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Top AI & CLI Prompts DevOps Can Use to Manage Azure Efficiently
As DevOps engineers juggle multiple responsibilities—from provisioning resources to ensuring system reliability—having quick, effective commands and AI prompts can significantly boost productivity. Whether you’re scripting in Azure CLI, using GitHub Copilot, or leveraging Azure’s AI Copilots, here are some of the best prompts and commands to streamline Azure management. https://dellenny.com/top-ai-cli-prompts-devops-can-use-to-manage-azure-efficiently/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 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.Register now for the Migrate to Innovate Summit
Join the summit on March 11, presented in partnership with Intel. Stay agile, innovate for the future, and maintain a competitive edge by accelerating your cloud migration and modernization journey. Microsoft thought leaders will discuss the latest news and trends, showcase real-world case studies, and share how Azure can help you fully embrace AI. Join us to: Maximize business value and build the foundation for successful innovation by leveraging the latest Azure and Intel capabilities for your workloads. Dive into case studies and real-world examples showcasing how organizations have successfully transformed their business and how you can be next by migrating and modernizing on Azure. Make sure your cloud migration and modernization journey is using the best practices and strategies featured in product demonstrations. Register now > Migrate to Innovate Summit Tuesday, March 11, 2025 9:00 AM–11:30 AM Pacific Time (UTC-7)Digital event—Migrate to Innovate: Be AI Ready, Be Secure
Learn how to fuel innovation and maintain a competitive edge with a secure, optimized, and agile foundation on Azure. Join this free digital event to see how migrating Windows Server and SQL Server to Azure helps prepare your organization to embrace AI and cloud-native services while addressing current business challenges, including saving costs and maintaining security. Register now to learn about the business outcomes of migrating to Azure, including: AI readiness: Get results with an AI-ready foundation on Azure. In a study of customers using Azure AI services, a composite of six organizations achieved a three-year ROI of 284%. Code-to-cloud security: Reduce risk and costs by replacing multiple third-party security tools with comprehensive, multilayered security. Maximizing ROI and performance: Run your workloads faster and at a lower cost. AWS is up to 5 times more expensive than Azure for Windows Server and SQL Server—and SQL Server runs up to 5.5 times faster on Azure than on AWS. Cloud agility anywhere: Help secure and govern your entire digital estate across hybrid, multicloud, and edge environments on your own terms using an adaptive cloud approach. Register now > Migrate to Innovate: Be AI Ready, Be Secure Tuesday, April 16, 2024 9:00 AM–11:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-7)New digital event - Securely Migrate and Optimize with Azure
For all of you interested in migration – be sure to join us on April 26 th from 9 – 11 AM PT for the Securely Migrate and Optimize with Azure digital event. Hear customer success stories, see demos, find out how to maximize the value of your Windows Server and SQL Server investments and ask your questions during the live Q&A. To learn more, you can see the blog post on the Azure Migration and Modernization community or cut right to the registration page. Be sure to block the time on your calendar after registering.
Azure AD PowerShell to Microsoft Graph PowerShell
Hi all, you are more than welcome to review my latest post regarding the transformation between Azure AD PowerShell to MSGraph PowerShell module, with all the relevant links and common script examples: Azure AD PowerShell to Microsoft Graph PowerShell - Azure Cloud & AI Domain Blog Azure Active Directory, PowerShell (azurecloudai.blog)
Azure Open Source Day on March 7th!
For all you open-source enthusiasts – be sure to join us on March 7 th for Azure Open Source Day from 9-10:30am. You can see the blog I just posted on the DevOps community or go right to the registration page. Ask your questions during the live Q&A with our Microsoft product experts, hear from Brendan Burns, Donovan Brown and partners like GitHub and Redis. Be sure to block time on your calendar!Retain the same email address value across two objects in Azure AD (Guest and Local)
Howdy Techies! This might sound stupid but thought to throw it here anyway to see if anyone managed to work around this in any possible alternative ways. I have a very specific need to retain the same email address across two Azure AD accounts. One is a guest and the other is a local account in the same tenancy. The purpose is to allow one of the SaaS app to use the local account while the other Guest Account will be used to access Teams channel. I have tried to create a separate accounts and some other workarounds but failed due to conflicts. Why not a single account for both purposes!, you may ask. Its a very specific scenario and could not afford to use a single account due to multiple business reasons. Really appreciate any thoughts/ideas !! Thank you! Manoj KDifference of Azure Deployment Environments and Azure DevTest Lab
Hi Guys, for me sometimes, the number of Azure Services, is overwhelming. What is really annoying is that you can't find two lines of description, which explains the concrete uses cases for the different Azure Service. So does someone know the difference between Azure Deployment Environments and Azure DevTest Lab? Does someone have concrete use cases for this two Azure Services? Cheers, ChicoLast Call for the Marketplace Summit!
Get a virtual front row seat to our first Marketplace Summit on November 15, a live broadcast from Microsoft Studios featuring a dynamic agenda of speakers and demonstrations based on insights from ISVs like you. We’ll share updates on our ISV Success Program and offer valuable tools and resources along the way. This two-way dialogue will give you direct access to our leaders and engineering teams, helping you develop concrete strategies to reach new customers, simplify sales, and supercharge growth. Register now: https://marketplacesummit.microsoft.com/?ocid=cmm2f1lxulj Questions? Reach out to marketplacesummitFAQ@microsoft.com
