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MicrosoftDocs/azure-migrate

MicrosoftDocs

azure-migrate

Expert knowledge for Azure Migrate development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when using Azure Migrate appliances, Arc-based discovery, VMware/Hyper-V moves, AppCAT/CAST scans, or Resource Mover, and other Azure Migrate related development tasks. Not for Azure Database Migration service (use azure-database-migration), Azure Site Recovery (use azure-site-recovery), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines), SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-sql-virtual-machines).

v1.0Latest
New~5.4kUpdated Jun 26, 2026

Azure Migrate Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Migrate. 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), 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 L37-L55 Diagnosing and fixing Azure Migrate issues: appliance deployment/discovery, assessments, replication, performance, connectivity (incl. private endpoints), OS upgrades, and web app migrations.
Best Practices L56-L65 Best practices for preparing on-prem/VMware/legacy Windows workloads and PostgreSQL for Azure migration, securing the Azure Migrate appliance, and running/validating test VM migrations.
Decision Making L66-L106 Guidance on assessing migration readiness, sizing and cost, choosing tools/services, planning migration waves, and executing workload moves from on-prem, AWS, GCP, or VMware to Azure.
Architecture & Design Patterns L107-L112 Architecture and data flow for Azure Migrate using Arc-based discovery and Hyper-V, including components, connectivity, prerequisites, and how discovery/inventory works.
Limits & Quotas L113-L126 Limits, prerequisites, regions, and support matrices for Azure Migrate appliances, discovery, assessment, and migration of VMware, Hyper-V, and physical servers.
Security L127-L142 Securing Azure Migrate: least-privilege roles/accounts, Private Link discovery/migration, encrypted VM moves, Trusted Launch, RBAC, and Entra ID app registration.
Configuration L143-L167 Configuring Azure Migrate projects, appliances, assessments, dependency analysis, Arc/agents, networking, and Resource Mover settings for server, SQL, .NET, Java, and PostgreSQL migrations.
Integrations & Coding Patterns L168-L174 Patterns and tools for integrating code analysis and automation into Azure Migrate, including GitHub Copilot insights, AppCAT CLI, CAST Highlight scans, and REST-based VMware migration.
Deployment L175-L185 Guides for deploying Azure Migrate appliances, preparing legacy servers, automating deployments with PowerShell/DevOps, and moving Azure/SQL resources between regions and governments.

Troubleshooting

Topic URL
Resolve Azure Migrate discovery and dependency issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/common-questions-discovery-dependency-analysis?view=migrate
Diagnose and troubleshoot Azure Migrate appliance https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-appliance-diagnostic?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate appliance deployment problems https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-appliance?view=migrate
FAQ for troubleshooting Azure Migrate assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-assessment-faq?view=migrate
Troubleshooting scenarios for Azure Migrate assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-assessment-supported-scenarios?view=migrate
Resolve common Azure Migrate assessment issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-assessment?view=migrate
Fix replication failures in agentless VMware migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-changed-block-tracking-replication?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate dependency analysis issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-dependencies?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate server and SQL discovery https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-discovery?view=migrate
Troubleshoot common Azure Migrate service issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-general?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate private endpoint connectivity https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-network-connectivity?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate project creation issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-project?view=migrate
Troubleshoot slow or stuck VMware agentless migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-replication-vmware?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Windows OS upgrade in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-upgrade?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate web app migration issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-webapps-migration?view=migrate

Best Practices

Topic URL
Apply PostgreSQL assessment rules for Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-rules-for-postgresql?view=migrate
Apply security best practices to Azure Migrate appliance https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/best-practices-security?view=migrate
Best practices for test migrations of virtual machines https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-test-replicating-virtual-machines?view=migrate
Use Azure Migrate hydration process for VM configuration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/hydration-process?view=migrate
Prepare VMware VMs for agentless migration to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-for-agentless-migration?view=migrate
Prepare on-premises machines for Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-for-migration?view=migrate

