Merge pull request #285455 from RoseHJM/Azlabs-to-dtl

AzLab to DTL transition guide.

Author: denrea

articles/lab-services/TOC.yml

@@ -315,6 +315,8 @@
     href: https://pypi.org/project/azure-mgmt-labservices/
 - name: Resources
   items:
+  - name: Transition to Azure DevTest Labs
+    href: transition-devtest-labs-guidance.md
   - name: Azure Lab Services Blog
     href: https://aka.ms/azlabs-blog
   - name: Azure updates

articles/lab-services/retirement-guide.md

@@ -20,17 +20,19 @@ Azure Lab Services will be retired on June 28, 2027. The Azure Lab Services reti
 This section provides links to Microsoft and partner solutions that cover the breadth of Azure Lab Services capabilities. Also included are links that can help you with your transition from Azure Lab Services.
 
 ### Microsoft solutions
-There are various Microsoft solutions that you might consider as a direct replacement for Azure Lab Services. Each of these Microsoft solutions offers browser-based web access. While these solutions aren’t necessarily education-specific, they support a wide range of education and training scenarios. 
+There are various Microsoft solutions that you might consider as a direct replacement for Azure Lab Services. Each of these Microsoft solutions offers browser-based web access. While these solutions aren't necessarily education-specific, they support a wide range of education and training scenarios. 
 
 ### Azure Virtual Desktop
-[Azure Virtual Desktop](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/virtual-desktop/) is a comprehensive desktop and app virtualization service running in the cloud, offering secure, and scalable virtual desktop experiences with usage-based pricing. It’s ideal for providing full desktop and app delivery scenarios for Windows 10/11 with maximum control to any device from a flexible cloud virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform on your Azure infrastructure and by using Microsoft Entra ID for user identities. Azure Virtual Desktop supports CPU/GPU-based Microsoft Entra ID joined virtual machines, content filtering, image management from Azure Marketplace or Azure compute gallery, centralized end-to-end management with Intune, and multi-session capabilities. 
+[Azure Virtual Desktop](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/virtual-desktop/) is a comprehensive desktop and app virtualization service running in the cloud, offering secure, and scalable virtual desktop experiences with usage-based pricing. It's ideal for providing full desktop and app delivery scenarios for Windows 10/11 with maximum control to any device from a flexible cloud virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform on your Azure infrastructure and by using Microsoft Entra ID for user identities. Azure Virtual Desktop supports CPU/GPU-based Microsoft Entra ID joined virtual machines, content filtering, image management from Azure Marketplace or Azure compute gallery, centralized end-to-end management with Intune, and multi-session capabilities. 
 
 #### How can I get started with Azure Virtual Desktop?
 - [What is Azure Virtual Desktop?](/azure/virtual-desktop/overview)
 - [Azure landing zones for Azure Virtual Desktop instances](/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/azure-virtual-desktop/ready)
 
 ### Azure DevTest Labs
-[Azure DevTest Labs](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/devtest-lab/) simplifies creation, usage, and management of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) virtual machines within a lab context with usage-based pricing. It’s ideal for computer programming related courses and those users familiar with the Azure portal. Azure DevTest Labs supports Linux and Windows CPU/GPU-based virtual machines, student admin access, network isolated labs, nested virtualization, and image management from Azure Marketplace or Azure compute gallery.
+[Azure DevTest Labs](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/devtest-lab/) simplifies creation, usage, and management of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) virtual machines within a lab context with usage-based pricing. It's ideal for computer programming related courses and those users familiar with the Azure portal. Azure DevTest Labs supports Linux and Windows CPU/GPU-based virtual machines, student admin access, network isolated labs, nested virtualization, and image management from Azure Marketplace or Azure compute gallery.
+
+For more guidance on transitioning from Azure Lab Services to Azure DevTest Labs, see the [Azure Lab Services to Azure DevTest Labs Transition Guide](/azure/lab-services/transition-devtest-labs-guidance).
 
