starting on my Azure Local cluster.”
- The agent will initiate the troubleshooting workflow, starting with read-only checks of the VM state and cluster health before suggesting remediation steps.
Install
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/microsoft/azure-local/downloadUnzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:
mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip azure-local.zip -d .agents/skills
Documentation by Microsoft
Azure Local
Quick Reference
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Best for | Azure Local planning, deployment, operations, workloads |
| MCP Tools | Generic Azure MCP tools only; no Azure Local namespace |
| CLI | az graph query, az resource show, Azure Local PowerShell |
| Related skills | azure-compute (public VMs), azure-kubernetes (public AKS) |
When to Use This Skill
Use for Azure Local, Azure Stack HCI, Azure Local VMs, AKS on Azure Local, AKS hybrid, SDN, lifecycle updates, disconnected sites, or troubleshooting. Covers standard deployments (1-16 node hyperconverged, up to 64 disaggregated) and rack-aware clusters.
Do not use for cloud VM or public AKS guidance, or for multi-rack (rack scale) deployments — those use a separate control plane and procedure set. Hand off to the azure-local-multi-rack skill.
MCP Tools
Azure Local has no dedicated MCP namespace. Use generic Azure MCP tools: mcp_azure_mcp_extension_cli_generate (ARG/CLI inventory), mcp_azure_mcp_monitor (needs Log Analytics), mcp_azure_mcp_resourcehealth (partial; not local cluster health), mcp_azure_mcp_documentation (pass the user's version when known).
Scope and limitations: mcp-and-cli-tools.
Workflow
Confirm deployment scale. If the user mentions multi-rack, aggregation racks, Network Fabric Controller, Cluster Manager, or
Microsoft.NetworkCloudresources, stop and use theazure-local-multi-rackskill instead.Deploy -> plan-and-deploy
Operate/update -> operate-and-update
VMs, AKS, images, disks, networks -> workload-management
SDN, NSG, load balancer, gateway -> networking-and-security
Failures -> troubleshooting
Read the matched workflow first and use docs-map. Start read-only. Ask before updates, deletes, reimages, network changes, VM power/delete operations, or Arc bridge/custom location changes.
Error Handling
| Scenario | Remediation |
|---|---|
| Scale unknown | Ask whether the deployment is standard or multi-rack before giving procedures. |
| Multi-rack detected | Hand off to the azure-local-multi-rack skill; these procedures do not apply. |
| Version unknown | Ask for the Azure Local version, or use latest docs. |
| Risky change detected | Stop and follow safety-rules. |
| No local access | Stay with Azure control-plane checks only. |
| Doc URL 404/redirect | Search Learn for the article title with the user's version. |
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer983 B
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer1.1 KiB
- SKILL.md3.3 KiB
- references/docs-map.md7.6 KiB
- references/mcp-and-cli-tools.md3.4 KiB
- references/resource-types.md2.5 KiB
- references/safety-rules.md2.1 KiB
- workflows/networking-and-security/networking-and-security.md3.5 KiB
- workflows/operate-and-update/operate-and-update.md3.6 KiB
- workflows/plan-and-deploy/plan-and-deploy.md4.3 KiB
- workflows/troubleshooting/troubleshooting.md3.7 KiB
- workflows/workload-management/workload-management.md3.4 KiB
references/docs-map.md
Azure Local Documentation Map
Use Microsoft Learn as the authoritative source for Azure Local procedures. Use latest-version URLs by default; add a version-aware view parameter only when the user asks about a specific Azure Local release, and fetch current docs before giving detailed commands.
