Imported from luokai0/ai-agent-skills-by-luo-kai (
ai-agent-skills/21-external-registries/10-microsoft-azure/azure-vm-scalesets/SKILL.md). Install upstream withnpx skills add luokai0/ai-agent-skills-by-luo-kai --skill azure-vm-scalesets. Copyright stays with the author.
Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets Skill
This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets. Covers troubleshooting, 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), useread_filewith the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g.,[security.md](security.md)), useread_fileon the linked reference file
IMPORTANT for Agent: If
metadata.generated_atis more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. Ifmcp_microsoftdocstools 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_fetchwith query stringfrom=learn-agent-skill. Returns Markdown. - Fallback: Use
fetch_webpagewith query stringfrom=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown. Returns Markdown.
Category Index
| Category | Lines | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | L36-L41 | Diagnosing and fixing VM Scale Sets issues with instance mix (spot/dedicated), autoscale not triggering or scaling incorrectly, and common configuration or quota-related errors. |
| Decision Making | L42-L55 | Guidance on VM scale set design choices: cost vs availability, Spot/standby pools, instance mix, placement score, upgrade modes, hybrid benefit, and migrating to Flexible scale sets. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L56-L64 | Designing resilient VM scale sets: zones, fault domains, zone balancing modes, proximity placement groups, and standby pools to optimize availability, latency, and scale-out behavior. |
| Limits & Quotas | L65-L73 | VMSS capacity, instance and placement group limits, standby pool constraints, maintenance notification behavior, and FAQs on supported scale, features, and quotas |
| Security | L74-L82 | Encrypting VM scale set disks (CLI, PowerShell, ARM), configuring Key Vault and extension sequencing for Azure Disk Encryption, and setting security policies/RBAC for VMSS. |
| Configuration | L83-L130 | Configuring VM Scale Sets: scaling rules, upgrades, networking, disks, images, health/repair, standby pools, instance mix, protection, and automation via CLI, PowerShell, templates, and portal |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L131-L140 | Using CLI/PowerShell/DSC/custom script to deploy apps, configure, and manage VM Scale Sets, plus integrating standby pools with Log Analytics for monitoring and automation. |
| Deployment | L141-L149 | Creating and deploying VM scale sets with gallery/custom images, ARM templates, app deployment steps, and configuring instances across availability zones. |
Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| FAQ and troubleshooting for VM Scale Sets instance mix | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-mix-faq-troubleshooting |
| Troubleshoot autoscale issues in Azure VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-troubleshoot |
Decision Making
Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Design resilient scale sets with automatic zone balance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/auto-zone-balance-overview |
| Use proximity placement groups with VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/proximity-placement-groups |
| Use standby pools to reduce VM Scale Set scale-out latency | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-overview |
| Configure fault domains for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-manage-fault-domains |
| Use zone balancing modes in VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-zone-balancing |
Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Understand VM Scale Sets overview limits and capacities | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/overview |
| Standby pools FAQ including support scope and limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-faq |
| Azure VM Scale Sets capacity and feature limits FAQ | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-faq |
| Handle maintenance notifications for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-maintenance-notifications |
| Understand placement groups and capacity limits in scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-placement-groups |
Security
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Encrypt VM scale set disks using Azure CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/disk-encryption-cli |
| Configure Key Vault for Azure Disk Encryption on VMSS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/disk-encryption-key-vault |
| Encrypt VM scale set disks using PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/disk-encryption-powershell |
| Use built-in Azure Policy definitions for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/policy-reference |
| Configure RBAC permissions for VM Scale Set standby pools | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-configure-permissions |
Configuration
Integrations & Coding Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Integrate VM Scale Set standby pools with Azure Log Analytics | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-monitor-pool-events |
| Install applications on VM Scale Sets using Custom Script Extension (CLI) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-install-apps-cli |
| Install applications on VM Scale Sets using Custom Script Extension (PowerShell) | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-install-apps-powershell |
| Configure VM scale sets with Azure DSC extension | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-dsc |
| Manage VM scale sets using Azure CLI commands | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-manage-cli |
| Manage VM scale sets with Azure PowerShell cmdlets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-manage-powershell |
Deployment
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Create VM scale sets from generalized gallery images | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-generalized-image-version |
| Create VM scale sets from specialized gallery images | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-specialized-image-version |
| Deploy applications onto VM scale set instances | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-deploy-app |
| Use custom images in VM scale set ARM templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-mvss-custom-image |
| Author ARM templates for basic VM scale set deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-mvss-start |
| Deploy VM scale sets across availability zones | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-use-availability-zones |