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

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-L44	Diagnosing and fixing CycleCloud cluster/node startup errors, unhealthy VMs, Slurm 4 issues, and locating/logging common error and health check diagnostics.
Best Practices	L45-L49	Tuning CycleCloud clusters on HB/HC series: VM sizing, network and storage optimization, MPI/HPC performance tweaks, and cost/performance best practices.
Decision Making	L50-L59	Guidance on planning, sizing, and migrating CycleCloud HPC clusters, Slurm workspaces, Spot VM usage, licensing terms, and servicing/support policies.
Architecture & Design Patterns	L60-L65	Designing resilient multi‑region CycleCloud HPC clusters and choosing VM placement strategies (single-zone, multi-zone, regional) for performance, availability, and cost optimization.
Security	L66-L80	Securing CycleCloud: auth (Entra, service principals, managed identities), SSL, SSH/Bastion access, SELinux, telemetry/data usage, and portal/cluster user authentication setup.
Configuration	L81-L131	Designing and tuning CycleCloud clusters: templates, networking, autoscaling, storage, node config (Jetpack/cloud-init), Slurm/Open OnDemand, proxies, security, monitoring, backup, and CLI setup.
Integrations & Coding Patterns	L132-L151	Integrating CycleCloud with schedulers, APIs, storage, monitoring, and automation tools (Slurm, PBS, HTCondor, REST/CLI/Python, BlobFuse2, Event Grid, Prometheus/Grafana, Chef).
Deployment	L152-L161	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
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
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
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 CycleCloud licensing and usage terms	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/licensing?view=cyclecloud-8
Understand Azure CycleCloud servicing and support policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/service-policy?view=cyclecloud-8

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic	URL
Design and operate multi‑region Azure CycleCloud HPC clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/multi-region-cluster-deployment?view=cyclecloud-8
Choose VM placement models for CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/availability-sets?view=cyclecloud-8

Security

Topic	URL
Apply security best practices for Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/security-best-practices?view=cyclecloud-8
Review CycleCloud telemetry and data usage policy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/data-policy?view=cyclecloud-8
Securely SSH to CycleCloud login nodes via Bastion	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/connect-to-login-node-with-bastion?view=cyclecloud-8
Secure CycleCloud portal access through Azure Bastion	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/connect-to-portal-with-bastion?view=cyclecloud-8
Create Entra app registration for Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/create-app-registration?view=cyclecloud-8
Use managed identities to secure Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/managed-identities?view=cyclecloud-8
Run Azure CycleCloud nodes with SELinux enforcing	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/selinux?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Azure CycleCloud with Microsoft Entra service principals	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/service-principals?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure SSL certificates for secure Azure CycleCloud access	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ssl-configuration?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure user authentication for Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/user-access?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure user authentication methods for Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/user-authentication?view=cyclecloud-8

