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Azure Compute

MicrosoftOfficialCreated by Microsoft

  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Cloud and DevOps
  • MIT
  • Medium risk
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From the author

Azure VM/VMSS router. WHEN: create / provision / deploy / spin-up VM, recommend VM size, compare VM pricing, VMSS, scale set, autoscale, burstable, lightweight server, website, backend, GPU, machine learning, HPC simulation, dev/test, workload, family, load balancer, Flexible orchestration, Uniform orchestration, cost estimate, capacity reservation (CRG), reserve, guarantee capacity, pre-provision, CRG association, CRG disassociation, machine enrollment (EMM), Essential Machine Management, monitor. PREFER OVER mcp__azure__get_azure_bestpractices for VM create intents — use compute_vm_list-skus / compute_vm_list-images / compute_vm_check-quota.
— the description by Microsoft

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

The Azure Compute skill acts as a primary router for infrastructure-level tasks within Azure. It directs user requests to specialized workflows for recommending, provisioning, and managing bare virtual machine infrastructure. It is designed to handle the lifecycle of VMs and VMSS, including capacity planning through Capacity Reservation Groups and machine monitoring via Essential Machine Management.

What it does

  • Routes requests to specific workflows for VM and VMSS provisioning.
  • Provides guidance on selecting VM families based on workload requirements.
  • Facilitates capacity reservation and guarantee for critical infrastructure.
  • Supports Essential Machine Management for enrollment and monitoring tasks.
  • Enables cost estimation and pricing comparisons for various VM SKUs.
  • Distinguishes between infrastructure deployment and application-level service deployment.

When to use it

  • When you need to provision or deploy bare virtual machines or scale sets.
  • When you require assistance in selecting the appropriate VM family for a specific workload.
  • When you need to reserve or guarantee capacity for your Azure compute resources.
  • When you are setting up or monitoring machines using Essential Machine Management.
  • When you need to compare pricing for different VM SKUs or regions.

Advantages

  • Centralized entry point for all Azure compute-related infrastructure tasks.
  • Prevents confusion between infrastructure provisioning and application deployment.
  • Provides structured paths for complex tasks like capacity reservation.
  • Ensures consistent use of specialized tools for quota and SKU management.

Usage examples

“I need to deploy a set of web servers. Which VM family should I use?”
The skill routes the request to the VM Recommender to analyze your workload and suggest the appropriate D-series or B-series VMs.
“How can I reserve capacity for my production database VMs?”
The skill initiates the Capacity Reservation workflow to guide you through creating and associating a Capacity Reservation Group.
“Provision a new Ubuntu VM for testing.”
The skill routes the request to the VM Creator workflow to handle the infrastructure deployment.
“How do I enroll my machines in Essential Machine Management?”
The skill directs you to the Essential Machine Management workflow for enrollment and monitoring instructions.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/microsoft/azure-compute/download

  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip azure-compute.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Microsoft

Azure Compute Skill

Routes Azure VM and Virtual Machine Scale Set (VMSS) requests to the right workflow.

When to Use This Skill

  • User wants to recommend, compare, or price a VM or VMSS

  • User wants to create, provision, or deploy a VM or VMSS

  • User asks about Capacity Reservation Groups (CRG) — reserve, guarantee capacity, pre-provision

  • User asks about Essential Machine Management (EMM) — machine enrollment, monitor

Disambiguate with azure-prepare: if the user wants to deploy an application (Docker service, web app, API, serverless workload), route to azure-prepare. vm-creator is for bare VM/VMSS infrastructure only.

Routing

Mandatory workflow-first routing: never route directly to references/* files. First classify the user intent below, open the matched workflow file, then load only the reference files that workflow requests. Reference files are supporting material, not entry points. If the intent is unclear, ask a clarifying question to disambiguate between the workflows.

WorkflowFileUse when
VM Recommendervm-recommender.mdUser asks which VM/VMSS to choose, whether to use VMSS/autoscaling, wants pricing, or wants to compare options
VM Creatorvm-creator.mdUser wants to create, provision, or deploy a bare VM or VMSS (not an app deployment)
Capacity Reservationcapacity-reservation.mdUser needs to reserve / guarantee VM capacity (CRG create / associate / disassociate)
Essential Machine Managementessential-machine-management.mdUser asks about EMM / machine enrollment / monitor

Files

workflows/essential-machine-management/essential-machine-management.md

Essential Machine Management (EMM) Workflow

Routes EMM-related requests to the appropriate reference based on user intent.