 #### How can I get started with Azure DevTest Labs?
 - [What is Azure DevTest Labs?](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-overview)
@@ -43,7 +45,7 @@ There are various Microsoft solutions that you might consider as a direct replac
 - [What is Windows 365?](/windows-365/enterprise/overview)
 
 ### Microsoft Dev Box 
-[Microsoft Dev Box](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/dev-box/) offers cloud-based workstations preconfigured with tools and environments for developer workflow-specific tasks with usage-based pricing. It’s ideal for facilitating hands-on learning where training leaders can use Dev Box supported images to create identical virtual machines for trainees. Dev Box virtual machines are Microsoft Entra ID joined and support centralized end-to-end management with Microsoft Intune.
+[Microsoft Dev Box](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/dev-box/) offers cloud-based workstations preconfigured with tools and environments for developer workflow-specific tasks with usage-based pricing. It's ideal for facilitating hands-on learning where training leaders can use Dev Box supported images to create identical virtual machines for trainees. Dev Box virtual machines are Microsoft Entra ID joined and support centralized end-to-end management with Microsoft Intune.
 
 #### How can I get started with Microsoft Dev Box?
 - [What is Microsoft Dev Box?](/azure/dev-box/overview-what-is-microsoft-dev-box)
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ Yes, support continues for current lab deployments until the service retirement
 It applies to both lab accounts and lab plans. Transition encompasses the entire service, including labs using either a lab account or a lab plan.
 
 ### What will happen after retirement date?
-After June 28, 2027, Azure Lab Services won’t be supported, and you won't have access to your lab accounts, lab plans, or labs. You will, however, have access to your Azure compute gallery and any images you might have saved there. 
+After June 28, 2027, Azure Lab Services won't be supported, and you won't have access to your lab accounts, lab plans, or labs. You will, however, have access to your Azure compute gallery and any images you might have saved there. 
 
 ### Are there pricing differences across the Microsoft and partner solutions?
 Azure Lab Services operates on a consumption-based model where you only pay for active usage in your labs. The hourly price of a lab is based on [the virtual machine size](https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/details/lab-services/) selected and includes costs such as compute. However, Azure Labs Services covers the cost of storage, which is offered as a complimentary service. The costs for other Microsoft and partner solutions vary based on their pricing model and optimizations that can be enabled. Azure Lab Services supports individual, dedicated virtual machines with persistent storage. Dedicated virtual machines with persistent storage might not be as cost efficient with other lab solutions when compared with options for multi-session, dynamic virtual machine creation, or changing the storage type to a lower tier when a virtual machine is shut down.
@@ -93,18 +95,22 @@ Yes, you can continue to get help and support for Azure Lab Services by either c
 To get help and support for Azure Virtual Desktop, Azure DevTest Labs, Windows 365 Cloud PC, and Microsoft Dev Box you can use the usual Microsoft support channels for the particular service. 
 
 ### How can I get transition help and support for a partner solution?
-If you have questions about how to transition to one of the partner’s solutions, refer to the following resources for each partner (listed alphabetically). 
+If you have questions about how to transition to one of the partner's solutions, refer to the following resources for each partner (listed alphabetically). 
 
 - [Apporto](https://aka.ms/azlabs-apporto)  
 - [CloudLabs by Spektra Systems](https://aka.ms/azlabs-spektra) 
 - [Nerdio Manager for Enterprise (NME)](https://aka.ms/azlabs-nerdio) (requires and uses Azure Virtual Desktop)
 - [Skillable](https://aka.ms/azlabs-skillable)
 
 ### Can I automatically migrate my existing lab resources from Azure Lab Services to Microsoft and partner solutions?
-Partners might provide migration tooling to automatically migrate labs from Azure Lab Services. However, early customer pilots show that it’s often more efficient to recreate new labs using the optimizations offered by Microsoft and partner solutions, such as multi-session, dynamic virtual machine creation, and changing the storage type to a lower tier when a virtual machine is shut down. In certain situations, reusing custom images exported from your labs to an Azure compute gallery might be beneficial. Microsoft and partner solutions all support the use of or migration of images from your Azure compute gallery. We recommend evaluating whether existing lab images should be recreated when you're:
+Partners might provide migration tooling to automatically migrate labs from Azure Lab Services. However, early customer pilots show that it's often more efficient to recreate new labs using the optimizations offered by Microsoft and partner solutions, such as multi-session, dynamic virtual machine creation, and changing the storage type to a lower tier when a virtual machine is shut down. In certain situations, reusing custom images exported from your labs to an Azure compute gallery might be beneficial. Microsoft and partner solutions all support the use of or migration of images from your Azure compute gallery. We recommend evaluating whether existing lab images should be recreated when you're:
 - Upgrading from [Generation 1](/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/plan/should-i-create-a-generation-1-or-2-virtual-machine-in-hyper-v) to [Generation 2](/azure/virtual-machines/generation-2) VM image, which might have improved boot and installation times.
 - Restructuring disk size to optimize lab requirements. 
 - Generalizing image as appropriate, such as AVD (Azure Lab Services only exports specialized images).
 - Using a supported base Azure Marketplace image.
    - Dev Box requires specific Dev Box supported Marketplace images.
    - AVD requires multi-session Marketplace images to enable multi-session capabilities.
+
+## Related content
+
+- [Azure Lab Services to Azure DevTest Labs Transition Guide](/azure/lab-services/transition-devtest-labs-guidance)

