Best for
- Use when configuring autoscale, standby pools, Spot mixes, disk encryption with Key Vault, or PPG-based VMSS deployments, and other Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets related development tasks.
Source profileQuality 92/100
MicrosoftDocs/Agent-Skills/skills/azure-vm-scalesets/SKILL.md
azure-vm-scalesets
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 autoscale, standby pools, Spot mixes, disk encryption with Key Vault, or PPG-based VMSS deployments, and other Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets related development tasks. Not for Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines),
- Source repository stars
- 720
- Declared platforms
- 0
- Static risk flags
- 0
- Last source update
- 2026-08-17
- Source checked
- 2026-08-28
Decision brief
What it does: where it fits
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-re…
Not for
- Tasks that require unconfirmed production actions or broad system permissions.
- Environments where the pinned source and install steps cannot be inspected.
Compatibility matrix
Platform support, with evidence labels
| Platform | Status | Evidence | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Codex | Not declared | No explicit evidence | Portability before use |
| Claude Code | Not declared | No explicit evidence | Portability before use |
| Cursor | Not declared | No explicit evidence | Portability before use |
| Gemini CLI | Not declared | No explicit evidence | Portability before use |
Installation
Inspect first. Install second.
The source command is displayed only when detected. A safe inspection prompt is always available so your agent can explain every action before execution.
Source-detected install commandSource
npx skills add https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/Agent-Skills --skill "skills/azure-vm-scalesets"Safe inspection promptEditorial
Inspect the Agent Skill "azure-vm-scalesets" from https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/Agent-Skills/blob/c579bb4b37e7969ffc8bc071ca0f53048c3bfe41/skills/azure-vm-scalesets/SKILL.md at commit c579bb4b37e7969ffc8bc071ca0f53048c3bfe41. List every install step, command, network request, credential, file read/write, external action, and rollback step. Explain whether it fits my task. Do not install or execute anything until I approve.
Workflow
What the source asks the agent to do
- 01
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 readfile with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., security.md), use readfile on the linked reference file
Preferred: Use mcpmicrosoftdocs:microsoftdocsfetch with query string from=learn-agent-skill. Returns Markdown.Fallback: Use fetchwebpage with query string from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown. Returns Markdown.IMPORTANT for Agent: Use the Category Index below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., L35-L120), use readfile with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., security.md),… - 02
Category Index
Review the “Category Index” section in the pinned source before continuing.
Review and apply the “Category Index” source section. - 03
Troubleshooting
Review the “Troubleshooting” section in the pinned source before continuing.
Review and apply the “Troubleshooting” source section. - 04
Best Practices
Review the “Best Practices” section in the pinned source before continuing.
Review and apply the “Best Practices” source section. - 05
Decision Making
Review the “Decision Making” section in the pinned source before continuing.
Review and apply the “Decision Making” source section.
Permission review
Static risk signals and limitations
No configured static risk pattern was detected
This is not proof of safety. Runtime behavior, indirect dependencies, and hidden external systems are outside the static scan.
Evidence record
Why each signal appears
EvidenceSourceComputedTestedEditorial
| Signal | Value | Evidence type | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality score | 92/100 | Computed | Documentation, specificity, maintenance, and trust rules |
| Repository stars | 720 | Source | Repository attention, not individual Skill quality |
| Compatibility | 0 platforms | Source | Declared in the catalog source record |
| Usage guide | automated source guide | Editorial | Generated or reviewed according to the visible evidence level |
Pinned source
Provenance and original SKILL.md
- Repository
- MicrosoftDocs/Agent-Skills
- Skill path
- skills/azure-vm-scalesets/SKILL.md
- Commit
- c579bb4b37e7969ffc8bc071ca0f53048c3bfe41
- License
- CC-BY-4.0
- Collected
- 2026-08-28
- Default branch
- main
View the original SKILL.md
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), 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-L43 | Diagnosing and fixing issues with VMSS instance mix, standby pools behavior, and autoscale (rules, scaling delays, capacity mismatches, and common error scenarios). |
| Best Practices | L44-L49 | Configuring rolling upgrades for VM scale sets, tuning MaxSurge settings, and strategies to minimize downtime and maintain high availability during production updates. |
| Decision Making | L50-L66 | Guidance on choosing VMSS orchestration/upgrade modes, autoscale, Spot vs standard/priority mix, fault domains, standby pools, and cost-optimized configurations for different workload patterns. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L67-L71 | Designing scale sets with proximity placement groups to minimize latency, improve performance, and ensure VMs are co-located for tightly coupled or high-performance workloads |
| Limits & Quotas | L72-L77 | Scale set capacity, instance, and resource limits; placement group behavior; scaling constraints; and how limits affect deployment, availability, and distribution of VMs. |
| Security | L78-L89 | Encrypting VMSS disks (CLI, PowerShell, ARM), configuring Azure Disk Encryption with Key Vault and extensions, and securing scale sets via Azure Policy and RBAC for standby pools. |
| Configuration | L90-L133 | Configuring VM Scale Sets: templates, networking, disks, images, zones, upgrades, autoscale, repairs, standby pools, instance mix/protection, maintenance, and CLI/PowerShell/API management. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L134-L139 | Configuring VM scale set standby pools with Log Analytics for monitoring and integrating scale sets with Azure DSC extension for automated configuration management. |
| Deployment | L140-L146 | Creating VM scale sets from generalized/specialized Shared Image Gallery images, migrating flexible sets to zonal, and deploying/rolling out applications to scale set instances |
Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| FAQ and troubleshooting for VM scale set instance mix | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-mix-faq-troubleshooting |
| FAQ and troubleshooting for VM scale set standby pools | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/standby-pools-faq |
| 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 rolling upgrades for production scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-configure-rolling-upgrades |
| Use MaxSurge rolling upgrades to improve uptime | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-maxsurge |
Decision Making
Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Use proximity placement groups with scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/proximity-placement-groups |
Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Reference limits and behaviors for VM Scale Sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-faq |
| Understand placement groups and scale set capacity limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-placement-groups |
Security
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 |
| Integrate VM Scale Sets with Azure DSC extension | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-dsc |
Deployment
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Create scale sets from generalized gallery images | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/instance-generalized-image-version |
| Create 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 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/migrate-scale-set-flex-to-availability-zones |
| Deploy applications to VM Scale Set instances | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-deploy-app |
Frequently asked questions
What to verify before installation and use
What does the azure-vm-scalesets source document cover?
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-re…
How do I install azure-vm-scalesets?
The source record exposes this install command: npx skills add https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/Agent-Skills --skill "skills/azure-vm-scalesets". Inspect the command and pinned source before running it.
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