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), useread_filewith the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g.,[security.md](security.md)), useread_fileon the linked reference file
IMPORTANT for Agent: If
metadata.generated_atis more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. Ifmcp_microsoftdocstools are not available, suggest the user install it: Installation Guide
This skill requires network access to fetch documentation content:
- Preferred: Use
mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetchwith query stringfrom=learn-agent-skill. Returns Markdown. - Fallback: Use
fetch_webpagewith query stringfrom=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown. Returns Markdown.
Category Index
| Category | Lines | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | L37-L87 | Diagnosing and fixing AKS Edge/Arc cluster issues: creation/upgrade failures, networking, storage, security, certificates, logs/diagnostics, known issues, and VMware/Windows Server-specific problems. |
| 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-L129 | Capacity planning, system requirements, scale limits, and support policies for AKS Edge/Arc on Azure Local, Windows Server, and VMware, including IP planning and tested VM sizes. |
| Security | L130-L162 | Securing AKS Edge/Arc/hybrid clusters: auth (Entra ID, AD, gMSA, workload identity), RBAC, SSH hardening, cert and key management, and encrypting/securing secrets and container workloads. |
| Configuration | L163-L244 | Configuring AKS Edge/Arc/hybrid clusters: networking, storage, load balancers, autoscaling, Arc connectivity, monitoring, Windows/Linux nodes, offline installs, and PowerShell-based cluster settings. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L245-L303 | Integrating AKS Edge/Arc/hybrid with Azure and on-prem services: REST/CLI/PowerShell management, storage/backup, CSI, networking, IoT/OPC/ONVIF, TPM, AI model deploy, and Key Vault secrets. |
| Deployment | L304-L339 | 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
Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Apply Azure policy best practices to AKS on Windows Server | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/policy-guidance |
| Restore AKS Arc clusters after management VM failure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/restore-aks-cluster |
| Upgrade AKS Arc workload clusters with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/upgrade |
| Upgrade AKS Arc Kubernetes version via Admin Center | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/upgrade-kubernetes |
Decision Making
Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|---|---|
| Understand AKS on Windows Server availability on two-node Azure Local | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/deploy-cluster-on-two-node-hci |
| Deploy AKS Arc target clusters across SDN VNets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/deploy-target-clusters-virtual-networks |
| Architect AKS on Windows Server with SDN virtual networking | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aksarc/software-defined-networking |
Limits & Quotas
Security
Configuration
Integrations & Coding Patterns
Deployment
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