Configuration

Topic	URL
Configure cluster-init specs and project sources in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/cluster-init-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure the cluster section in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/cluster-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Understand Azure CycleCloud cluster template structure and hierarchy	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/cluster-template-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Azure CycleCloud cluster configuration objects	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/configuration-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Define environment objects in CycleCloud cluster templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/environment-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure input endpoints and ports in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/input-endpoint-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure network-interface objects in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/network-interface-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure nodes and nodearrays in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/node-nodearray-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Use NodeRef objects in CycleCloud cluster templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/noderef-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure parameters in Azure CycleCloud cluster templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/parameter-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Apply special parameter parsing in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/special-parsing?view=cyclecloud-8
Define and configure volume objects in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/volume-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Azure CycleCloud service monitoring integrations	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/monitoring?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure CycleServer via cycle_server.properties	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cycleserver-configuration-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure CycleCloud node events and Event Grid	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/events?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Azure managed disks in CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/add-disk?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure node arrays for Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/add-node-array?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure backup and restore for Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/backup-and-restore?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Slurm cloud bursting with Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/bursting/slurm-cloud-bursting-setup?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Open OnDemand for Azure CycleCloud Slurm	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/configure-open-ondemand?view=cyclecloud-8
Use cloud-init to customize CycleCloud VMs on boot	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/cloud-init?view=cyclecloud-8
Define and customize Azure CycleCloud cluster templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/cluster-templates?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Azure networking for CycleCloud deployments	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/configuration?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure autoscaling for Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/configure-autoscaling?view=cyclecloud-8
Use custom and marketplace images in CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/create-custom-image?view=cyclecloud-8
Create and export NFS file shares in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/create-fileserver?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Azure CycleCloud environment resources via ARM	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/environments?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Flex VM scale sets in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/flex-scalesets?view=cyclecloud-8
Install and configure the Azure CycleCloud CLI	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/install-cyclecloud-cli?view=cyclecloud-8
Manually install Jetpack on CycleCloud-managed VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/install-jetpack?view=cyclecloud-8
Manually install and configure Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/install-manual?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure keep-alive settings for Azure CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/keep-alive?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure alerts and logging for Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/monitor-clusters?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure volume mountpoints in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/mount-disk?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure NFS mounts and shares in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/mount-fileserver?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure multiple Azure CycleCloud instances on one host	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/multiple-installs?view=cyclecloud-8
Customize network security settings for Azure CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/network-security?view=cyclecloud-8
Define and use projects and specs in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/projects?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure return proxy nodes for Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/return-proxy?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure web proxy settings for Azure CycleCloud traffic	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/running-behind-proxy?view=cyclecloud-8
Run Azure CycleCloud in locked-down network environments	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/running-in-locked-down-network?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Azure Scheduled Events handling in CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/scheduled-events?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure project and user blob storage in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/storage-blobs?view=cyclecloud-8
Use and understand Azure CycleCloud node tagging	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/tag-nodes?view=cyclecloud-8
Customize Azure CycleCloud UI theming with CSS	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/theming?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure CycleCloud nodes with Jetpack	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/jetpack?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure and manage Azure CycleCloud Slurm 4 clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/slurm-4?view=cyclecloud-8

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic	URL
Use Azure CycleCloud REST API endpoints	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/api?view=cyclecloud-8
Manage Azure CycleCloud with CLI commands	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cli?view=cyclecloud-8
Author Chef cookbooks for CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cookbook-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Grid Engine clusters in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/gridengine?view=cyclecloud-8
Submit and manage Slurm jobs on Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/submit-job-with-slurm?view=cyclecloud-8
Integrate Azure CycleCloud events with Event Grid	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/event-grid?view=cyclecloud-8
Integrate Prometheus and Azure Managed Grafana with CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/monitor-cyclecloud-cluster-using-prometheus-grafana?view=cyclecloud-8
Mount Azure Blob Storage on CycleCloud nodes with BlobFuse2	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/mount-blob-storage?view=cyclecloud-8
Use the Azure CycleCloud REST API for automated cluster management	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/use-rest-api?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Microsoft HPC Pack with CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/hpcpack?view=cyclecloud-8
Integrate HTCondor scheduler with CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/htcondor?view=cyclecloud-8
Connect IBM Spectrum LSF to CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/lsf?view=cyclecloud-8
Integrate OpenPBS scheduler with CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/openpbs?view=cyclecloud-8
Install and use CycleCloud Python API	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/python-api?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure CycleCloud Slurm integration v3.0+	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/slurm-3?view=cyclecloud-8
Enable Slurm scheduler on CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/slurm?view=cyclecloud-8

Deployment

Topic	URL
Download and import CycleCloud cluster templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/download-cluster-templates?view=cyclecloud-8
Deploy CycleCloud Workspace for Slurm using CLI	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/deploy-with-cli?view=cyclecloud-8
Deploy Azure CycleCloud using ARM templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/install-arm?view=cyclecloud-8
Move Azure CycleCloud cluster resources between resource groups	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/move-resource-group?view=cyclecloud-8
Plan a production-grade Azure CycleCloud deployment	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/plan-prod-deployment?view=cyclecloud-8
Run Azure CycleCloud in Azure Container Instances	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/run-in-container?view=cyclecloud-8
Upgrade or migrate Azure CycleCloud installations safely	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/upgrade-and-migrate?view=cyclecloud-8