Merge pull request #293300 from anishtrakru/dtl-gen2vms

Generation 2 VMs in DevTest Labs

Author: JamesJBarnett

articles/devtest-labs/TOC.yml

@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@
       href: devtest-lab-resize-vm.md
     - name: Redeploy a VM
       href: devtest-lab-redeploy-vm.md
+    - name: Create a VM with Generation 2 base image
+      href: devtest-lab-gen2-vm.md
     - name: Create and manage claimable VMs
       href: devtest-lab-add-claimable-vm.md
     - name: Configure secrets

articles/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-marketplace-images.md

@@ -19,18 +19,17 @@ Following these steps to specify which Azure Marketplace images are allowed when
 3. From the list of labs, select your lab. 
 4. On the home page for the lab page, select **Configuration and policies**.
 5. On lab's **Configuration and policies** page under **Virtual Machine Bases**, select **Marketplace images**.
-6. Specify whether you want all the qualified Azure Marketplace images to be available for use as a base of a new VM. If you select **Yes**, 
-   then all the Azure Marketplace images that meet all the following criteria are allowed in the lab:
+6. Specify whether you want all the qualified Azure Marketplace images to be available for use as a base of a new VM. If you select **All Azure Marketplace images**, then all the Azure Marketplace images that meet all the following criteria are allowed in the lab:
 
    * The image creates a single VM, **and**
    * The image uses Azure Resource Manager to provision VMs, **and**
    * The image doesn't require purchasing an extra licensing plan
 
-     If you want no images to be allowed, or you want to specify which images can be used, select **No**.
+     If you want no images to be allowed, or you want to specify which images can be used, select **Selected Azure Marketplace images**.
 
      ![Option to allow all Marketplace images to be used as base images for VMs](./media/devtest-lab-configure-marketplace-images/allow-all-marketplace-images.png)
-7. If you select **No** to the previous step, the **Allowed images/Select all** checkbox is enabled. 
-   You can use this option together with the search box to quickly select or deselect all the items displayed in the list.
+7. If you select **Selected Azure Marketplace images** in the previous step, the list of available marketplace images and a search box will be displayed to you on the same page.
+   You can use the search box to quickly search for images you are interested in. You can use the checkbox available in the first column in each row to select or deselect that particular image. To select or deselect all the items displayed in the list simultaneously, please use the first checkbox provided at the top of the checkbox column and just below the searchbar.
    * Select the Azure Marketplace images you want to allow for VM creation individually by checking each image's corresponding checkbox.
    * Select nothing from the list if you don't want to allow any Azure Marketplace images to be used in the lab.
 
@@ -41,8 +40,7 @@ Following these steps to specify which Azure Marketplace images are allowed when
 If you aren't able to find a specific image to enable for the lab, follow these steps: 
 
 - Check to see if you can view the image while creating a compute VM.
-- The image may not be available in the type of the subscription you use. Check with the subscription administrator for the type of the subscription (for example: MSDN, free, pay-as-you-go, and so on.). 
-- Support for Gen 2 images in DevTest Labs is limited. If both Gen 1 and Gen 2 versions are available for an image, DevTest Labs shows only the Gen 1 version of the image when creating a VM. Workaround is to create a custom Gen 2 image outside the lab and use it to create a VM. If there's only Gen 2 version of the image available, it's supported and shown in the list by DevTest Labs. 
+- The image may not be available in the type of the subscription you use. Check with the subscription administrator for the type of the subscription (for example: MSDN, free, pay-as-you-go, and so on.).
 
 
 

