azure-sql-virtual-machines
About azure-sql-virtual-machines
azure-sql-virtual-machines is a guidance skill for agents working with SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines. It pairs local references with network-fetched documentation on operations, architecture, security, configuration, and migration.
Key features
- 01SQL Server troubleshooting guidance
- 02Performance and storage practices
- 03HA/DR architecture references
- 04Security and deployment guidance
Use cases
- 01Diagnosing connectivity or I/O issues
- 02Planning SQL Server VM sizing and storage
- 03Designing availability groups or failover clusters
MCP support
The skill recommends fetching documentation with the mcp_microsoftdocs microsoft_docs_fetch tool, with fetch_webpage as a fallback.
Install
Copy the command and run it in a terminal.
npx skills add https:/ / github.com/ microsoftdocs/ agent-skills --skill azure-sql-virtual-machinesAfter installing, type/azure-sql-virtual-machinesin Claude Code to confirm it loaded.
Details
From the project READMESQL 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 |