azure-cyclecloud

# Azure CycleCloud Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure CycleCloud. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, 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 | L36-L42 | Diagnosing and fixing CycleCloud server, cluster, and node startup errors, understanding common error messages, and finding relevant server/node log files for troubleshooting. |
| Best Practices | L43-L47 | Guidance for configuring and tuning Azure HB/HC-series HPC VMs in CycleCloud, including networking, storage, MPI, BIOS, and performance best practices. |
| Decision Making | L48-L55 | Guidance on choosing VM placement and availability sets, using custom images, planning migration from CycleCloud 7, and deciding when/how to use Spot VMs for clusters. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L56-L60 | Architectural guidance for designing, deploying, and operating resilient, scalable multi‑region Azure CycleCloud HPC clusters and managing workloads across regions. |
| Security | L61-L74 | Securing CycleCloud: SSL, auth (Entra, service principals, managed identities), SSH/Bastion access, SELinux, and best‑practice hardening for clusters and the web portal. |
| Configuration | L75-L122 | Designing and tuning CycleCloud clusters: template structure, nodes, networking, storage, autoscaling, security, monitoring, and server/CLI installation and configuration |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L123-L143 | Using CycleCloud programmatically (REST, CLI, Python), integrating schedulers (Slurm, Grid Engine, HTCondor, OpenPBS, LSF, HPC Pack), and wiring up monitoring, events, and shared storage. |
| Deployment | L144-L154 | Planning, deploying, upgrading, and moving Azure CycleCloud environments and Slurm workspaces, including ARM/CLI setups, container-based runs, and safe migration of cluster resources. |

### Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Interpret and resolve common Azure CycleCloud error messages | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/error-messages?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Diagnose and report Azure CycleCloud cluster and node startup issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/report-issues?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Locate Azure CycleCloud server and node log files | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/log-locations?view=cyclecloud-8 |

### Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Apply HB/HC VM best practices in Azure CycleCloud | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/hb-hc-best-practices?view=cyclecloud-8 |

### Decision Making
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Choose VM placement models and availability sets in CycleCloud | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/availability-sets?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Select and configure custom images for CycleCloud clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/create-custom-image?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Plan migration for Azure CycleCloud 7 retirement | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/cyclecloud7-retirement-guide?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Decide when and how to use Spot VMs in Azure CycleCloud | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/use-spot-instances?view=cyclecloud-8 |

### Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Design and operate multi‑region Azure CycleCloud HPC clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/multi-region-cluster-deployment?view=cyclecloud-8 |

### Security
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Apply security best practices for Azure CycleCloud deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/security-best-practices?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| SSH to CycleCloud login nodes via Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/connect-to-login-node-with-bastion?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Access the CycleCloud portal securely through Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/connect-to-portal-with-bastion?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Create Entra app registration for Azure CycleCloud | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/create-app-registration?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Use managed identities to secure Azure CycleCloud clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/managed-identities?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Run Azure CycleCloud nodes with SELinux enforcing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/selinux?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Configure Azure CycleCloud with Microsoft Entra service principals | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/service-principals?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Configure SSL certificates for secure Azure CycleCloud access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ssl-configuration?view=