Decision Making

Topic URL
Interpret AppCAT 7 reports for Java migration readiness https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/appcat-7-interpret-report?view=migrate
Use AppCAT 7 to assess Java apps for Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/java?view=migrate
Interpret Azure Migrate assessment report outputs https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-report?view=migrate
Interpret Azure Migrate business case calculations https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/concepts-business-case-calculation?view=migrate
Evaluate performance coverage in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/confidence-ratings?view=migrate
Choose the right Azure Migrate discovery method https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discovery-methods-modes?view=migrate
Use Azure Migrate to build a migration business case https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-build-a-business-case?view=migrate
Build high-fidelity Azure migration execution plans https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-complete-wave-plan?view=migrate
Plan VMware-to-Azure migrations with Copilot agent https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-plan-analyze-migration-with-agent?view=migrate
Create migration waves for Azure Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-plan-create-waves?view=migrate
Decide and execute Windows Server OS upgrades during Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-upgrade-windows?view=migrate
Plan migration waves with Azure Migrate Wave Planning https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/overview?view=migrate
Evaluate readiness and savings for Arc-enabled servers https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/quickstart-evaluate-readiness-savings-for-arc-resources?view=migrate
Interpret Azure VM assessment results in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-assessment?view=migrate
Review Azure VMware Solution assessment outputs https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-azure-vmware-solution-assessment?view=migrate
Interpret SQL migration assessments in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-sql-assessment?view=migrate
Review web app assessment insights for Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-web-app-assessment?view=migrate
Choose agentless vs agent-based migration in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/server-migrate-overview?view=migrate
Choose performance vs as-is sizing in assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/target-right-sizing?view=migrate
Review PostgreSQL assessment results in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-review-postgresql-report?view=migrate
Choose Azure compute equivalents for AWS workloads https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-compute-from-aws
Select Azure database services for AWS migrations https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-databases-from-aws
Plan migration of GCP databases to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-databases-from-google-cloud
Select Azure services when migrating from AWS https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-from-aws
Choose Azure services when migrating from GCP https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-from-google-cloud
Plan on-premises workload migration to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-from-on-premises
Map AWS networking services to Azure networking https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-networking-from-aws
Replatform AWS security services to Microsoft Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-security-from-aws
Plan Azure storage targets for AWS storage migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-storage-from-aws
Plan and execute single-workload migrations to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-to-azure
Decommission AWS resources after Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-decommission
Evaluate workload health after AWS to Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-evaluate
Execute AWS to Azure workload cutover safely https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-execute
End-to-end guidance for migrating one AWS workload https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-introduction
Plan an AWS to Azure workload migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-plan
Prepare AWS workloads and Azure environment for migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-prepare
Choose tools for moving Azure resources across regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/select-options-to-move-resources

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic URL
Understand Arc-based discovery architecture in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/concepts-arc-resource-discovery?view=migrate
Understand Hyper-V migration architecture in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/hyper-v-migration-architecture?view=migrate

Limits & Quotas

Topic URL
Use Azure Migrate in unsupported regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/azure-migrate-unsupported-regions?view=migrate
Scale-out Azure Migrate appliance capacity limits https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-scale-out-for-migration?view=migrate
Review Azure Migrate appliance prerequisites and support https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-appliance?view=migrate
Hyper-V to Azure migration support matrix https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-hyper-v-migration?view=migrate
Review Hyper-V discovery and assessment support matrix in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-hyper-v?view=migrate
Understand physical server discovery and assessment support limits in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-physical?view=migrate
Check VMware vSphere migration support and limits in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-vmware-migration?view=migrate
Check VMware discovery prerequisites and support limits in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-vmware?view=migrate
Review Azure Migrate support matrix and limitations https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix?view=migrate
Check Azure Migrate supported geographies and regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/supported-geographies?view=migrate

Security

Topic URL
Configure least-privilege VMware roles for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/best-practices-least-privileged-account?view=migrate
Configure Azure Migrate discovery over Private Link https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discover-and-assess-using-private-endpoints?view=migrate
Discover and assess servers via Azure Private Link https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discover-and-assess-using-private-endpoints?view=migrate
Migrate VMware VMs with SSE and customer-managed keys https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-migrate-vmware-vms-with-cmk-disks?view=migrate
Register Azure Migrate appliance using Entra ID app https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-register-appliance-using-entra-app?view=migrate
Create minimal-permission SQL account for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/least-privilege-credentials?view=migrate
Migrate Hyper-V servers using Private Link endpoints https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-hyper-v-servers-to-azure-using-private-link?view=migrate
Migrate Gen2 VMs to Azure Trusted Launch securely https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-to-trusted-launch-virtual-machines-with-azure-migrate?view=migrate
Configure least-privilege PostgreSQL account for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/postgresql-least-privilege-configuration?view=migrate
Configure Azure RBAC roles for Azure Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-azure-accounts?view=migrate
Scope VMware discovery using vCenter permissions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/set-discovery-scope?view=migrate
Move encrypted Azure VMs between regions with Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/tutorial-move-region-encrypted-virtual-machines

Configuration

Topic URL
Develop custom YAML rules for AppCAT 7 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/appcat-7-rule-guide?view=migrate
Configure AppCAT for .NET application migration assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/dotnet?view=migrate
Use legacy AppCAT Java tool to assess migration readiness https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/java-6?view=migrate
Meet Azure Migrate assessment prerequisites and settings https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-prerequisites?view=migrate
Configure general assessment properties in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-properties?view=migrate
Migrate dependency analysis from MMA to Azure Monitor Agent https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/azure-monitor-agent-migration?view=migrate
Understand Azure Migrate discovered metadata fields https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discovered-metadata?view=migrate
Enable Azure Arc for servers discovered by Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-arc-enable-inventory?view=migrate
Configure agentless dependency analysis in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-create-group-machine-dependencies-agentless?view=migrate
Discover SQL Server instances in existing Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-discover-sql-existing-project?view=migrate
Enable extra data collection on Arc-enabled servers https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-enable-additional-data-collection-for-arc-servers?view=migrate
Manage Arc resource synchronization in Azure Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-manage-arc-resource-sync?view=migrate
Configure Azure Migrate appliance for physical servers https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-set-up-appliance-physical?view=migrate
Configure Azure Migrate with Private Endpoints and Private Link https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-use-azure-migrate-with-private-endpoints?view=migrate
Reference for Azure Migrate Collector VM extension settings https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-virtual-machine-extension-reference?view=migrate
Use built-in Azure Policy definitions for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/policy-reference?view=migrate
Configure PostgreSQL assessment properties in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/postgresql-assessment-properties?view=migrate
Create Azure Migrate project using ARM template https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/quickstart-create-migrate-project?view=migrate
Set Azure VM assessment properties in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/vm-assessment-properties?view=migrate
Manage resources created during VM move with Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/manage-resources-created-move-process
Configure destination settings for VM moves with Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/modify-target-settings

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic URL
Use AppCAT 7 CLI commands for Java assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/appcat-7-cli-guide?view=migrate
Integrate CAST Highlight code scans with Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/cast-highlights-integration?view=migrate
Automate VMware to Azure migration via Site Recovery REST https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-automate-vmware-to-azure-migration-rest-api?view=migrate

Deployment

Topic URL
Deploy Azure Migrate appliance in Azure Government https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/deploy-appliance-script-government?view=migrate
Deploy Azure Migrate appliance using PowerShell script https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/deploy-appliance-script?view=migrate
Execute and track migration waves in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-execute-track-waves?view=migrate
Prepare Windows Server 2003 for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-windows-server-2003-migration?view=migrate
Configure Azure DevOps pipelines for containerized apps https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-app-containerization-azure-pipeline?view=migrate
Supported extension resource types in Azure Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/support-matrix-extension-resource-types
Check regional move support for Azure VMs https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/support-matrix-move-region-azure-vm
Support matrix for moving Azure SQL resources between regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/support-matrix-move-region-sql
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Overall Score

72/100

Grade

B

Good

Safety

82

Quality

68

Clarity

78

Completeness

58

Summary

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Migrate, covering troubleshooting, best practices, decision-making, architecture patterns, limits, security, configuration, integrations, and deployment. It combines a curated index of topics with remote documentation fetching via microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage tools, allowing agents to retrieve live Learn documentation.

Detected Capabilities

remote documentation fetchingnetwork accessstructured knowledge indexingcross-reference linking to Microsoft Learn

Trigger Keywords

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

azure migrate appliancevmware to azuremigration assessmentazure migrate planninghyper-v migrationappcat java assessmentmigrate sql servermigration wave planning

Risk Signals

INFO

Remote documentation fetching via mcp_microsoftdocs and fetch_webpage

Compatibility section & "How to Use This Skill"
INFO

Network access required for documentation retrieval

Compatibility section
INFO

External URLs referenced (learn.microsoft.com, github.com)

Documentation URL tables throughout

Referenced Domains

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

github.comlearn.microsoft.com

Use Cases

  • Troubleshoot Azure Migrate appliance deployment and discovery issues
  • Plan VMware/Hyper-V migration waves and assess readiness using AppCAT/CAST
  • Configure Azure Migrate projects with Private Link, Arc agents, and dependency analysis
  • Evaluate migration business cases and cost-benefit analysis for AWS/GCP/on-prem workloads
  • Secure Azure Migrate infrastructure with least-privilege roles and customer-managed keys
  • Automate VMware-to-Azure migrations using REST APIs and PowerShell
  • Migrate SQL Server, .NET, Java, and PostgreSQL workloads with appropriate tooling
  • Review and interpret migration assessment reports across multiple workload types

Quality Notes

  • Strengths: Comprehensive category index with clear line ranges and file links for structured navigation. Well-organized topic tables with direct Learn URLs covering all major Azure Migrate scenarios. Explicit compatibility notes about tool dependencies (mcp_microsoftdocs). Clear agent instructions on how to use the skill (Category Index, line-based reading, fallback fetching). Metadata field with generation timestamp for currency tracking.
  • Strengths: Deep domain coverage spanning nine major categories (Troubleshooting, Best Practices, Decision Making, Architecture, Limits, Security, Configuration, Integrations, Deployment) with 60+ curated topics. Each topic maps to official Microsoft Learn documentation, ensuring reliability and up-to-date content.
  • Weaknesses: No sample use case walkthroughs showing how an agent should chain multiple lookups (e.g., 'I need to plan a VMware migration' → which topics to read in what order). No guidance on how to interpret conflicting recommendations between topics. No documented limitations (e.g., does the skill cover Data Box migrations? Azure Backup? Azure Site Recovery for non-migration scenarios?).
  • Weaknesses: Skill content is primarily a structured index rather than self-contained guidance. Agents are directed to fetch external docs, meaning the skill's value depends entirely on remote content availability and network access. No offline mode or fallback for network failures. No error handling guidance for failed document fetches.
  • Weaknesses: Line ranges in Category Index (L37-L55, etc.) refer to content not present in this SKILL.md file — only supporting files are the LICENSE. This creates ambiguity: are these ranges placeholder references for generated content that should exist, or is the skill incomplete?
Model: claude-haiku-4-5-20251001Analyzed: Jun 26, 2026

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