articles/lab-services/transition-devtest-labs-guidance.md

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+---
+title: Transition from Azure Lab Services to Azure DevTest Labs
+description: Learn how to transition from Azure Lab Services to Azure DevTest Labs.
+ms.topic: how-to
+ms.date: 08/26/2024
+
+# customer intent: As an Azure Lab Services customer, I want to understand the Azure Lab Services retirement schedule and what Microsoft and partners services I can transition to.
+---
+
+# Azure Lab Services to Azure DevTest Labs Transition Guide
+
+When you transition away from Azure Lab Services, DevTest Labs (DTL) is a first party option that can be considered. This document outlines when to and not to consider transitioning to use DevTest Labs. An outline of steps to follow is also included. 
+
+## Scenario guidance 
+
+### What are the target scenarios for DevTest Labs? 
+
+DevTest Labs is targeted at enterprise customers. The primary scenario for which DevTest Labs is designed is the test box scenario, where a professional developer needs temporary access to a virtual machine (VM) that has a prereleased version of the software they need to test. A secondary scenario is professional developer training, when a developer needs temporary access to a VM for internal training. 
+
+### When should a customer consider using DevTest Labs?
+
+- Customer needs access to Linux VMs - DevTest Labs is the only first party service that provides access to Linux. Cloud PC, Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Dev Box don't provide access to native Linux VMs. 
+- Customer needs to use an image with nested virtualization - DevTest Labs works well with images that use nested virtualization because it provides a dedicated VM for each student. Nested virtualization isn't well-suited for multi-user session VMs because there's no concept of isolation between user sessions. 
+- Technical Computer Programming classes - DevTest Labs resources are available using the Azure portal. Only students comfortable with the Azure portal should use DTL. DTL APIs can be used if you want to create a custom portal to access DTL VMs outside of the Azure portal. 
+
+### When should a customer not use DevTest Labs? 
+- Customer requires extensive cost controls, including user quota and limits on the number of VMs a user can have. DevTest Labs doesn't have any ability to restrict access to a VM based on a quota granted per student.
+- Customer requires complex start and stop schedules. DevTest Labs is designed for enterprise developers; it supports daily start and stop schedules. 
+- Customer requires flexible login methods. DevTest Labs requires that the user exists in the Microsoft Entra ID tenant for the subscription in which the lab is hosted. RBAC permissions are used to control who has access to labs and VMs. 
+
+## Frequently Asked Questions 
+
+**What is the cost model?**
+There are no costs for using the service; it's free to use. Customers are charged for resources used by the DevTest Labs service. This cost includes, but isn't limited to, the cost of storage, networking, and running time for any VMs in a lab. 
+
+**Does DevTest Labs provide cost reporting?**
+DevTest Labs is integrated into [Microsoft Cost Management](/azure/cost-management-billing/costs/overview-cost-management) for cost budgeting and analysis.  [Allow tag inheritance and add tags to lab resource](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-cost-management) to track per-lab costs. 
+
+**Does DevTest Labs support nested virtualization?**
+Yes. 
+ 
+**Does DevTest Labs support custom images?**
+Yes. We recommend [connecting your DevTest Labs to a Shared Image Gallery](/azure/devtest-labs/configure-shared-image-gallery).  The Shared Image Gallery can be the same one that is connected to your Azure Lab Services lab account or lab plan. 
+ 
+We recommend using a Shared Image Gallery over the DTL [custom images feature](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-create-custom-image-from-vm-using-portal)  and [formulas](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-manage-formulas) features as Shared Image Galleries are compatible with several other Azure services and can be used in multiple labs. 
+
+**Does DevTest Labs support multi-VM environments?**
+[Azure Deployment Environments](https://azure.microsoft.com/products/deployment-environments/) is recommended for multi-VM environments. 
