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[](https://versuz.dev/skills/microsoftdocs-agent-skills-skills-azure-vm-scalesets)Free SKILL.md scraped from GitHub. Clone the repo or copy the file directly into your Claude Code skills directory.
npx versuz@latest install microsoftdocs-agent-skills-skills-azure-vm-scalesetsgit clone https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/Agent-Skills.gitcp Agent-Skills/SKILL.MD ~/.claude/skills/microsoftdocs-agent-skills-skills-azure-vm-scalesets/SKILL.md--- name: azure-vm-scalesets description: Expert knowledge for Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when configuring VMSS autoscale, zones/PPGs, Spot/standby pools, image/OS upgrades, or ADE with Key Vault, and other Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets related development tasks. Not for Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines), Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) (use azure-kubernetes-service), Azure Service Fabric (use azure-service-fabric), Azure Batch (use azure-batch). compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation. metadata: generated_at: "2026-05-10" generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0" --- # Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets Skill This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets. 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](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md) 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-L42 | 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. | | Best Practices | L43-L47 | Guidance for configuring, enabling, and managing automatic OS image upgrades on VM scale sets, including policies, rollout behavior, and minimizing disruption. | | Decision Making | L48-L61 | 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 | L62-L70 | 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 | L71-L79 | VMSS capacity, instance and placement group limits, standby pool constraints, maintenance notification behavior, and FAQs on supported scale, features, and quotas | | Security | L80-L88 | 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 | L89-L135 | 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 | L136-L145 | 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 | L146-L155 | Creating and deploying VM scale sets with gallery/custom images and ARM templates, app deployment to instances, availability zone placement, and migrating flexible sets to zonal. | ### 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 | ### Best Practices | Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Configure and operate automatic OS upgrades for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-automatic-upgrade | ### Decision Making | Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Apply Azure Hybrid Benefit to Linux VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/azure-hybrid-benefit-linux | | Migrate workloads to Flexible VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/flexible-virtual-machine-scale-sets-migration-resources | | Decide when and how to use instance mix in VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-mix-overview | | Evaluate Spot VM deployment success with Placement Score | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/spot-placement-score | | Balance cost and availability with Spot Priority Mix | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/spot-priority-mix | | Use prediction results to right-size VM Scale Set standby pools | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-prediction-results | | Use Spot Instances in VM Scale Set standby pools for cost optimization | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-spot-instances | | Use Spot VMs in scale sets for cost-optimized workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/use-spot | | Design and feature selection for Azure VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-design-overview | | Choose upgrade policy modes for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-upgrade-policy | ### 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 | Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Create Azure Monitor alerts for Automatic Repairs state | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/alert-rules-automatic-repairs-service-state | | Enable and configure Automatic Zone Balance on scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/auto-zone-balance-enable | | Encrypt VM scale sets using ARM templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/disk-encryption-azure-resource-manager | | Configure ADE extension sequencing for scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/disk-encryption-extension-sequencing | | Enable Azure Disk Encryption on VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/disk-encryption-overview | | Define Flexible VM Scale Sets with ARM template settings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/flexible-virtual-machine-scale-sets-rest-api | | Configure VM Scale Sets with instance mix on different platforms | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-mix-create | | Update VM sizes and allocation strategy in instance mix | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-mix-update | | View and interpret instance mix configuration for VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-mix-view | | Compare Uniform and Flexible VM scale set APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/orchestration-modes-api-comparison | | Configure resilient create and delete for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/resilient-vm-create-delete | | Create standby pools for VM Scale Sets to improve scaling | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-create | | Retrieve standby pool and instance details for VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-get-details | | Understand and monitor standby pool health state for VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-health-state | | Update or delete standby pools for Azure VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-update-delete | | Configure autoscale rules for VM Scale Sets with Azure CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-autoscale-cli | | Modify VM Scale Set configuration using Azure CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-modify-scale-sets-cli | | Modify VM Scale Set configuration using PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-modify-scale-sets-powershell | | Use custom VM images in Azure VM Scale Sets with CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-use-custom-image-cli | | Use custom VM images in Azure VM Scale Sets with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-use-custom-image-powershell | | Configure and manage disks for VM Scale Sets with CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-use-disks-cli | | Configure and manage disks for VM Scale Sets with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/tutorial-use-disks-powershell | | Configure attached data disks for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-attached-disks | | Configure automatic instance repairs for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-automatic-instance-repairs | | Create autoscale rules for VM Scale Sets in Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-autoscale-portal | | Change upgrade policy mode for existing VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-change-upgrade-policy | | Configure rolling upgrade settings for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-configure-rolling-upgrades | | Sequence VM extensions in Azure VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-extension-sequencing | | Configure Application Health extension for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-health-extension | | Understand and use instance IDs in VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-instance-ids | | Configure instance protection settings in VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-instance-protection | | Use MaxSurge with rolling upgrades in VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-maxsurge | | Deploy VM scale sets into existing virtual networks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-mvss-existing-vnet | | Configure guest-metric-based autoscale for Linux VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-mvss-guest-based-autoscale-linux | | Configure advanced networking for Azure VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-networking | | Perform manual instance upgrades in VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-perform-manual-upgrades | | Reimage virtual machines within a scale set | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-reimage-virtual-machine | | Configure custom health metrics for rolling upgrades | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-rolling-upgrade-custom-metrics | | Configure scale-in policies for Azure VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-scale-in-policy | | Define and manage scaling profiles for Azure VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-scaling-profile | | Set upgrade policy mode on VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-set-upgrade-policy | | Configure terminate notifications for VM scale set instances | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-terminate-notification | | Modify VM scale set model and instance configuration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-upgrade-scale-set | ### 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 | | Migrate regional flexible scale sets to zonal sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/migrate-scale-set-flex-to-availability-zones | | 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 |