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MicrosoftDocs/azure-cyclecloud

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azure-cyclecloud

Expert knowledge for Azure CycleCloud development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when automating CycleCloud via REST/CLI, integrating Slurm, tuning HB/HC VMs, securing SSL/auth, or planning Spot VM use, and other Azure CycleCloud related development tasks. Not for Azure Batch (use azure-batch), Azure HPC Cache (use azure-hpc-cache), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines), Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets (use azure-vm-scalesets).

v1.0Latest
New~4.5kUpdated Jun 26, 2026

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 Diagnosing and fixing CycleCloud server, cluster, and node startup errors, understanding common error messages, and finding relevant server/node log files for troubleshooting.
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 choosing VM placement and availability sets, using custom images, planning migration from CycleCloud 7, and deciding when/how to use Spot VMs for clusters.
Architecture & Design Patterns L56-L60 Architectural guidance for designing, deploying, and operating resilient, scalable multi‑region Azure CycleCloud HPC clusters and managing workloads across regions.
Security L61-L74 Securing CycleCloud: SSL, auth (Entra, service principals, managed identities), SSH/Bastion access, SELinux, and best‑practice hardening for clusters and the web portal.
Configuration L75-L122 Designing and tuning CycleCloud clusters: template structure, nodes, networking, storage, autoscaling, security, monitoring, and server/CLI installation and configuration
Integrations & Coding Patterns L123-L143 Using CycleCloud programmatically (REST, CLI, Python), integrating schedulers (Slurm, Grid Engine, HTCondor, OpenPBS, LSF, HPC Pack), and wiring up monitoring, events, and shared storage.
Deployment L144-L154 Planning, deploying, upgrading, and moving Azure CycleCloud environments and Slurm workspaces, including ARM/CLI setups, container-based runs, and safe migration of cluster resources.

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 cluster and 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
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

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

Security

Topic URL
Apply security best practices for Azure CycleCloud deployments 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
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 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 Azure CycleCloud managed disk volumes 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
Manually install and configure Azure CycleCloud server 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 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 clusters 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 automated cluster management 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
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
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Overall Score

78/100

Grade

B

Good

Safety

88

Quality

75

Clarity

82

Completeness

70

Summary

This skill provides expert reference guidance for Azure CycleCloud HPC cluster management, troubleshooting, and deployment. It functions as a knowledge index that directs agents to relevant Microsoft Learn documentation via remote API calls, with organized categories covering security, configuration, integrations, and best practices. The skill itself is read-only—it contains no executable code, file writes, or destructive operations.

Detected Capabilities

documentation retrievalnetwork access to learn.microsoft.commcp_microsoftdocs API integrationfetch_webpage fallbackread_file for local contentcategory index navigation

Trigger Keywords

Phrases that MCP clients use to match this skill to user intent.

cyclecloud cluster setupazure hpc configurationslurm integrationcyclecloud troubleshootinghpc scheduler deploymentazure cyclecloud securityspot instance optimizationmulti-region hpc cluster

Referenced Domains

External domains referenced in skill content, detected by static analysis.

github.comlearn.microsoft.com

Use Cases

  • Troubleshoot CycleCloud cluster startup errors and node failures
  • Configure Azure HB/HC VM performance tuning in CycleCloud templates
  • Plan Spot VM integration and cost optimization strategies
  • Design multi-region HPC cluster deployments with resilience patterns
  • Secure CycleCloud with SSL, Entra authentication, and managed identities
  • Automate cluster management via CycleCloud REST API or Python SDK
  • Integrate Slurm, HTCondor, LSF, or other schedulers with CycleCloud
  • Deploy and upgrade CycleCloud environments safely in production
  • Configure monitoring, logging, and event handling for clusters
  • Set up network isolation, Bastion access, and SELinux hardening

Quality Notes

  • Well-organized category index with 8 major topic areas covering the full CycleCloud lifecycle
  • Clear line-range guidance and linked reference files help agents navigate large documentation sets
  • Explicit instructions for handling outdated metadata (>3 months old) prompts skill updates
  • Dual API strategy (mcp_microsoftdocs primary, fetch_webpage fallback) ensures robustness if tools unavailable
  • Network dependency clearly documented in compatibility field and instructions
  • Comprehensive URL table with 60+ learn.microsoft.com links organized by category ensures discoverability
  • Query string parameters (`from=learn-agent-skill`) provide traceability for documentation analytics
  • License field (CC Attribution 4.0) properly declared in frontmatter
  • No support material or examples provided—skill assumes agent familiarity with CycleCloud concepts
  • No error handling guidance for network failures or documentation retrieval timeouts
Model: claude-haiku-4-5-20251001Analyzed: Jun 26, 2026

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