+
+**Does DevTest Labs support schedules?**
+DevTest Labs supports an optional daily start and/or stop schedule. 
+
+**Does DevTest Labs support web access?**
+Yes, if the VM is created in a Bastion-enabled virtual network. See [Enable browser connection to DevTest Labs VMs with Azure Bastion](/azure/devtest-labs/enable-browser-connection-lab-virtual-machines) for details.  
+
+## Transition steps
+1. **Verify [compute quota limits](/azure/quotas/view-quotas)** - DevTest Labs uses quota assigned to Compute when creating VMs. Increase [compute quota](/azure/quotas/regional-quota-requests), if needed.
+1. **Configure Lab settings**
+   1. **Images**
+      1. [Restrict Marketplace images](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-enable-licensed-images) students can use. You can prevent students from using Marketplace images in totality.
+      1. Enable custom images as applicable by [connecting your DevTest Labs to a Shared Image Gallery](/azure/devtest-labs/configure-shared-image-gallery). The gallery can be the same gallery you used with Azure Lab Services.
+      1. DTL also supports creating VMs from [uploaded VHD](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-upload-vhd-using-storage-explorer) files.
+   1. **SKU selection** - Consider enabling VM sizes equivalent to Azure Labs SKUs. See [Azure Lab Services VM Sizes](/azure/lab-services/administrator-guide#default-vm-sizes) for mappings to make sure to choose sizes that supported the [*shared ip* configuration option](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-shared-ip).
+   1. **VM Limitations** - Set [max number of VMs per user to 1](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-set-lab-policy#set-virtual-machines-per-user).
+   1. **Shutdown policies**
+      1. Set [autoshutdown time](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-set-lab-policy#set-auto-shutdown) to ensure VMs are automatically turned off every day.
+      1. Set [autoshutdown policy](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-set-lab-policy#set-auto-shutdown-policy) to 'User has no control over the schedule set by lab administrator.' If students are in multiple time zones, choose 'User sets a schedule and can't opt out' instead.
+   1. [Turn off autostart](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-set-lab-policy#set-autostart) for the lab.
+   1. **Virtual Network**. If your lab needs access to a license server, [add a virtual network in Azure DevTest Labs](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-vnet).
+   1. **Web browser access** - Optionally, enable [browser connection to DevTest Labs VMs with Azure Bastion](/azure/devtest-labs/enable-browser-connection-lab-virtual-machines).
+1. **Create lab** - [Quickstart: Create a lab in the Azure portal - Azure DevTest Labs](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-create-lab).
+1. **Cost Tracking** - Use custom tags for cost tracking in Microsoft Cost Management as it allows more nuanced cost analysis of underlying resources. [Allow tag inheritance and add tags to lab resource](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-cost-management).
+1. **Claimable VMs** - Optionally, precreate claimable VMs to ensure VMs are created with expected settings.
+   1. Using advanced settings, multiple identical VMs can be created at once.
+   1. Using advanced settings, set the expiration date for [claimable VMs](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-use-claim-capabilities). VMs will automatically be deleted after their expiration date and avoid unnecessary storage charges.
+1. **Add Users** - [Add lab owners, contributors, and users in Azure DevTest Labs](/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-add-devtest-user).
+   - If there are claimable VMs, students can use the 'claim any' command to assign a precreated VM to themselves.
+1. **Configure Dashboard** - Optionally, [create a dashboard in the Azure portal](/azure/azure-portal/azure-portal-dashboards) to allow students to find their labs more easily.
+
+> [!Important] 
+> If using a Linux VM that only supports access using SSH, follow detailed instructions at [Connect to a Linux VM in your lab (Azure DevTest Labs)](/azure/devtest-labs/connect-linux-virtual-machine).
+
+## Related content
+
+- [Azure Lab Services Retirement Guide](/azure/lab-services/retirement-guide)