Merge pull request #285044 from dennispadia/dp-vmss

Update in VMSS Flex for SAP workload FAQs

Author: prmerger-automator[bot]

articles/sap/workloads/virtual-machine-scale-set-sap-faq.md

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ ms.author: depadia
 ms.service: sap-on-azure
 ms.subservice: sap-vm-workloads
 ms.topic: conceptual
-ms.date: 03/20/2024
+ms.date: 08/19/2024
 ---
 
 # FAQs for Virtual Machine Scale Set for SAP workload
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Setting FD=1 for flexible scale set zonal deployment means that the scale set wo
 
 Deploying a flexible scale set in a region without zones is essentially the same as deploying one with zones, except that you don't need to specify any zones for that region. However, it's important to avoid creating a scale set with a `platformFaultDomainCount` value greater than 1.
 
-### Which data disks can be used with VMs deployed with flexible scale set?
+### Which data disks can be used with Virtual Machine (VM) deployed with flexible scale set?
 
 For new SAP deployment in flexible scale set with FD=1, VMs deployed within the scale set can utilize any data disks that are listed as supported in this [reference list](../../virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-faq.yml#are-data-disks-supported-within-scale-sets-). For more information on migrating a deployment that involves pinned storage volumes (such as ANF), see the [Migration of SAP Workload](#migration-of-sap-workload) FAQ section.
 
@@ -52,11 +52,16 @@ You can enable managed system identity at the VM level after a VM is manually de
 
 To migrate SAP VMs to a flexible scale set, you need to re-create the VMs and the disks with zone constraints (if necessary) from existing resources. There's no direct way to migrate SAP workloads deployed in availability sets or availability zones to flexible scale with FD=1. An [open-source project](https://github.com/Azure/SAP-on-Azure-Scripts-and-Utilities/tree/main/Move-VM-from-AvSet-to-AvZone/Move-Regional-SAP-HA-To-Zonal-SAP-HA-WhitePaper) includes PowerShell functions that you can use as a sample, and a [blog post](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/running-sap-applications-on-the/how-to-easily-migrate-an-existing-sap-system-vms-to-flexible/ba-p/3833548) shows you how to modify a HA or non-HA SAP system deployed in availability set or availability zone to flexible scale set with FD=1.
 
-### How can an existing deployment of SAP HANA, which is [pinned](../../azure-netapp-files/application-volume-group-considerations.md#best-practices-about-proximity-placement) to Azure NetApp Files, be migrated to flexible scale set with FD=1?
+### How can an existing deployment of SAP HANA configured with availability set pinning and proximity placement group, currently utilizing application volume group be migrated to flexible scale set with FD=1?
 
-To move an existing SAP HANA deployment that is currently pinned with Azure NetApp Files to zonal deployment with flexible scale set (FD=1), you must redeploy or migrate the SAP HANA VMs with flexible scale set (FD=1). Additionally, you would need to configure Azure NetApp Files with the [availability zones volume placement feature](../../azure-netapp-files/manage-availability-zone-volume-placement.md) and transfer data to new volumes using backup/restore.
+The volumes (/hana/data, /hana/log, and /hana/shared) configured for SAP HANA can be populated with availability zone information as described in [Populate an existing volume with availability zone information](../../azure-netapp-files/manage-availability-zone-volume-placement.md#populate-an-existing-volume-with-availability-zone-information). Since all the volumes for SAP HANA are configured using an application volume group, they would populate on the same availability zone. Once you have the availability zone information for your volume, you could redeploy or migrate SAP HANA VMs with flexible scale set (FD=1) into the same zone as your Azure NetApp File volumes.
 
-Keep in mind that the availability zone volume placement feature is still in preview. Therefore, it's essential to thoroughly review the documentation on [managing availability zone volume placement for Azure NetApp Files](../../azure-netapp-files/use-availability-zones.md) for additional consideration.
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> Availability zone information can only be populated as provided. You can't select an availability zone or move the volume to another availability zone by using "populate availability zone" feature. If you want to move volume to another availability zone, consider using [cross-zone replication](../../azure-netapp-files/create-cross-zone-replication.md) (after populating the volume with the availability zone information).
+
+### I have my SAP workload deployed in an availability zone. Can I use the attach or detach feature of a scale set to attach my VMs deployed in an availability zone to a scale set with FD=1?
+
+To attach an existing VM deployed in availability zones to a scale set with FD=1, see [Attach an existing Virtual Machine to a Virtual Machine Scale Set](../../virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-attach-detach-vm.md?tabs=portal-1%2Cportal-2%2Cportal-3#attach-an-existing-virtual-machine-to-a-virtual-machine-scale-set). The scale set created without a scaling profile default to having the singlePlacementGroup property set to null. To attach VMs to a scale set without a scaling profile, you need to create a scale set with singlePlacementGroup property explicitly set to false. Additionally, refer to [Limitations for attaching an existing Virtual Machine to a scale set](../../virtual-machine-scale-sets/virtual-machine-scale-sets-attach-detach-vm.md?tabs=portal-1%2Cportal-2%2Cportal-3#limitations-for-attaching-an-existing-virtual-machine-to-a-scale-set)
 
 ### How to configure SAP HANA using Azure NetApp Files (ANF) Application Volume Groups (AVG) in a specific availability zone?