/azure-data-box-family

name: azure-data-box-family
description: Expert knowledge for Azure Data Box development including troubleshooting, best practices, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when using Data Box/Disk/Heavy for offline data copy, SMB/NFS uploads, REST APIs, CMKs/Key Vault, or NTFS ACL preservation, and other Azure Data Box related development tasks. Not for Azure Import Export (use azure-import-export), Azure Stack Edge (use azure-stack-edge), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-08-09"
  generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

Azure Data Box Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Data Box. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. 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 | L34-L50 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Data Box and Data Box Disk issues: audit/order logs, validation and unlock errors, SMB/REST/upload copy failures, and time sync or connection problems. | | Best Practices | L51-L56 | Guidance on preserving NTFS ACLs, file permissions, and metadata when copying data to Azure Data Box and Data Box Disk using supported tools and settings | | Limits & Quotas | L57-L66 | Limits on capacity, files, connections, and usage for Data Box, Data Box Disk, and Data Box Heavy devices, including quotas, supported configurations, and operational constraints. | | Security | L67-L77 | Securing Azure Data Box: certificates, CMKs in Key Vault, Customer Lockbox, built‑in protections, and applying Azure Policy (including regulatory controls) to Data Box and Data Box Disk. | | Configuration | L78-L97 | Configuring and operating Data Box/Heavy/Disk: cabling, system/network requirements, local UI/portal admin, SMB/NFS/NAS copy workflows, and setting blob access tiers (Hot/Cool/Archive). | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L98-L107 | Patterns and tools for integrating Data Box with apps and backup products (REST APIs, VHD to managed disks, file share to SharePoint, Commvault, OpenText, Veeam migrations). |

Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Use Azure Data Box audit logs for diagnostics and security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-audit-logs | | Use logs to resolve Azure Data Box Disk validation issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot | | Troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk data copy problems | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-data-copy | | Review and fix Azure Data Box Disk upload errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-data-upload | | Troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk unlock tool errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-unlock | | Use logs to troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk upload issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-upload | | Track and audit Azure Data Box export orders and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-export-logs | | Track and audit Azure Data Box import orders and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-logs | | Troubleshoot Azure Data Box data copy errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot | | Troubleshoot Azure Data Box upload copy errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-data-upload | | Troubleshoot Azure Data Box REST copy issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-rest | | Fix SMB share connection failures to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-share-access | | Fix time synchronization issues on Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-time-sync |

Best Practices

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Preserve ACLs and metadata with Azure Data Box Disk | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-file-acls-preservation | | Preserve ACLs and metadata when copying to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-file-acls-preservation |

Limits & Quotas

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Azure Data Box Disk capacity and usage limits FAQ | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-faq | | Review Azure Data Box Disk capacity and file limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-limits | | Operational limits and usage details for Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-faq | | Capacity and connection limits for Azure Data Box Heavy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/datab