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Apply critical update for Azure Stack HCI VMs to maintain Azure verification

Kim_Lam's avatar
Kim_Lam
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Apr 18, 2024

Update 2 (2024 August 13): Versions updated in below lists. 7D update was released on 2024 July 25 and 8B update on 2024 August 13. 

Update (2024 June 24): There are additional certificates that will be added to upcoming (July/August 2024) updates to VMs. Until those updates are pushed out, customers may see Azure verification and activation issues. This will not affect the functionality of your workloads and the activation errors will no longer persist once the VMs are updated. Please stay tuned for the respective update for the respective workload. 

 

Azure verification for VMs on Azure Stack HCI makes it possible for Azure-exclusive benefits to work outside of the cloud and in on-premises and edge environments. These benefits include Azure Virtual Desktop for Azure Stack HCI, Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition, Extended Security Updates (ESUs) for SQL and Windows Server Virtual Machines (VMs) on Azure Stack HCI, and Azure Policy guest configuration. To keep these workloads continuing to function, periodic updates are required to maintain their security and functionality.

 

Update Azure Stack HCI VMs

Recently, Microsoft rolled out critical updates for Azure verification for VMs on Azure Stack HCI, and we strongly recommend current users to apply these latest cumulative updates for continued, seamless functionality of your Azure benefits on Azure Stack HCI VMs. The latest VM updates are as follows:

 

  • Azure Virtual Desktop for Azure Stack HCI
  • Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition

Azure Stack HCI VMs can be updated using a variety of methods including Windows Update, Azure Update Manager, Windows Server Update Services, or System Center Virtual Machine Manager. Please note that not all OSes are supported with Azure Update Manager, see Azure Update Manager support matrix.

 

We recommend that these VMs updates be completed by as soon as possible to avoid possible impact to your current workloads and licensing of these Azure benefits. If you do not update your Azure Stack HCI VMs to the latest version as noted above, you may see issues with the Azure verification and licensing of Azure Stack HCI VMs. Please update the VMs at that time and reach out to Microsoft Support if there are further questions or issues.

 

This update is not critical if you are not using the Azure benefits enabled by Azure verification of Azure Stack HCI VMs.

 

Update Azure Stack HCI Azure Marketplace VM Images

If you’re using Azure Marketplace VM images, we also recommend updating pre-existing Azure Marketplace VM images on your Azure Stack HCI cluster to the latest versions. The updated VM images are available now on Azure Marketplace and for update in the Azure Portal.

 

More Information

For full details on updates, please see Azure verification for VMs - Azure Stack HCI.

For more information regarding why this update is recommended, please review this Tech Community blog for more details on updates to Azure verification.

Updated Aug 13, 2024
Version 6.0
Azure Stack HCI

12 Comments

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  • Karl-WE's avatar
    Karl-WE
    MVP
    Aug 15, 2024

    Kim_Lam 
    we had a customer where Azure Stack HCI 22H2 Attestation failed without the 8B update. Installing the LCU recovered the state

    Also we saw this on Dell AX nodes after LCU install and restart

    all nodes were affected, as this was using CAU, nothing worse happened.

     

  • LCKho3693's avatar
    LCKho3693
    MVP
    Jul 29, 2024

    Thanks Kim_Lam for the update. We can safely inform partners and customers who received the warning from the system to wait for coming update. 

     

     

  • Kim_Lam's avatar
    Kim_Lam
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Jul 01, 2024

    Hello tdarwiche, per the update in this blog, there is unfortunately some certifications that were missed and will be in the 8B (August) release of 2022 Datacenter Azure edition. Until then, the Windows activation will pop up though it should not affect the functionality of your workloads.

  • CristianSchmittNieto's avatar
    CristianSchmittNieto
    Brass Contributor
    Jun 30, 2024

    Hi tdarwiche

     

    Just to clarify, AVD in 22H2 is not in preview; it's currently not a supported configuration. The main reason to use 22H2 over 23H2 is the Stretch Cluster and possibly hardware provider support, though I'd consider other factors as well.

     

    Regarding the activation issue with the 2022 Datacenter Azure edition VM, I recommend opening a support ticket with Microsoft. They should be able to assist you with this issue, especially since it was previously supported.

     

    Hope this helps!

     

    Best regards, 

    Cristian

  • tdarwiche's avatar
    tdarwiche
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 30, 2024

    CristianSchmittNieto, I'm aware that AVD is in preview mode on 22H2, but the activation issue appears to be separate from this. We also have a 2022 Datacenter Azure edition VM with the same activation issue. We were advised by Microsoft support to not move to 23H2 due to bugs.

  • CristianSchmittNieto's avatar
    CristianSchmittNieto
    Brass Contributor
    Jun 30, 2024

    Hi tdarwiche,

     

    It's important to note that Azure Virtual Desktop on Azure Stack HCI is only supported in the version 23H2. In the version 22H2, AVD never moved beyond the preview phase. For more detailed information about supported deployment configurations, you can refer to this link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-desktop/azure-stack-hci-overview#supported-deployment-configurations

     

    Hope this helps clarify your query!

     

    Best regards, 

    Cristian

  • tdarwiche's avatar
    tdarwiche
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 27, 2024

    Kim_Lam We're running Azure Stack HCI 22H2 with Azure Virtual Desktop and have activation issues that came up recently. Any idea if the additional certificates mentioned above will be added sooner rather than later? The activation issues are causing some features to be disabled which our users rely on.

     

    Thanks in advance.

  • Kim_Lam's avatar
    Kim_Lam
    Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
    Apr 22, 2024

    Karl-WE I wanted to share that I am actively reviewing your question internally and will get you a response soon!