Azure Arc Monthly Forum Recap – November 2025
Key Highlights Auto Agent Upgrade Status: Public Preview Capability: Automatically updates AZCM Agent Support: Email arcautoupgradefeedback@microsoft.com for feedback or issues. Essential Machine Management (EMM) Status: Private Preview Capability: Enables simple and unified machine management experience. Link: https://aka.ms/operationsCenterLab Support: Email machineEnrollmentSupport@microsoft.com for feedback and issues. Machine Configuration – CIS Baseline Compliance Status: Public Preview Capability: Filter, search, exclude and modify baseline settings in Azure Policy. Link: aka.ms/machine-config-insiders Support: Email machineconfig@microsoft.com for feedback and issues. November 2025 FAQs Essential Machine Management (EMM) Does EMM cover Azure Local? Yes, Azure Local is supported. Optimizations vs. Recommendations? Recommendations come from Azure Advisor (security, observability, configs). Optimizations focus on cost and emissions for now. Is Arc being rebranded as Operations Center? No. Operations Center is a new unified management experience. Training material for Operations Center? We have published official documentation (link) which provides an overview of Operations Center. Setup costs for Log Analytics & Monitor? The Azure Monitor Workspace is free with the metrics that are configured through EMM. The Log Analytics Workspace logs are still charged separately and the only service that is configured to send logs is Change Tracking and Inventory Machine Configuration – CIS Baseline Compliance Will other baselines be added? Yes. DeployIfNotExists Policy for Security Baseline? Audit policies available; remediation is on the roadmap. What about Windows Security Baseline? Planned for WS2025. Override local GPO policies? Audit-only for now; no overrides yet. Machine Configuration – OS Settings Inventory Platform Are there any plans to give us custom classes we can build and ingest the data we want? Not at the moment. Is it just Windows, or do you have Linux support in Guest Configuration resources? Linux support will be available soon.Microsoft BizTalk Server Product Lifecycle Update
For more than 25 years, Microsoft BizTalk Server has supported mission-critical integration workloads for organizations around the world. From business process automation and B2B messaging to connectivity across industries such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and government, BizTalk Server has played a foundational role in enterprise integration strategies. To help customers plan confidently for the future, Microsoft is sharing an update to the BizTalk Server product lifecycle and long-term support timelines. BizTalk Server 2020 will be the final version of BizTalk Server. Guidance to support long-term planning for mission-critical workloads This announcement does not change existing support commitments. Customers can continue to rely on BizTalk Server for many years ahead, with a clear and predictable runway to plan modernization at a pace that aligns with their business and regulatory needs. Lifecycle Phase End Date What’s Included Mainstream Support April 11, 2028 Security + non-security updates and Customer Service & Support (CSS) support Extended Support April 9, 2030 CSS support, Security updates, and paid support for fixes (*) End of Support April 10, 2030 No further updates or support (*) Paid Extended Support will be available for BizTalk Server 2020 between April 2028 and April 2030 for customers requiring hotfixes for non-security updates. CSS will continue providing their typical support. BizTalk Server 2016 is already out of mainstream support, and we recommend those customers evaluate a direct modernization path to Azure Logic Apps. Continued Commitment to Enterprise Integration Microsoft remains fully committed to supporting mission-critical integration, including hybrid connectivity, future-ready orchestration, and B2B/EDI modernization. Azure Logic Apps, part of Azure Integration Services — which includes API Management, Service Bus, and Event Grid — delivers the comprehensive integration platform for the next decade of enterprise connectivity. Host Integration Server: Continued Support for Mainframe Workloads Host Integration Server (HIS) has long provided essential connectivity for organizations with mainframe and midrange systems. To ensure continued support for those workloads, Host Integration Server 2028 will ship as a standalone product with its own lifecycle, decoupled from BizTalk Server. This provides customers with more flexibility and a longer planning horizon. Recognizing Mainframe modernization customers might be looking to integrate with their mainframes from Azure, Microsoft provides Logic Apps connectors for mainframe and midrange systems, and we are keen on adding more connectors in this space. Let us know about your HIS plans, and if you require specific features for Mainframe and midranges integration from Logic Apps at: https://aka.ms/lamainframe Azure Logic Apps: The Successor to BizTalk Server Azure Logic Apps, part of Azure Integration Services, is the modern integration platform that carries forward what customers value in BizTalk while unlocking new innovation, scale, and intelligence. With 1,400+ out-of-box connectors supporting enterprise, SaaS, legacy, and mainframe systems, organizations can reuse existing BizTalk maps, schemas, rules, and custom code to accelerate modernization while preserving prior investments including B2B/EDI and healthcare transactions. Logic Apps delivers elastic scalability, enterprise-grade security and compliance, and built-in cost efficiency without the overhead of managing infrastructure. Modern DevOps tooling, Visual Studio Code support, and infrastructure-as-code (ARM/Bicep) ensure consistent, governed deployments with end-to-end observability using Azure Monitor and OpenTelemetry. Modernizing Logic Apps also unlocks agentic business processes, enabling AI-driven routing, predictive insights, and context-aware automation without redesigning existing integrations. Logic Apps adapts to business and regulatory needs, running fully managed in Azure, hybrid via Arc-enabled Kubernetes, or evaluated for air-gapped environments. Throughout this lifecycle transition, customers can continue to rely on the BizTalk investments they have made