Announcing Jumpstart ArcBox 25Q1 general availability

We are thrilled to announce the first major update to ArcBox following our release of ArcBox 3.0 in August 2024. ArcBox has been an invaluable resource for IT professionals, DataOps teams, and DevOps practitioners, providing comprehensive solutions to evaluate how to deploy, manage, and operate Arc-enabled environments.

With this release, we have introduced Windows Server 2025 on both the ArcBox-Client as well as in a nested VM, making it possible for you to evaluate a range of new features and enhancements that elevate the functionality, performance, and user experience.

WinGet and Windows Terminal Integration

One of the standout enhancements in Windows Server 2025 is the inclusion of WinGet and Windows Terminal. These tools are now built-in components of Windows Server 2025 and no longer require bootstrapping in our automation processes. 

Advanced Management Capabilities for Arc-enabled servers

Windows Server 2025 introduces new management capabilities specifically designed for Arc-enabled servers. These capabilities enhance the control and oversight of server environments, providing more robust tools for monitoring, configuration, and maintenance. The enhancements are now available in ArcBox to be evaluated.

SSH Included and Enabled

Another significant update in Windows Server 2025 is the inclusion of SSH as a native component. This addition is a major step forward, as it eliminates the need for external SSH installations. However, it is important to note that while SSH is included, it needs to be enabled manually. This feature enhances secure access to servers, facilitating more efficient remote management and operations.

In ArcBox, SSH is enabled by the automated setup and ready to start evaluating.

SSH for Arc-enabled servers enables SSH based connections to Arc-enabled servers without requiring a public IP address or additional open ports. This functionality can be used interactively, automated, or with existing SSH based tooling, allowing existing management tools to have a greater impact on Azure Arc-enabled servers.

You can use Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell to connect to one of the Azure Arc-enabled servers using SSH.

In addition to SSH, you can also connect to the Azure Arc-enabled servers, Windows Server virtual machines using Remote Desktop tunneled via SSH.

Also, Remote PowerShell over SSH is available for Windows and Linux machines. SSH for Arc-enabled servers also enables SSH-based PowerShell Remoting connections to Arc-enabled servers without requiring a public IP address or additional open ports.

After setting up the configuration, we can use native PowerShell Remoting commands.

Configurable SQL Server Edition to support Performance Dashboards

ArcBox now provides the flexibility to deploy SQL Server Standard or Enterprise editions on the ArcBox-SQL guest VM, replacing the previously default Developer edition. This enhancement empowers users to experience advanced Arc-enabled SQL Server monitoring through Performance Dashboard reports. Available in both the ITPro and DataOps configurations, this feature ensures tailored performance monitoring capabilities for diverse use cases.

To configure the SQL Server edition during deployment:

Portal Deployment: Specify the desired SQL Server edition during setup.

Bicep Deployment: Use the sqlServerEdition parameter to define the edition.

ARM Template Deployment: Set the edition via the sqlServerEdition parameter.

Below is an example Performance Dashboard report from an Arc-enabled SQL Server using the Standard or Enterprise editions, highlighting comprehensive insights and monitoring capabilities.

Cost Optimizations

We optimized the storage costs significantly by changing the ArcBox Client VM data disk from Premium SSD to Premium SSD v2. This change allows for better performance at a lower cost, making ArcBox even more economical for various use cases. With this optimization, users can enjoy faster data access speeds and increased storage efficiency.

We also introduced support for enabling Azure VM Spot pricing for the ArcBox Client VM, allowing users to take advantage of cost savings on unused Azure capacity. This feature is ideal for workloads that can tolerate interruptions, providing an economical option for testing and development environments. By leveraging Spot pricing, users can significantly reduce their operational costs while maintaining the flexibility and scalability offered by Azure.

You may leverage the advisor on the Azure Spot Virtual Machine pricing page to estimate costs for your selected region. Here is an example for running the ArcBox Client Virtual Machine in the East US region:

Visit the ArcBox FAQ to see the updated price estimates for running ArcBox in your environment.

The new deployment parameter enableAzureSpotPricing is disabled by default, so users who wants to take advantage of this capability will need to opt-in.

Along with the option to opt-in for Azure Spot pricing, we also added new parameters for enabling Auto Shutdown:

Auto Shutdown is enabled by default, and will configure the built-on Auto-shutdown feature for Azure VMs:

Summary

The latest update to ArcBox not only focuses on new features but also on enhancing overall cost and performance. The integration of new operating system versions and management capabilities ensures a smoother, more efficient workflow for IT professionals, DataOps teams, and DevOps practitioners to evaluate Azure Arc services.

We invite our community to explore these new features and take full advantage of the enhanced capabilities of ArcBox with Windows Server 2025 support. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we look forward to hearing about your experiences and insights as you navigate these new enhancements.

Watch our release announcement episode of Jumpstart Lightning and get started today by visiting aka.ms/JumpstartArcBox!