articles/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-gen2-vm.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+---
+title: Generation 2 VMs in Azure DevTest Labs
+description: Learn how to use Generation 2 virtual machines (VMs) in Azure DevTest Labs.
+ms.topic: how-to
+ms.author: anishtrakru
+author: RoseHJM
+ms.date: 01/20/2025
+ms.custom: UpdateFrequency2
+---
+
+# Generation 2 VMs in Azure DevTest Labs
+
+Azure DevTest Labs allows you to choose between Generation 1 and Generation 2 version of the same marketplace image while creating a VM using Azure DevTest Labs portal. Generation 2 Virtual Machines (VMs) support key capabilities that are not supported in Generation 1 VMs such as increased memory, Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX), and virtualized persistent memory (vPMEM). Generation 2 VMs might have improved boot and installation times.
+
+For a VM instance to be a Generation 2 VM, it must use the specific Generation 2 base image and its VM size must support Generation 2. To learn more about Generation 2 VMs on Azure, the series of VMs that support Generation 2 images, and other limitations, please visit [Support for Generation 2 VMs on Azure](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-machines/generation-2).
+
+This article explains how to use Generation 2 images in Azure DevTest Labs.
+
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> The enhanced support for **Generation 2 VMs** is currently in preview in Azure DevTest Labs. For more information about the preview status, see the [Supplemental Terms of Use for Microsoft Azure Previews](https://azure.microsoft.com/support/legal/preview-supplemental-terms/). The document defines legal terms that apply to Azure features that are in beta, in preview, or otherwise not yet released into general availability.
+
+## Create lab virtual machines with a Generation 2 base image
+
+### Prerequisite
+
+You need at least [user](devtest-lab-add-devtest-user.md#devtest-labs-user) access to a lab in DevTest Labs. For more information about creating labs, see [Create a lab in the Azure portal](devtest-lab-create-lab.md).
+
+### Create a VM using Generation 2 base image
+
+1. In the [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com), go to the **Overview** page for the lab.
+
+1. On the lab **Overview** page, select **Add**.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="./media/devtest-lab-add-vm/portal-lab-add-vm.png" alt-text="Screenshot of lab overview page showing add button." lightbox="./media/devtest-lab-add-vm/portal-lab-add-vm.png":::
+
+1. On the **Choose a base** page, select a Generation 2 image for the VM. The **Generation** column in the list of images displays whether it is a Generation 1 or Generation 2 image.
+
+    :::image type="content" source="./media/devtest-lab-gen2-vm/dev-test-lab-gen-2-images.png" alt-text="Screenshot of list of available base images."  lightbox="./media/devtest-lab-gen2-vm/dev-test-lab-gen-2-images.png":::
+
+1. On the **Basics Settings** tab of the **Create lab resource** screen, provide the following information:
+
+   - **Virtual machine name**: Keep the autogenerated name, or enter another unique VM name.
+   - **User name**: Keep the user name, or enter another user name to grant administrator privileges on the VM.
+   - **Use a saved secret**: Select this checkbox to use a secret from Azure Key Vault instead of a password to access the VM. If you select this option, under **Secret**, select the secret to use from the dropdown list. For more information, see [Store secrets in a key vault](devtest-lab-store-secrets-in-key-vault.md). 
+   - **Password**: If you don't choose to use a secret, enter a VM password between 8 and 123 characters long.
+   - **Save as default password**: Select this checkbox to save the password in the Key Vault associated with the lab.
+   - **Virtual machine size**: Keep the default value for the base, or select **Change Size** to select different sizes.
+   - **Hibernation**: Select **Enabled** to enable hibernation for this virtual machine, or select **Disabled** to disable hibernation for this virtual machine. If you enable Hibernation, you also must select **Public IP** in the Advanced settings as Private and Shared IP are currently not supported if Hibernation is enabled.
+   - **OS disk type**: Keep the default value for the base, or select a different option from the dropdown list.
+   - **Artifacts**: This field shows the number of artifacts already configured for this VM base. Optionally, select **Add or Remove Artifacts** to select and configure artifacts to add to the VM.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="./media/devtest-lab-add-vm/portal-lab-vm-basic-settings.png" alt-text="Screenshot of virtual machine basic settings page." lightbox="./media/devtest-lab-add-vm/portal-lab-vm-basic-settings.png":::
+
+1. After you configure all settings, on the **Basic Settings** tab of the **Create lab resource** screen, select **Create** to deploy the VM.
+
+During VM deployment, you can select the **Notifications** icon at the top of the screen to see progress. Creating a VM takes a while.
+
+When the deployment is complete, if you kept yourself as VM owner, the VM appears under **My virtual machines** on the lab **Overview** page. To connect to the VM, select it from the list, and then select **Connect** on the VM's **Overview** page. If the VM is stopped, select **Start** first to start the VM.

articles/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-hibernate-vm.md

@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ ms.custom: UpdateFrequency2
 
 As an Azure DevTest Labs lab owner and user, you can Hibernate the virtual machines (VMs) in your lab. Hibernation allows applications and processes that were previously running in your VM resume from the state prior to hibernation. When you hibernate a machine, Azure stores the memory contents of the VM in the OS disk and then deallocates the VM. When the VM is started again from its hibernation state, the memory contents are transferred from the OS disk back into memory. Once a VM is placed in a hibernated state, you aren't charged for the compute cost of the VM, just like how you aren't charged for it in a stopped (deallocated) state. You're only charged for the storage (OS disk, data disks) and networking resources (IPs, etc.) attached to the VM.
 
+> [!IMPORTANT]
+> The **Hibernation of VMs** feature is currently in preview in Azure DevTest Labs. For more information about the preview status, see the [Supplemental Terms of Use for Microsoft Azure Previews](https://azure.microsoft.com/support/legal/preview-supplemental-terms/). The document defines legal terms that apply to Azure features that are in beta, in preview, or otherwise not yet released into general availability.
+
 Hibernate is an effective cost management feature for:
 - Scenarios where the VMs don't need to run 24/7.
 - Scenarios where you don’t want to lose the state of the applications and processes on your VM when it is deallocated.

articles/devtest-labs/media/devtest-lab-add-vm/portal-lab-vm-basic-settings.png

@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ To add a VM to the lab, follow these steps. For more information, see [Create la
    |**Password**|If you don't use a secret, enter a VM password between 8 and 123 characters long.|
    |**Save as default password**|Select this checkbox to save the password in the Key Vault associated with the lab.|
    |**Virtual machine size**|Keep the default value for the base, or select **Change Size** to select a different size.|
+   |**Hibernation**|Select **Enabled** to enable hibernation for this virtual machine, or select **Disabled** to disable hibernation for this virtual machine. If you enable Hibernation, you also must select **Public IP** in the Advanced settings as Private and Shared IP are currently not supported if Hibernation is enabled.|
    |**OS disk type**|Keep the default value for the base, or select a different option from the dropdown list.|
    |**Artifacts**|Optionally, select **Add or Remove Artifacts** to [select and configure artifacts](devtest-lab-add-vm.md#add-artifacts-during-installation) to add to the VM.|