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-L42	Troubleshooting CycleCloud errors, node startup failures, and locating/analyzing server/node log files to diagnose and resolve deployment or runtime issues.
Best Practices	L43-L47	Guidance for configuring and tuning Azure HB/HC-series HPC VMs in CycleCloud, including networking, storage, MPI, BIOS, and performance best practices.
Decision Making	L48-L55	Guidance on VM placement/availability sets, choosing custom images, planning migration from CycleCloud 7, and using Spot VMs for cost-effective, resilient CycleCloud clusters.
Architecture & Design Patterns	L56-L60	Architectural guidance for designing, deploying, and operating resilient, scalable multi‑region Azure HPC clusters with CycleCloud, including networking, failover, and regional topology patterns.
Security	L61-L75	Securing CycleCloud: auth methods (Entra, service principals, managed identities), SSL, SSH/Bastion access, SELinux, and network security for clusters, nodes, and the web portal
Configuration	L76-L120	Designing and tuning CycleCloud clusters: template structure, nodes, networking, storage, autoscaling, security, proxies, events, CLI, and node initialization (cluster-init/cloud-init/Jetpack).
Integrations & Coding Patterns	L121-L141	APIs, CLI, and Python client for automating CycleCloud, plus patterns to integrate schedulers (Slurm, Grid Engine, HTCondor, LSF, OpenPBS, HPC Pack), NFS, OOD, Prometheus/Grafana, and Event Grid
Deployment	L142-L153	Installing, upgrading, and deploying Azure CycleCloud and Slurm workspaces (CLI/ARM/containers), plus planning production setups and moving cluster resources between resource groups.

Troubleshooting

Topic	URL
Interpret and resolve common Azure CycleCloud error messages	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/error-messages?view=cyclecloud-8
Diagnose and report Azure CycleCloud node startup issues	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/report-issues?view=cyclecloud-8
Locate Azure CycleCloud server and node log files	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/log-locations?view=cyclecloud-8

Best Practices

Topic	URL
Apply HB/HC VM best practices in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/hb-hc-best-practices?view=cyclecloud-8

Decision Making

Topic	URL
Choose VM placement models and availability sets in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/availability-sets?view=cyclecloud-8
Select and configure custom images for CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/create-custom-image?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
Use Spot VMs effectively in Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/use-spot-instances?view=cyclecloud-8

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic	URL
Design and deploy multi‑region Azure HPC clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/concepts/multi-region-cluster-deployment?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
SSH to CycleCloud login nodes via Azure Bastion	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/connect-to-login-node-with-bastion?view=cyclecloud-8
Access the CycleCloud portal securely through 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
Configure managed identities for Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/managed-identities?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure network security for Azure CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/network-security?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure SELinux for Azure CycleCloud-managed Linux nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/selinux?view=cyclecloud-8
Use Azure service principals with CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/service-principals?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure SSL certificates for Azure CycleCloud	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 in 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 lockers in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/cluster-init-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure the [cluster] section in CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/cluster-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Understand Azure CycleCloud cluster template structure	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 Azure CycleCloud environment objects in templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/environment-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure input endpoints and NSG rules in CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/input-endpoint-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure network-interface objects in CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/network-interface-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure nodes and nodearrays in 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 CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/special-parsing?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure volume objects in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cluster-references/volume-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure cycle_server.properties for Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cycleserver-configuration-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure CycleCloud node events and Event Grid routing	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/events?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure managed disk volumes in Azure CycleCloud templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/add-disk?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure node arrays and scaling behavior in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/add-node-array?view=cyclecloud-8
Backup and restore Azure CycleCloud application data	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/backup-and-restore?view=cyclecloud-8
Use cloud-init scripts in Azure CycleCloud templates	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 clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/configuration?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure autoscaling policies for Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/configure-autoscaling?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure SSH/RDP access to Azure CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/connect-to-node?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure environment resources with ARM in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/environments?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure VMSS Flex orchestration in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/flex-scalesets?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure VM health checks and remediation in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/healthcheck?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 Azure CycleCloud VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/install-jetpack?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure keep-alive settings to prevent node termination	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 automatic volume mountpoints in CycleCloud nodes	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
Run multiple Azure CycleCloud instances on one host	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/multiple-installs?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure CycleCloud projects and specs for node setup	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/projects?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure return proxy and SSH tunneling for CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/return-proxy?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure web proxy settings for Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/running-behind-proxy?view=cyclecloud-8
Run Azure CycleCloud in locked-down networks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/running-in-locked-down-network?view=cyclecloud-8
Handle Azure Scheduled Events in CycleCloud nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/scheduled-events?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure project and user blob storage and lockers in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/storage-blobs?view=cyclecloud-8
Use and customize Azure CycleCloud node tags	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 Jetpack for Azure CycleCloud cluster nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/jetpack?view=cyclecloud-8

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic	URL
Call Azure CycleCloud REST API operations and resources	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/api?view=cyclecloud-8
Manage Azure CycleCloud with the CLI commands	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cli?view=cyclecloud-8
Author and use Chef cookbooks in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/cookbook-reference?view=cyclecloud-8
Set up Grid Engine scheduler integration in CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/gridengine?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 CycleCloud Slurm clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/configure-open-ondemand?view=cyclecloud-8
Create a simple NFS file server for CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/create-fileserver?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	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/monitor-cyclecloud-cluster-using-prometheus-grafana?view=cyclecloud-8
Use the Azure CycleCloud REST API for cluster automation	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/use-rest-api?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure Microsoft HPC Pack integration with CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/hpcpack?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure HTCondor scheduler clusters in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/htcondor?view=cyclecloud-8
Connect IBM Spectrum LSF to Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/lsf?view=cyclecloud-8
Configure OpenPBS scheduler clusters in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/openpbs?view=cyclecloud-8
Use the Azure CycleCloud Python API client	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/python-api?view=cyclecloud-8
Use Slurm 3.0+ features in Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/slurm-3?view=cyclecloud-8
Integrate Slurm scheduler with Azure CycleCloud clusters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/slurm?view=cyclecloud-8

Deployment

Topic	URL
Download and import CycleCloud cluster projects and templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/download-cluster-templates?view=cyclecloud-8
Deploy CycleCloud Workspace for Slurm using Azure CLI	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/ccws/deploy-with-cli?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
Deploy Azure CycleCloud using ARM templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/install-arm?view=cyclecloud-8
Manually install and upgrade Azure CycleCloud	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/install-manual?view=cyclecloud-8
Move Azure CycleCloud cluster resources between groups	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/move-resource-group?view=cyclecloud-8
Plan a production-ready 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	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cyclecloud/how-to/upgrade-and-migrate?view=cyclecloud-8