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-L44 | Diagnosing and fixing CycleCloud cluster/node startup errors, unhealthy VMs, Slurm 4 issues, and locating/logging common error and health check diagnostics. |
| Best Practices | L45-L49 | Tuning CycleCloud clusters on HB/HC series: VM sizing, network and storage optimization, MPI/HPC performance tweaks, and cost/performance best practices. |
| Decision Making | L50-L59 | Guidance on planning, sizing, and migrating CycleCloud HPC clusters, Slurm workspaces, Spot VM usage, licensing terms, and servicing/support policies. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L60-L65 | Designing resilient multi‑region CycleCloud HPC clusters and choosing VM placement strategies (single-zone, multi-zone, regional) for performance, availability, and cost optimization. |
| Security | L66-L80 | Securing CycleCloud: auth (Entra, service principals, managed identities), SSL, SSH/Bastion access, SELinux, telemetry/data usage, and portal/cluster user authentication setup. |
| Configuration | L81-L130 | Designing and customizing CycleCloud clusters: templates, networking, autoscaling, storage, node behavior, Slurm, proxies, security, events, and CLI/installation configuration. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L131-L151 | Integrating CycleCloud with schedulers, APIs, storage, monitoring, and automation tools (Slurm, PBS, HTCondor, REST/CLI/Python, BlobFuse2, Event Grid, Prometheus/Grafana, Chef). |
| Deployment | L152-L161 | Deploying and operating CycleCloud: installing via ARM/CLI/ACI, planning production setups, importing templates, moving cluster resources, and safely upgrading or migrating installations. |

### Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Resolve common Azure CycleCloud error messages | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/error-messages?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Use CycleCloud HealthCheck services to manage unhealthy VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/healthcheck?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 diagnostic log files | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/log-locations?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Operate and troubleshoot Azure CycleCloud Slurm 4 clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/slurm-4-operations?view=cyclecloud-8 |

### Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Optimize CycleCloud clusters on HB/HC series VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/hb-hc-best-practices?view=cyclecloud-8 |

### Decision Making
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Plan and size Azure CycleCloud HPC clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/plan-and-size-hpc-clusters?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Plan CycleCloud Workspace for Slurm deployment | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/plan-your-deployment?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 |
| Apply Azure CycleCloud licensing and usage terms | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/licensing?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Understand Azure CycleCloud servicing and support policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/service-policy?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 |
| Choose VM placement models for CycleCloud clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/availability-sets?view=cyclecloud-8 |

### Security
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Apply security best practices for Azure CycleCloud | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/security-best-practices?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Review CycleCloud telemetry and data usage policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/data-policy?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Securely SSH to CycleCloud login nodes via Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/connect-to-login-node-with-bastion?view=cyclecloud-8 |
| Secure CycleCloud portal access through Azure Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccw