Recent Discussions
Amortized costs in Azure Budgets
Currently Azure budgets can only evaluate actual spend, there is no option to evaluate amortized cost. This results in inaccurate representation of spend when RI's are in play. Does anyone know if this is on the roadmap to be released in Budgets any time soon? In Cost Analysis you can already switch between actual and amortized view but nothing similar in budget configurations yet. Thanks you!Boosting Performance with the Latest Generations of Virtual Machines in Azure
Microsoft Azure recently announced the availability of the new generation of VMs (v6)—including the Dl/Dv6 (general purpose) and El/Ev6 (memory-optimized) series. These VMs are powered by the latest Intel Xeon processors and are engineered to deliver: Up to 30% higher per-core performance compared to previous generations. Greater scalability, with options of up to 128 vCPUs (Dv6) and 192 vCPUs (Ev6). Significant enhancements in CPU cache (up to 5× larger), memory bandwidth, and NVMe-enabled storage. Improved security with features like Intel® Total Memory Encryption (TME) and enhanced networking via the new Microsoft Azure Network Adaptor (MANA). By Microsoft Evaluated Virtual Machines and Geekbench Results The table below summarizes the configuration and Geekbench results for the two VMs we tested. VM1 represents a previous-generation machine with more vCPUs and memory, while VM2 is from the new Dld e6 series, showing superior performance despite having fewer vCPUs. VM1 features VM1 - D16S V5 (16 Vcpus - 64GB RAM) VM1 - D16S V5 (16 Vcpus - 64GB RAM) VM2 features VM2 - D16ls v6 (16 Vcpus - 32GB RAM) VM2 - D16ls v6 (16 Vcpus - 32GB RAM) Key Observations: Single-Core Performance: VM2 scores 2013 compared to VM1’s 1570, a 28.2% improvement. This demonstrates that even with half the vCPUs, the new Dld e6 series provides significantly better performance per core. Multi-Core Performance: Despite having fewer cores, VM2 achieves a multi-core score of 12,566 versus 9,454 for VM1, showing a 32.9% increase in performance. VM 1 VM 2 Enhanced Throughput in Specific Workloads: File Compression: 1909 MB/s (VM2) vs. 1654 MB/s (VM1) – a 15.4% improvement. Object Detection: 2851 images/s (VM2) vs. 1592 images/s (VM1) – a remarkable 79.2% improvement. Ray Tracing: 1798 Kpixels/s (VM2) vs. 1512 Kpixels/s (VM1) – an 18.9% boost. These results reflect the significant advancements enabled by the new generation of Intel processors. Score VM 1 VM 1 VM 1 Score VM 2 VM 2 VM 2 Evolution of Hardware in Azure: From Ice Lake-SP to Emerald Rapids Technical Specifications of the Processors Evaluated Understanding the dramatic performance improvements begins with a look at the processor specifications: Intel Xeon Platinum 8370C (Ice Lake-SP) Architecture: Ice Lake-SP Base Frequency: 2.79 GHz Max Frequency: 3.5 GHz L3 Cache: 48 MB Supported Instructions: AVX-512, VNNI, DL Boost VM 1 Intel Xeon Platinum 8573C (Emerald Rapids) Architecture: Emerald Rapids Base Frequency: 2.3 GHz Max Frequency: 4.2 GHz L3 Cache: 260 MB Supported Instructions: AVX-512, AMX, VNNI, DL Boost VM 2 Impact on Performance Cache Size Increase: The jump from 48 MB to 260 MB of L3 cache is a key factor. A larger cache reduces dependency on RAM accesses, thereby lowering latency and significantly boosting performance in memory-intensive workloads such as AI, big data, and scientific simulations. Enhanced Frequency Dynamics: While the base frequency of the Emerald Rapids processor is slightly lower, its higher maximum frequency (4.2 GHz vs. 3.5 GHz) means that under load, performance-critical tasks can benefit from this burst capability. Advanced Instruction Support: The introduction of AMX (Advanced Matrix Extensions) in Emerald Rapids, along with the robust AVX-512 support, optimizes the execution of complex mathematical and AI workloads. Efficiency Gains: These processors also offer improved energy efficiency, reducing the energy consumed per compute unit. This efficiency translates into lower operational costs and a more sustainable cloud environment. Beyond Our Tests: Overview of the New v6 Series While our tests focused on the Dld e6 series, Azure’s new v6 generation includes several families designed for different workloads: 1. Dlsv6 and Dldsv6-series Segment: General purpose with NVMe local storage (where applicable) vCPUs Range: 2 – 128 Memory: 4 – 256 GiB Local Disk: Up to 7,040 GiB (Dldsv6) Highlights: 5× increased CPU cache (up to 300 MB) and higher network bandwidth (up to 54 Gbps) 2. Dsv6 and Ddsv6-series Segment: General purpose vCPUs Range: 2 – 128 Memory: Up to 512 GiB Local Disk: Up to 7,040 GiB in Ddsv6 Highlights: Up to 30% improved performance over the previous Dv5 generation and Azure Boost for enhanced IOPS and network performance 3. Esv6 and Edsv6-series Segment: Memory-optimized vCPUs Range: 2 – 192* (with larger sizes available in Q2) Memory: Up to 1.8 TiB (1832 GiB) Local Disk: Up to 10,560 GiB in Edsv6 Highlights: Ideal for in-memory analytics, relational databases, and enterprise applications requiring vast amounts of RAM Note: Sizes with higher vCPUs and memory (e.g., E128/E192) will be generally available in Q2 of this year. Key Innovations in the v6 Generation Increased CPU Cache: Up to 5× more cache (from 60 MB to 300 MB) dramatically improves data access speeds. NVMe for Storage: Enhanced local and remote storage performance, with up to 3× more IOPS locally and the capability to reach 400k IOPS remotely via Azure Boost. Azure Boost: Delivers higher throughput (up to 12 GB/s remote disk throughput) and improved network bandwidth (up to 200 Gbps for larger sizes). Microsoft Azure Network Adaptor (MANA): Provides improved network stability and performance for both Windows and Linux environments. Intel® Total Memory Encryption (TME): Enhances data security by encrypting the system memory. Scalability: Options ranging from 128 vCPUs/512 GiB RAM in the Dv6 family to 192 vCPUs/1.8 TiB RAM in the Ev6 family. Performance Gains: Benchmarks and internal tests (such as SPEC CPU Integer) indicate improvements of 15%–30% across various workloads including web applications, databases, analytics, and generative AI tasks. My personal perspective and point of view The new Azure v6 VMs mark a significant advancement in cloud computing performance, scalability, and security. Our Geekbench tests clearly show that the Dld e6 series—powered by the latest Intel Xeon Platinum 8573C (Emerald Rapids)—delivers up to 30% better performance than previous-generation machines with more resources. Coupled with the hardware evolution from Ice Lake-SP to Emerald Rapids—which brings a dramatic increase in cache size, improved frequency dynamics, and advanced instruction support—the new v6 generation sets a new standard for high-performance workloads. Whether you’re running critical enterprise applications, data-intensive analytics, or next-generation AI models, the enhanced capabilities of these VMs offer significant benefits in performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. References and Further Reading: Microsoft’s official announcement: Azure Dld e6 VMs Internal tests performed with Geekbench 6.4.0 (AVX2) in the Germany West Central Azure region.
Where is subscription Key
I am following the exercise Exercise: Create a backend API at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/explore-api-management/8-import-api In step Configure the backend settings it is showed or not indicated to check "Subscription Required" however, in the test stage, step 2, it says The Ocp-Apim-Subscription-Key is filled in automatically for the subscription key associated with this API which is not true as you can notice in the my API snapshot How come that it is generated, we dont see it anywhere and is bound to the API? Is it a mistake from the author?Change Display Name of Azure-Bot via API
Hi everyone, Maybe someone can give me a hint on how to achieve the following: - I created an Azure-Bot with a certain display name. - I have a PowerApp and a Flow which create calls from this bot to a selected user (via MS Graph API). - In some scenarios, I want the Flow to rename the bots display name so that the user better understands why the bot is calling. -> Is there a way to change the display name of an azure-bot via API? Thanks for your help! Kind regards TimHow Microsoft Azure Ensures Data Privacy and Global Compliance | Secure Cloud Solutions
In the era of cloud transformation, data privacy and compliance have become top priorities for businesses worldwide. As companies migrate critical workloads to the cloud, they must ensure that their service providers handle sensitive information responsibly and meet regulatory requirements across jurisdictions. Microsoft Azure, one of the world’s most trusted cloud platforms, goes above and beyond to guarantee security, privacy, and compliance for every customer — from startups to global enterprises. Azure’s approach combines advanced security technologies, transparent governance, and a vast portfolio of compliance certifications, ensuring that data stays protected no matter where it resides. https://dellenny.com/how-microsoft-azure-ensures-data-privacy-and-global-compliance-secure-cloud-solutions/Identity in Azure Understanding Azure AD, Authentication, and Authorization
In today’s digital-first world, managing user identities and access securely is paramount. Microsoft Azure provides a robust platform for identity management through Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), helping organizations protect sensitive data while ensuring seamless user experiences. Understanding the differences between authentication and authorization in Azure, and how Azure AD facilitates them, is crucial for IT professionals, developers, and security experts alike. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of identity in Azure, the role of Azure AD, and how authentication and authorization work together to secure cloud applications and resources. https://dellenny.com/identity-in-azure-understanding-azure-ad-authentication-and-authorization/Shared Responsibility Model in Azure Explained (with Real Examples)
In today’s cloud-first world, Microsoft Azure is one of the most popular cloud platforms used by organizations globally. While Azure provides a robust infrastructure and wide-ranging services, it is crucial for businesses to understand their responsibilities in maintaining security, compliance, and operational efficiency. This is where the Shared Responsibility Model in Azure comes into play. The Shared Responsibility Model defines the division of security and operational duties between the cloud provider (Azure) and the customer. Understanding this model ensures that organizations know which security measures are handled by Microsoft and which ones they need to manage themselves. https://dellenny.com/shared-responsibility-model-in-azure-explained-with-real-examples/Copilot and Viva Empowering Employee Engagement
In today’s rapidly evolving workplace—defined by hybrid teams, digital collaboration, and shifting employee expectations—organizations must rethink how they engage, empower, and retain talent. That’s where the combined power of Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Viva comes in. Together, Copilot and Viva form a powerful synergy: transforming not only how work gets done but how employees connect, grow, and feel about their work. Their integration creates a more intelligent, people-centric experience—one that drives true employee engagement. https://dellenny.com/copilot-viva-empowering-employee-engagement-in-the-modern-workplace/How to Ask AI Meeting Assistants the Right Questions During Meetings
In today’s fast-paced hybrid work world, tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot (often simply “Copilot”) that sit inside your meeting platform are dramatically changing how we interact in meetings. But having access to a powerful AI helper doesn’t automatically mean you’ll get maximum value. Much of the benefit comes down to how you ask it questions. If you pose vague, unfocused prompts, the answers will reflect that. On the other hand, well-crafted questions can turn Copilot into your strategic co-pilot during meetings. In this post, we’ll walk you through why asking the right questions matters, what kinds of questions to ask during or after a meeting, and how to ask them effectively to improve clarity, decisions, alignment, and follow-up. https://dellenny.com/how-to-ask-ai-meeting-assistants-the-right-questions-during-meetings/Turn Conversations into Reports Instantly with Copilot in Microsoft Teams
In today’s fast-paced workplace, teams spend a lot of time in chats and meetings — but too often the valuable information shared there ends up buried in a scroll of history, or forgotten after the session ends. That’s why the ability to instantly turn conversations into structured reports is a game changer. With Microsoft 365 Copilot inside Microsoft Teams, you can shift from manually summarizing threads and meeting notes to having AI generate concise, actionable summaries and reports automatically. Here’s how this works, why it matters, and how you can make it work for your team https://dellenny.com/turn-conversations-into-reports-instantly-with-copilot-in-microsoft-teams/Azure Security Basics Network Security Groups, Firewalls, and Defender for Cloud
In today’s cloud-first world, securing your network infrastructure is no longer optional — it’s foundational. For organizations using Microsoft Azure, understanding the tools available to protect workloads, control traffic flow, and maintain visibility is essential. In this article, we’ll walk through three core pillars of Azure network security: Network Security Groups (NSGs) Azure Firewall Microsoft Defender for Cloud By the end, you should have a clearer grasp of what each offers, when to use them, and how they complement one another. https://dellenny.com/azure-security-basics-network-security-groups-firewalls-and-defender-for-cloud/
Copy from on-prem to Azure Archive Tier
Hi All, We have an on-prem NetApp File Share. We are thinking of copying data from on-prem NetApp file share to Azure Archive Tier ( Blob) for long term backup. The files in Azure Archive will not be accessed unless there is some special need. We are ok with the 15 hour rehydration time. If we need, we want to be able to rehydrate the files from Archive to a hot/cold blob and access them from NetApp. As I understand we can use CLI in batch mode to upload large number of files to Azure Archive. However how easy or difficult is it going to be to rehydrate the files into a hot/cold blob and read the same through NetApp file share. Essentially ( If I am correct) the rehydrated files will need to be mounted to NetApp. if there any solution for this problem? Thanks Pallav
SFTP storage event trigger stopped in live Azure synapse mode
My Azure synapse account is linked with git and i am working on my feature branch and created storage event trigger that get files from SPTP server when i run pipeline manual. In master and feature branch it status is started but when i publish it into live mode its status become stop and while publishing i get this error message Forbidden. Role based access check failed for resource /subscriptions Some one know this issue
Oath hardware token
Hi All, I just received my hardware tokens to set up for a few users in our organization that do not have access to company mobile devices. I have uploaded the .csv files with the required information in our Azure portal and it successfully uploaded. I am not able to activate the token, it keeps failing but I’m not sure why and I don’t really get a reason. Is there a clearer way to set this up or do I need to enable something before I set this up. I would like this set up before the end of the week, any help is appreciated. Thanks,AVD remote desktop app showing on screen but not responding to clicks until you minimize/maximize
Over the past couple months and more recently we have had users report issues when opening up office apps as well as other non Microsoft apps from the remote desktop client to access AVD apps. The window for the application will appear on screen but not respond to anything until you shift+right click on the app icon in the taskbar to minimize and then maximize it again. We are on version 1.2.4157 of remote desktop. Anyone else experiencing this issue?
customizing Stakeholders's setting so that they can only see the shared dashboard in Azure Devops!
hi every body how can I customize the access settings of Stakeholders in a way that they can NOT see the backlog/board details, especially "assigned to" field and they can follow the project only from the dashboards and analytic views or board/backlog without details
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