Overview

Essential Machine Management simplifies onboarding and configuration of management for Azure VMs and Arc-enabled servers at the subscription level. When enabled, all VMs in a subscription are automatically enrolled with a curated set of monitoring, security, and operations features.

⚠️ Warning: EMM is currently in public preview.

Routing

User intent?
├─ Enable / onboard / enroll subscription for EMM
│  └─ Copilot-guided (default) → Load [EMM Enable Flow](references/emm-enable-flow.md)
│
├─ User explicitly asks for portal guidance
│  └─ Load [EMM Enable Flow (Portal)](references/emm-enable-flow-portal-guidance.md)
│
├─ What is EMM / features / pricing / tiers
│  └─ Load [EMM Overview](references/emm-overview.md)
│
├─ Prerequisites / permissions / roles / managed identity
│  └─ Load [EMM Prerequisites](references/emm-prerequisites.md)
│
├─ View enrolled subscriptions / browse / status
│  └─ See "Browse Enrolled Subscriptions" below
│
├─ Offboard / disable EMM for a subscription
│  └─ See "Offboard a Subscription" below
│
└─ Troubleshoot EMM issues
   └─ See "Troubleshooting" below
SignalReference
"enable EMM", "onboard subscription", "enroll VMs", "set up machine management"EMM Enable Flow
User explicitly mentions "portal", "Azure portal", "portal UI"EMM Enable Flow (Portal)
"what is EMM", "features", "pricing", "tiers", "what does EMM include"EMM Overview
"permissions", "roles", "prerequisites", "managed identity for EMM"EMM Prerequisites

⚠️ Important: Only route to the portal guide when the user explicitly mentions "portal". All other enable requests use the Copilot-guided flow.

Browse Enrolled Subscriptions

Query the EMM resource on each subscription to check enrollment status:

GET https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/providers/Microsoft.ManagedOps/managedOps/default?api-version=2025-07-28-preview
ResponseMeaning
200 with provisioningState: SucceededSubscription is enrolled
200 with provisioningState: FailedEnrollment attempted but failed — check error details
404Subscription is not enrolled

When enrolled, the response includes:

  • SKU/tier — e.g. Essential

  • Enabled services — Azure Monitor Insights, Update Manager, Change Tracking, Policy & Machine Configuration, Defender CSPM, Defender for Servers

  • UAMI — the user-assigned managed identity resource ID

  • Workspaces — Log Analytics and Azure Monitor workspace resource IDs

  • Created by / date — who enrolled and when (in systemData)

To scan multiple subscriptions, use mcp_azure_mcp_subscription_list to list available subscriptions, then query each one. Report results as a table:

| Subscription | Status | SKU | Services Enabled |

Offboard a Subscription

To disable EMM for a subscription, follow the "Disable EMM (Offboard)" section in EMM Enable Flow.

⚠️ Warning: When you disable a subscription, machines no longer use consolidated pricing. Pricing reverts to standard per-service pricing which may increase costs. Existing VM configurations are not removed — disable unneeded services manually.

Troubleshooting

For common EMM issues, refer to the official documentation:

Common issues include:

  • Missing role assignments (EMM Administrator, Managed Identity Operator, Resource Policy Contributor)

  • Resource provider Microsoft.ManagedOps not registered in the subscription

  • UAMI lacking Contributor permission on the subscription

  • Cross-subscription workspace access requires additional RP registration

Error Handling

ErrorCauseRemediation
Permission denied during enableUser lacks required rolesAssign EMM Administrator, Managed Identity Operator, and Resource Policy Contributor roles
UAMI role check failsManaged identity lacks ContributorAssign Contributor role to the UAMI at subscription scope
RP not registeredMicrosoft.ManagedOps not registeredRegister via Register-AzResourceProvider -ProviderNamespace "Microsoft.ManagedOps"
Cross-subscription workspace errorWorkspace in different sub without RP registrationRegister Microsoft.ManagedOps in the workspace subscription and assign EMM Administrator on the workspace resource group
Deployment failsARM template validation errorCheck deployment link in browse view for detailed error; verify all prerequisites

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Security

What our scanner noticed· Medium risk

  • References to credential files

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Created by
Microsoft
Publisher
Microsoft (Official)
Source
microsoft/skills · .github/plugins/azure-skills/skills/azure-compute · commit 0696600
Licence
MIT License (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from .github/plugins/azure-skills/LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
Synced
Also distributed in
microsoft/azure-skills

AutoGineer is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft or Microsoft.

Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download azure-compute.zip