Azure Local is cloud-connected infrastructure that can be set up at your physical locations and managed by you, thanks to Azure Arc. You can use the Azure site and APIs to manage and expand distributed infrastructure with Azure Local. The core Azure computing, networking, storage, and application services are available for local use. Hardware can be selected from your favorite source, giving you flexibility to fit your needs and price range. Additionally, you can better protect apps and data and defend against sophisticated threats by expanding cloud security to your dispersed sites.
Utilize the power of the cloud to scale and operate.
Define and implement cloud-based infrastructure
Just connect one or more suitable machines to Azure Arc to begin using Azure Local. After that, establish an Azure Local instance by following a straightforward process in the Azure portal. You can then alter the cluster, networking, and storage for your environment as necessary. The Azure Arc extensions that come with the Azure Local software are easy to install on your computers. Using an Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template that you can reuse time and time again with different settings for every distributed location, you may define your Azure Local configuration to scale out. Azure Local is guaranteed to be setup consistently at scale thanks to this infrastructure-as-code methodology.
Infrastructure updates with a single click
The entire infrastructure software stack, along with OEM content such as drivers and firmware for Premier solutions, is covered by a single monthly bundle that includes Azure Local software upgrades. Along with other cloud resources, Azure Update Manager offers a straightforward way to view and manage Azure Local updates. With a few clicks, apply updates to one or more Azure Local instances. To guarantee that upgrades in multi-node setups are non-disruptive (workloads continue to operate), Azure Local coordinates the movement of workloads and the sequential upgrading of each physical machine behind the scenes. When updates are applied is always up to you.
Keep an eye on all of your dispersed infrastructure from one place.
Azure Arc enables native integration between Azure Local and Azure Monitor, providing uniform observability across cloud resources and dispersed locations. From a single window, you can keep an eye on your physical infrastructure, Kubernetes clusters, and dispersed virtual machines. Azure Local includes alert rules for the infrastructure stack, out-of-the-box insights dashboards, and more than fifty common metrics. For instance, monitor processor, memory, storage, and network capacity consumption in the Azure interface and configure automatic procedures or email alerts for hardware failures. Data Collection Rules allow you to completely tailor what is gathered, and Workbooks allow you to fully customize how it is shown.
All of your apps, both virtual machines and containers, are ready.
The majority of firms have to deal with a wide range of applications built on technology from various historical periods. Supporting them all with a single infrastructure platform can be difficult. The core Azure compute, networking, storage, and Kubernetes services required to run all of your applications, virtual machines, and containers—Windows and Linux—side by side on the same physical infrastructure are all included in Azure Local.
General-purpose, feature-rich virtual machines
Virtual machines run a lot of important workloads. General-purpose virtual machines (VMs) with customizable sizing and configuration options are available from Azure Local to satisfy your application needs. You can either create your own bespoke virtual machine image or easily acquire ones from the Azure Marketplace, depending on the specifications, networking, and storage you require. VMs are highly available with real-time storage replication and automated failover if your Azure Local is multi-node. Azure Arc is immediately activated for virtual machine extensions such as Microsoft Defender for Servers, Azure Monitor, AD Join, Custom Script, SQL Server, and more when a new virtual machine is created using Azure Local.
NEW: Azure Local to VMware Migration (preview)
You can use Azure Migrate (in preview) to move virtual machines (VMs) from your outdated VMware by Broadcom environment to your new Azure Local infrastructure. You may transfer and convert your VMDKs to Azure Local VMs completely on-site, with only metadata traveling to the cloud, using the same Azure portal and APIs as when moving to a cloud region. By doing this, you might be able to lower your Broadcom footprint and licensing without having to pay for expensive software rewrites.
Learn more about Azure Migrate to Azure Local (preview)
Included and integrated with Azure Kubernetes Service
Container images are increasingly being used to package new apps. Azure Arc-enabled Microsoft’s managed Kubernetes solution, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), is part of Azure Local. AKS comes with everything you need to enable Kubernetes-based apps, including a storage (CSI) driver for Azure Local and Microsoft-supported container host images for Windows and Linux. It is also automatically set up with every new Azure Local instance and updated as part of Azure Local. Every Kubernetes cluster is instantly Azure Arc-enabled for one-click connection with Azure Monitor, Microsoft Defender for Containers, GitOps for continuous delivery, and more. You can also build and manage Kubernetes clusters using AKS-consistent Azure portal, CLI, and ARM templates.
Make use of specific Azure PaaS services.
App services, data services, and AI services (preview) are just a few of the Azure services that may be used with Azure Local thanks to this foundation. For instance, to lower latency or enhance compatibility with legacy on-premises systems, utilize Azure Virtual Desktop in conjunction with Azure Local to locate desktops and apps (session hosts) closer to users. Azure Virtual Desktop enables convenient capabilities like start-on-connect and automatic scaling by using and managing virtual machines (VMs) on Azure Local in the same way as VMs in an Azure cloud region. Azure Local is compatible with data services like SQL Managed Instance and the recently launched GA service Azure IoT Operations.
Get started today
For current Azure Stack HCI clients
For current clients, no action is necessary. Just keep using the most recent updates to make the switch to Azure Local go smoothly. The same features and functionality will still be available to you under the new brand. Additionally, you will receive the same price and other benefits as new Azure Local customers, and new capabilities will be added to the Azure site over the next few months.
Regarding fresh production implementations
Azure Local is typically accessible for usage in production settings. Version 2411 is now accessible. To begin right now, look through the solutions catalog to locate gear from your favorite supplier and read the deployment overview. We expect more low-spec, low-cost options to be added to the catalog in the upcoming months.
For assessment (online)
Do you want to use Azure Local but lack the necessary hardware? With Azure Arc Jumpstart, you can quickly obtain a dedicated Azure Local sandbox. To get started, all you need is an Azure subscription.
