/azure-cyclecloud

name: azure-cyclecloud
description: Expert knowledge for Azure CycleCloud development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when automating CycleCloud via APIs/CLI/SDK, configuring Slurm HPC clusters, autoscaling nodearrays, or securing access, and other Azure CycleCloud related development tasks. Not for Azure Batch (use azure-batch), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines), Azure HDInsight (use azure-hdinsight), Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) (use azure-kubernetes-service).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-09-13"
  generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

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-L45 | Diagnosing and fixing CycleCloud setup, cluster/node startup, VM health, Slurm 4 issues, and locating/logging detailed diagnostics for common errors. | | Best Practices | L46-L51 | Security hardening guidance for CycleCloud (identity, networking, data) and performance tuning of HB/HC-series HPC clusters (sizing, configs, optimization). | | Decision Making | L52-L62 | Planning and sizing CycleCloud HPC/Slurm clusters, migrating from older versions/templates, choosing Spot VM usage, and understanding licensing, servicing, and support policies | | Architecture & Design Patterns | L63-L69 | Designing secure, enterprise-grade Azure CycleCloud architectures: multi-region HPC clusters, VM placement strategies, and hub-spoke network/security patterns. | | Security | L70-L85 | Securing CycleCloud: auth (Entra, service principals, managed identities), SSL, SSH/Bastion access, network lockdown/SELinux, and telemetry/data usage policies. | | Configuration | L86-L134 | Designing and configuring CycleCloud clusters: templates, nodearrays, networking, storage, autoscaling, Slurm/Open OnDemand, deployment, CLI, proxies, monitoring, and customization. | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L135-L155 | APIs, CLI, and Python SDK for automating CycleCloud, plus patterns to integrate schedulers, monitoring, storage, events, and remote desktop tools with CycleCloud clusters. | | Deployment | L156-L165 | 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 | | Troubleshoot first-time Azure CycleCloud setup issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/troubleshoot-first-time-setup?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 | |-------|-----| | Apply security best practices for Azure CycleCloud | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/security-best-practices?view=cyclecloud-8 | | 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 | | Migrate Azure CycleCloud Slurm clusters to new templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/migrate-slurm-cluster?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