Azure VMware Solution Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure VMware Solution. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

How to Use This Skill

IMPORTANT for Agent: Use the Category Index below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., L35-L120), use read_file with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., [security.md](security.md)), use read_file on the linked reference file

IMPORTANT for Agent: If metadata.generated_at is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If mcp_microsoftdocs tools are not available, suggest the user install it: Installation Guide

This skill requires network access to fetch documentation content:

• Preferred: Use mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch with query string from=learn-agent-skill. Returns Markdown.
• Fallback: Use fetch_webpage with query string from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown. Returns Markdown.

Category Index

Category	Lines	Description
Troubleshooting	L37-L43	Diagnosing and fixing AVS deployment failures, known platform issues, and disaster recovery problems (connectivity, replication, failover/failback) in Azure VMware Solution.
Best Practices	L44-L51	Best practices for AVS private cloud maintenance, security hardening, and tuning NSX scale/performance specifically for HCX migration scenarios.
Decision Making	L52-L65	Guidance on choosing AVS connectivity, migration tools, backup and storage options, SQL/Windows licensing, cross-region moves, reserved instances, and VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions.
Architecture & Design Patterns	L66-L76	Network, storage, and desktop virtualization design for AVS: hub-spoke integration, vSAN/stretched clusters, Citrix/Horizon, GitHub Enterprise Server, and Cloud Director tenant networking.
Limits & Quotas	L77-L88	Host, cluster, capacity, and quota limits for AVS private clouds, plus vSAN ESA support, Gen2 routing limits, and required network ports and planning steps.
Security	L89-L103	Securing AVS: identity/access control, Defender for Cloud, vSAN CMK encryption, external LDAP/vCenter identity, Trusted Launch/vTPM, ESU, role assignments, app protection, and credential rotation.
Configuration	L104-L142	Configuring AVS environments: networking, storage, backup/DR, monitoring, DNS, SNAT, vSAN, Cloud Director, Arc, and integrations like NetApp, Elastic SAN, Pure, and Aria Operations.
Integrations & Coding Patterns	L143-L154	Networking, migration, and integration patterns for AVS: VPN/ExpressRoute, HCX migrations, Traffic Manager, monitoring/logging, backup, and using services like NetApp Files with AVS VMs
Deployment	L155-L160	Guides for deploying AVS workloads: Citrix Virtual Apps/Desktops, JetStream DR for AVS/on-prem, and integrating VMware Cloud Director service with Azure VMware Solution.

Troubleshooting

Topic	URL
Diagnose and work around Azure VMware Solution known issues	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/azure-vmware-solution-known-issues
Resolve disaster recovery issues in Azure VMware	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/ecosystem-disaster-recovery-vms
Troubleshoot Azure VMware Solution deployment failures	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/fix-deployment-failures

Best Practices

Topic	URL
Optimize NSX performance for HCX migrations in Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/azure-vmware-solution-nsx-scale-and-performance-recommendations-for-vmware-hcx
Follow AVS private cloud maintenance and remediation procedures	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/azure-vmware-solution-private-cloud-maintenance
Apply security best practices to Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/security-recommendations
Optimize NSX scale and performance for HCX migrations in Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/vmware-hcx-mon-guidance

Decision Making

Topic	URL
Select internet connectivity options for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-hub-and-spoke
Choose API Management SKUs for Azure VMware workloads	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-identity
Evaluate VMware HCX migration options for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-storage
Select backup solutions for Azure VMware Solution VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/ecosystem-back-up-vms
Choose external storage options for Azure VMware	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/ecosystem-external-storage-solutions
Evaluate migration solutions for AVS virtual machines	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/ecosystem-migration-vms
Choose and Apply Licensing for SQL and Windows on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/license-sql-windows-in-avs
Plan and migrate Azure VMware Solution across regions	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/move-azure-vmware-solution-across-regions
Decide and purchase Azure VMware reserved instances	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/reserved-instance
Use portable VMware Cloud Foundation subscriptions on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/vmware-cloud-foundations-license-portability

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic	URL
Integrate Azure VMware Solution into hub-spoke networks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-api-management
Apply network design patterns for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-design-public-internet-access
Plan storage architecture for Azure VMware Solution private clouds	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-networking
Design Azure VMware Solution vSAN stretched clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-private-clouds
Deploy VMware Horizon virtual desktops on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/azure-vmware-solution-horizon
Size and configure GitHub Enterprise Server on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-github-enterprise-server
Design networking for VMware Cloud Director tenants on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/enable-vmware-vcd-with-azure-network

Limits & Quotas

Topic	URL
Use Azure VMware Solution network planning checklist and port requirements	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-site-to-site-vpn-gateway
Configure vSAN ESA and host support on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-vsan-esa
Understand Azure VMware Solution host and cluster limits	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/introduction
Understand AVS Gen 2 routing architecture and limits	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/native-network-routing-architecture
Request and manage Azure VMware host quota	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/request-host-quota-azure-vmware-solution
Capacity limits for Azure VMware private cloud deployment	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/tutorial-create-private-cloud
Deploy an Azure VMware Solution private cloud with host and cluster limits	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/tutorial-network-checklist
Review Azure VMware Solution private cloud and cluster limits	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/uninstall-vmware-hcx