while moving toward a platform ready for the next decade of integration and AI-driven business. Charting Your Modernization Path Microsoft remains fully committed to supporting customers through this transition. We recognize that BizTalk systems support highly customized and mission-critical business operations. Modernization requires time, planning, and precision. We hope to provide: Proven guidance and recommended design patterns A growing ecosystem of tooling supporting artifact reuse Unified Support engagements for deep migration assistance A strong partner ecosystem specializing in BizTalk modernization Potential incentive programs to help facilitate migration for eligible customers (details forthcoming) Customers can take a phased approach — starting with new workloads while incrementally modernizing existing BizTalk deployments. We’re Here to Help Migration resources are available today: Overview: https://aka.ms/btmig Best practices: https://aka.ms/BizTalkServerMigrationResources Video series: https://aka.ms/btmigvideo Feature request survey: https://aka.ms/logicappsneeds We encourage customers to engage their Microsoft account team early to assess readiness, identify modernization opportunities, and explore assistance programs. Your Modernization Journey Starts Now BizTalk Server has played a foundational role in enterprise integration success for more than two decades. As you plan ahead, Microsoft is here to partner with you every step of the way, ensuring operational continuity today while unlocking innovation tomorrow. To begin your transition, please contact your Microsoft account team or visit our migration hub. https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/logic-apps/biztalk-server-migration-overview Thank you for your continued trust in Microsoft and BizTalk Server. We look forward to partnering closely with you as you plan the future of your integration platforms. Frequently Asked Questions Do I need to migrate now? No. BizTalk Server 2020 is fully supported through April 11, 2028, with paid Extended Support available through April 9, 2030, for non-security hotfixes. CSS will continue providing their typical support. You have a long and predictable runway to plan your transition. Will there be a new BizTalk Server version? No. BizTalk Server 2020 is the final version of the product. What happens after April 9, 2030? BizTalk Server will reach End of Support, and security updates or technical assistance will no longer be provided. Workloads will continue running but without Microsoft servicing. Is paid support available past 2028? Yes. Paid extended support will be available through April 2030 for BizTalk Server 2020 customers looking for non-security hotfixes. CSS will continue to provide the typical support. What about BizTalk Server 2016 or earlier versions? Those versions are already out of mainstream support. We strongly encourage moving directly to Logic Apps rather than upgrading to BizTalk Server 2020. Will Host Integration Server continue? Yes. Host Integration Server (HIS) 2028 will be released as a standalone product with its own lifecycle and support commitments. Can I reuse BizTalk Server artifacts in Logic Apps? Yes. Most of BizTalk maps, schemas, rules, assemblies, and custom code can be reused with minimal effort using Microsoft and partner migration tooling. We welcome feature requests here: https://aka.ms/logicappsneeds Does modernization require moving fully to the cloud? No. Logic Apps supports hybrid deployments for scenarios requiring local processing or regulatory compliance, and fully disconnected environments are under evaluation. More information of the Hybrid deployment model here: https://aka.ms/lahybrid. Does modernization unlock AI capabilities? Yes. Logic Apps enables AI-driven automations through Agent Loop, improving routing, decisioning, and operational intelligence. Where do I get planning support? Your Microsoft account team can assist with assessment and planning. Migration resources are also linked in this announcement to help you get started. Microsoft Corporation
o365 public folder migration
Hi All, I have began a migration from on-prem exchange 2010 to o365 using minimal hybrid method I need to consider how i'm going to migrate public folders. I refer to two MS docs links below The first article suggests this method should be used when using a cutover or staged method https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/collaboration-exo/public-folders/batch-migration-of-legacy-public-folders The second article references a hybrid setup but fails to mention if this includes the minimal hybrid option https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/collaboration-exo/public-folders/set-up-legacy-hybrid-public-folders Can anyone clarify? Kind regardsAzure Arc Server Forum: 2026 Updates
We are excited to announce the fourth calendar year of the Azure Arc Server Forum. We are incredibly thankful to all the customers and community members, who have joined our forum and newsletter from our start back in the Fall of 2023. From January 2026, the monthly Azure Arc Server Forum will be hosted on the third Thursday of each month from 9:30 – 10:15 AM PST. Each Arc Server Forum includes live demos of new capabilities, question and answer sessions with the product group, and feedback opportunities covering Windows, Linux, and SQL Server management, licensing, and connectivity across hybrid, multicloud, and edge environments. Sessions are skipped in July and December for summer and winter holidays respectively. Forum participants also receive a monthly newsletter summarizing updates including: Announcements of General Availability, Public Preview, and Private Previews capabilities including key details and documentation Updates on agent improvements and updates on experience changes Opportunities to provide feedback to and influence the product group’s roadmap or engage in ongoing customer research studies Updates on the invitation and timing of the Arc Server Forum Recordings from the Arc Server Forum are periodically uploaded to the Azure Arc Server Forum YouTube channel: Azure Arc Server Forum - YouTube typically within 2-3 weeks of the Forum. To sign up for the Azure Arc Server Forum and newsletter, please register with contact details at https://aka.ms/arcserverforumsignup/. Thank you!
