azure-sql-virtual-machines
Expert knowledge for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when planning SQL VM vs Managed Instance, Always On/FCI HADR, Azure storage/backup, Key Vault/MI auth, or KQL telemetry, and other SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines related development tasks. Not for Azure SQL Database (use azure-sql-database), Azure SQL Managed Instance (use azure-sql-managed-instance), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-v
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SKILL.md
name: azure-sql-virtual-machinesdescription: Expert knowledge for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when planning SQL VM vs Managed Instance, Always On/FCI HADR, Azure storage/backup, Key Vault/MI auth, or KQL telemetry, and other SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines related development tasks. Not for Azure SQL Database (use azure-sql-database), Azure SQL Managed Instance (use azure-sql-managed-instance), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines), SAP HANA on Azure Large Instances (use azure-sap).compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.metadata: generated_at: "2026-10-25" generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines Skill
This skill provides expert guidance for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines. 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), 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 | L37-L53 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure SQL and SQL Server on Azure VM issues: connectivity, performance, capacity, memory, transaction log full, geo-replication lag, I/O throttling, and IaaS agent problems. |
| Best Practices | L54-L68 | Best practices for SQL Server on Azure VMs: sizing, storage, tempdb, performance tuning, baselines, HADR/FCI with DNN, backups/restores, and planned maintenance preparation. |
| Decision Making | L69-L79 | Guidance for choosing Azure SQL options and pricing, comparing SQL VMs vs Managed Instance, planning migrations (including Db2), HADR choices, regional feature support, and SQL VM licensing/AHB. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L80-L88 | High-level designs and patterns for SQL Server on Azure VMs: connectivity, Always On availability groups, failover cluster instances, and Windows Server Failover Clustering setup. |
| Limits & Quotas | L89-L93 | Info on Azure SQL capacity limits, DTU benchmark behavior, regional feature availability, and how to request quota increases for databases and managed instances |
| Security | L94-L103 | Securing SQL Server on Azure VMs: policies, TLS cert rotation, Key Vault/EKM, managed identities, Entra auth, Extended Security Updates, hardening guidance, and confidential VM deployment. |
| Configuration | L104-L150 | Configuring SQL Server/Managed Instance on Azure VMs: HA/DR (AGs, FCIs, listeners, load balancers), storage and backup layout, IaaS Agent, performance/monitoring, and deployment options. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L151-L156 | Querying SQL performance telemetry with KQL and configuring backups from SQL Server on Azure VMs to Blob Storage, including setups that use managed identities. |
| Deployment | L157-L173 | Deploying and migrating SQL Server on Azure VMs, including Always On/FCI availability groups (single/multi-subnet, cross-region), regional moves, Ultra Disk, and Confidential VM setups. |
Troubleshooting
Best Practices
Decision Making
Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Understand connectivity architecture for Azure SQL Database | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/connectivity-architecture?view=azuresql |
| Apply SQL Server application patterns on Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/application-patterns-development-strategies?view=azuresql |
| Design Always On availability groups for SQL Server on Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/availability-group-overview?view=azuresql |
| Understand failover cluster instances for SQL Server on Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/failover-cluster-instance-overview?view=azuresql |
| Use Windows Server Failover Clustering with SQL Server on Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/hadr-windows-server-failover-cluster-overview?view=azuresql |
Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Understand DTU benchmark characteristics for Azure SQL | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/dtu-benchmark?view=azuresql |
Security
Configuration
Integrations & Coding Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Back up SQL Server on Azure VMs to Azure Blob Storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/azure-storage-sql-server-backup-restore-use?view=azuresql |
| Back up SQL Server VM databases to Blob using managed identity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/backup-restore-to-url-using-managed-identities?view=azuresql |