Security

Topic	URL
Configure identity and access for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-stretched-clusters
Integrate Microsoft Defender for Cloud with Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/azure-security-integration
Configure customer-managed key encryption for AVS vSAN	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-customer-managed-keys
Configure external LDAP identity source for NSX on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-external-identity-source-nsx-t
Configure external identity sources for Azure VMware vCenter	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-identity-source-vcenter
Configure Trusted Launch and vTPM for Azure VMware VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-virtual-trusted-platform-module
Configure Extended Security Updates in Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/extended-security-updates-windows-sql-server
Re-enable AVS Gen 2 service principal in Azure	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/native-first-party-principle-security
Manually configure AVS Gen 2 role assignments	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/native-role-assignment
Protect AVS web apps with Azure Application Gateway	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/protect-azure-vmware-solution-with-application-gateway
Rotate vCenter and NSX cloud admin credentials securely	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/rotate-cloudadmin-credentials

Configuration

Topic	URL
Configure guest management and extensions on Arc-enabled VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/arc-enable-guest-management
Enable and configure Managed SNAT for Azure VMware workloads	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-migrate
Configure networking and interconnectivity for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/architecture-network-design-considerations
Attach Azure NetApp Files NFS datastores to AVS hosts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/attach-azure-netapp-files-to-azure-vmware-solution-hosts
Configure Cloud Backup policies for AVS datastores and VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/backup-azure-netapp-files-datastores-vms
Back up AVS VMware virtual machines with Azure Backup Server	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/backup-azure-vmware-solution-virtual-machines
Configure alerts and metrics monitoring for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-alerts-for-azure-vmware-solution
Use Azure Elastic SAN as AVS iSCSI datastores	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-azure-elastic-san
Create Azure Monitor resource health alerts for AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-azure-monitor-for-resource-health-for-azure-vmware-solution
Use Azure Native Pure Storage Cloud with AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-azure-native-pure-storage-cloud
Configure Azure VMware Solution performance and health metrics	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-azure-vmware-solution-metrics
Manage AVS datastores and VMDKs with Cloud Backup	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-cloud-backup-virtual-machine
Enable DHCP on L2 stretched VMware HCX networks in Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-dhcp-azure-vmware-solution
Configure HCX network extension high availability for AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-hcx-network-extension-high-availability
Configure DNS forwarders and private DNS for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-l2-stretched-vmware-hcx-networks
Set up port mirroring for Azure VMware Solution network traffic	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-nsx-network-components-azure-portal
Configure Pure Cloud Block Store with Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-pure-cloud-block-store
Configure vSAN storage policies for AVS virtual machines	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-storage-policy
Configure VMware Cloud Director Service on Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-vmware-cloud-director-service-azure-vmware-solution
Configure diagnostic settings to collect VMware syslogs from AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-vmware-syslogs
Configure VMware vSAN settings in Azure VMware Solution clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-vsan
Configure Windows Server Failover Cluster on AVS vSAN	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-windows-server-failover-cluster
Create and manage AVS placement policies for VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/create-placement-policy
Deploy VMware Cloud Director Availability on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/deploy-vmware-cloud-director-availability-in-azure-vmware-solution
Deploy VMware Site Recovery Manager for AVS disaster recovery	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/disaster-recovery-using-vmware-site-recovery-manager
Configure Managed SNAT for Azure VMware workloads	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/enable-managed-snat-for-workloads
Configure default routes and disable internet for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/enable-public-ip-nsx-edge
Configure Azure Hybrid Benefit Unlimited Virtualization for SQL on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/enable-sql-azure-hybrid-benefit
Install and configure VMware Cloud Director on AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/enable-vmware-vcd-with-azure
Manage Arc resource bridge and credentials for Azure VMware	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/manage-arc-enabled-azure-vmware-solution
Configure automatic peering sync for AVS Gen 2 networks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/native-auto-peering-sync
Configure DNS forward lookup zones for AVS Gen 2	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/native-dns-forward-lookup-zone
Configure Set-ToolsRepo Run Command in Azure VMware	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/use-set-toolsrepo-run-command
Use AVS Run Command for privileged vCenter operations	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/using-run-command
Configure VMware Aria Operations for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/vrealize-operations-for-azure-vmware-solution

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic	URL
Configure site-to-site VPN with Azure Virtual WAN for Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/configure-port-mirroring-azure-vmware-solution
Enable HCX migrations over public internet for AVS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/enable-hcx-access-over-internet
Install Cloud Backup plug-in for Azure VMware VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/install-cloud-backup-virtual-machines
Integrate Azure Native Monitoring and Protection with AVS VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/integrate-azure-native-services
Forward AVS VMware syslogs to log management via Logic Apps	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/logs-via-logic-app
Migrate workloads between AVS private clouds using HCX	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/migrate-between-private-clouds
Use Azure NetApp Files shares with AVS virtual machines	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/netapp-files-with-azure-vmware-solution
Use VMware HCX Run Commands in Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/use-hcx-run-commands

Deployment

Topic	URL
Deploy Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops on Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/azure-vmware-solution-citrix
Deploy JetStream DR for Azure VMware Solution and on-premises workloads	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/deploy-disaster-recovery-using-jetstream
Enable VMware Cloud Director service with Azure VMware Solution	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-vmware/enable-vmware-cds-with-azure