Core entry points
| Area | Microsoft Learn path |
|---|---|
| Azure Local landing page | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/ |
| What is Azure Local | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/overview |
| Scalability and deployments (choose a scale) | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/scalability-deployments |
| Release information | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/release-information-23h2 |
| Known issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/known-issues |
Planning and deployment
| Need | Microsoft Learn path |
|---|---|
| System requirements | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/system-requirements-23h2 |
| Physical network requirements | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/physical-network-requirements |
| Host network requirements | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/host-network-requirements |
| Firewall requirements | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/firewall-requirements |
| Network reference patterns | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/plan/network-patterns-overview |
| Choose network pattern | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/plan/choose-network-pattern |
| Deployment introduction | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-introduction |
| Deployment prerequisites | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-prerequisites |
| Prepare Active Directory | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-prep-active-directory |
| Install OS | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-install-os |
| Simplified machine provisioning | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/simplified-machine-provisioning |
| Subscription permissions | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-arc-register-server-permissions |
| Register without Arc gateway | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-without-azure-arc-gateway |
| Register with Arc gateway | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-with-azure-arc-gateway |
| Deploy via portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deploy-via-portal |
| Deploy via ARM template | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template |
Rack-aware clusters
Rack-aware clustering spreads a single cluster across two racks as availability zones with synchronous replication. It is a standard-scale topology, not multi-rack. For multi-rack (rack scale), use the azure-local-multi-rack skill.
| Need | Microsoft Learn path |
|---|---|
| Rack aware cluster overview | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/rack-aware-cluster-overview |
| Requirements and supported configurations | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/rack-aware-cluster-requirements |
| Network reference patterns | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/rack-aware-cluster-reference-architecture |
| Prepare deployment | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/rack-aware-cluster-deploy-prep |
| Deploy via portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/rack-aware-cluster-deploy-portal |
| Deploy via ARM template | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/rack-aware-cluster-deployment-via-template |
Operations, updates, and upgrades
| Need | Microsoft Learn path |
|---|---|
| About updates | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/update/about-updates-23h2 |
| Update phases | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/update/update-phases-23h2 |
| Update via PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/update/update-via-powershell-23h2 |
| Limited connectivity updates | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/update/import-discover-updates-offline-23h2 |
| Update via Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/update/azure-update-manager-23h2 |
| Update best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/update/update-best-practices |
| Troubleshoot updates | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/update/update-troubleshooting-23h2 |
| About upgrades | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/upgrade/about-upgrades-23h2 |
| Upgrade troubleshooting | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/upgrade/troubleshoot-upgrade-to-23h2 |
Workloads
| Need | Microsoft Learn path |
|---|---|
| Azure Local VM management overview | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/azure-arc-vm-management-overview |
| VM management prerequisites | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/azure-arc-vm-management-prerequisites |
| Assign VM RBAC roles | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/assign-vm-rbac-roles |
| Create storage path | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/create-storage-path |
| Create logical networks | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/create-logical-networks |
| Create network interfaces | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/create-network-interfaces |
| Create Arc VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/create-arc-virtual-machines |
| Manage Arc VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/manage-arc-virtual-machines |
| Troubleshoot Arc VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/troubleshoot-arc-enabled-vms |
| AKS on Azure Local | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/aks/hybrid/aks-create-clusters-portal?toc=/azure/azure-local/toc.json&bc=/azure/azure-local/breadcrumb/toc.json |
| SQL Server on Azure Local | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/sql-server-23h2 |
| Disaster recovery overview | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/disaster-recovery-overview |
Networking and security
| Need | Microsoft Learn path |
|---|---|
| Security features | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/security-features |
| Security book | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/security-book/overview |
| Private endpoints | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/about-private-endpoints |
| SDN overview | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/concepts/sdn-overview |
| Enable SDN integration | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/enable-sdn-integration |
| Network security groups | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/create-network-security-groups |
| Manage NSGs | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/manage-network-security-groups |
| SDN troubleshooting | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/manage/sdn-troubleshooting |
| External storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-local/deploy/enable-external-storage |
Documentation usage rules
Fetch current docs for detailed procedures, command syntax, or supported topology decisions.
If a URL redirects or 404s, search Microsoft Learn for the article title and keep the user's requested Azure Local version in the query.
Do not copy long procedural content into responses; summarize the decision and link or cite the authoritative doc.
When documentation differs by version, ask for the Azure Local version or use the version provided by the user.
Requirements and compatibility
Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta
“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.
Needs: Needs Node.js
Security
No issues found by our static scan· No issues found
A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.
Attribution and licence
- Created by
- Microsoft
- Publisher
- Microsoft (Official)
- Source
- microsoft/skills · .github/plugins/azure-local-skills/skills/azure-local · commit 0696600
- Licence
- MIT License (redistribution allowed)
- LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from .github/plugins/azure-local-skills/LICENSE)
- ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
- Synced
AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.
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Download ZIP
The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download azure-local.zip