azure-aks-edge-essentials

# Azure Kubernetes Service Edge Essentials Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Kubernetes Service Edge Essentials. 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`), 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 | L37-L87 | Diagnosing and fixing AKS Edge/Arc cluster issues: deployments, upgrades, networking, storage, security, logs, certificates, Windows Server hosts, and known issues/workarounds. |
| Best Practices | L88-L95 | Best practices for AKS Edge/Arc: applying Azure Policy, recovering clusters after management VM loss, and safely upgrading Kubernetes/workload clusters via PowerShell or Admin Center |
| Decision Making | L96-L108 | Guidance on choosing AKS Edge/Arc vs cloud/on-prem, supported versions/add-ons, monitoring, pricing/licensing, support, and planning migrations or retirement of older AKS/Windows Server setups |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L109-L115 | Designing AKS on Windows Server for Azure Local: high availability on two-node setups, SDN VNet architectures, and deployment patterns for AKS Arc target clusters. |
| Limits & Quotas | L116-L130 | Scale limits, system/storage requirements, IP capacity planning, and support policies for AKS Edge/Arc on Azure Local, bare metal, VMware, and Windows Server environments. |
| Security | L131-L164 | Auth, RBAC, SSH, cert, and key management for AKS Edge/Arc/hybrid: Entra/AD SSO, gMSA, workload identity, etcd encryption, image signing, and security hardening guidance. |
| Configuration | L165-L248 | Configuring and managing AKS Edge/Arc/hybrid clusters: networking, storage, load balancers, autoscaling, Arc connectivity, monitoring, offline/upgrade flows, and Windows/Linux node settings. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L249-L308 | Managing and integrating AKS Edge/AKS Arc/hybrid clusters: Arc onboarding, CLI/PowerShell cmdlets, storage/CSI, networking, logging/backup, IoT/AI workloads, TPM access, and camera/OPC UA discovery. |
| Deployment | L309-L344 | Deploying, upgrading, and managing AKS Edge/AKS hybrid/AKS Arc clusters and node pools (Linux/Windows/GPU), including installs, updates, removals, offline/disconnected ops, and system requirements |

### Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Run AKS Arc diagnostic checker for cluster failures | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-arc-diagnostic-checker |
| Resolve known issues in AKS enabled by Azure Arc | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-arc-known-issues |
| Validate and troubleshoot AKS Edge secret encryption | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-edge-howto-secret-encryption |
| Collect and use AKS Edge Essentials logs for troubleshooting | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-edge-resources-logs |
| Troubleshoot common AKS Edge Essentials issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-edge-troubleshoot-overview |
| Retrieve kubelet logs from AKS Arc nodes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-get-kubelet-logs |
| Troubleshoot common Kubernetes issues in AKS Arc | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-troubleshoot |
| Review known issues and workarounds for AKS Arc on VMware | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-vmware-known-issues |
| Request support and troubleshoot AKS Arc on VMware | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-vmware-support-troubleshoot |
| Use troubleshooting guide for AKS Arc on VMware errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/aks-vmware-troubleshooting-guide |
| Resolve AKS Arc cluster creation failures after Azure Local upgrade | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/cluster-create-fails-after-azure-local-upgrade |
| Fix K8sVersionValidation errors in AKS Arc | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/cluster-k8s-version |
| Fix AKS Arc cluster unhealthy after Kubernetes upgrade | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/cluster-unhealthy-after-kubernetes-upgrade |
| Fix AKS Edge Arc cluster stuck upgrading | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/cluster-upgrade-status |
| Troubleshoot BGP with FRR and MetalLB in AKS Arc | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/connectivity-troubleshoot |
| Resolve AKS Arc control plane configuration validation errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/control-plane-validation-errors |
| Resolve undeleted PDBs when removing AKS Edge clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/delete-cluster-pdb |
| Mitigate AKS Arc issues after storage volume deletion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/delete-storage-volume |
| Remove deleted AKS Arc clusters still visible in portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/e