Hybrid Configuration Wizard fails to run – manifest download error on all machines
Hello, I am unable to run the Exchange Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) for our Exchange 2016 environment. The issue occurs on multiple machines and networks, so it does not appear to be a local configuration problem. Environment: Exchange Server: 2016 CU23 Windows versions tested: Windows Server 2016, Windows 10 (all fully updated) .NET Framework: 4.8 (Release 528040 / 4.8.03761) TLS: TLS 1.2 enabled, SSL 3.0/TLS 1.0/1.1 disabled Network: No proxy, firewall, or other network restrictions; internet access available Problem: When attempting to run HCW via https://aka.ms/HybridWizard, the wizard fails to start. I have also tried to run HCW offline by downloading Microsoft.Online.CSE.Hybrid.Client.application, but it immediately fails. The error log shows the following repeated messages: Downloading file:///C:/Users/.../Application Files/Microsoft.Online.CSE.Hybrid.Client_17_1_3902_0/Microsoft.Online.CSE.Hybrid.Client.exe.manifest did not succeed. Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Users\...\Application Files\Microsoft.Online.CSE.Hybrid.Client_17_1_3902_0\Microsoft.Online.CSE.Hybrid.Client.exe.manifest' This occurs on all tested machines (three PCs across three different networks). ClickOnce cache has been cleared, root certificates are up-to-date, .NET is 4.8, and TLS 1.2 is active. Attempts to resolve: Ensured TLS 1.2 is enabled and default in .NET and OS Verified .NET 4.8 installation Cleared ClickOnce cache (rundll32 dfshim CleanOnlineAppCache) Updated root certificates Tried multiple machines and networks Tried to run offline using .application file and local copy of Application Files Result: HCW fails immediately with DeploymentDownloadException / DirectoryNotFoundException for the manifest. The issue is reproducible on all tested machines. Request: Please advise if there is an official offline installation method for HCW or a way to obtain a working manifest. If this is a temporary issue with the hosted distribution, please confirm expected resolution or workaround. Thank you for your assistance.Exchange 2016 Mail Flow is Not Working
We had issues with updating to a latest Cumulative Update and messed up our EMS and some Web Config. It seems our Exchange Server is totally bricked. So, we decided to boot our Exchange Server from backup. The backup was dated September 2025. Unfortunately, after booting up the September 2025 backup, we noticed that the internal and external mail flow is not working (our Exchange 2016 is Exchange hybrid configured). The outgoing emails are stuck in Draft folder. The following troubleshooting steps have been done to no avail: -Checked if the port 25 is open -> This port is opened -Check the network settings if the Preferred DNS Address points to the correct DNS Server --> It points to the correct DNS Server -Modified the DNS lookup under Exchange Admin Center > Servers > DNS Lookups > Internal DNS Lookups --> Added the IP Address of the DNS Server -Modified the hosts file under System32 > drivers > etc --> Pointed the IP Address of the Exchange Server to the FQDN of the Exchange Server Currently, are not sure of the next steps to do in order to fix the issue. Any advice?
OL client in-app link for getting OL for iOS or Android not working
Hello! Redirected to this forum from here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5617563/ol-desktop-link-broken-file-get-ol-app-for-ios-and See error description and attempt to solve it by following the link. For some reason, Windows clients in our organization can not follow the Outlook desktop client in-app link for getting Outlook for iOS or Android. (hybrid, no mailboxes in MS-cloud, only on prem) The link for getting the Outlook app for iOS and Android under File when logged into Outlook app does not seem to work. Clicking on it seems to send user to the URL: go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=2112779 but quickly redirects and ends up with https://w2.outlook.com/l/mobile?WT.mc_id=Backstage**Win32**All**Hyperlink** https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cb7d456f-ac6e-4566-a4ef-ffa912500423?platform=QnAhttps://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/cb7d456f-ac6e-4566-a4ef-ffa912500423?platform=QnA We haven't been able to figure out why, but since the same two different accounts mentioned in the thread above works on a private device on a private home network, is seems like something in our environment is the cause.
