Merge pull request #17451 from alkohli/5-2503

Updated as per Barbara

Author: prmerger-automator[bot]

azure-local/deploy/deploy-via-portal.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ title: Deploy an Azure Local instance using the Azure portal
 description: Learn how to deploy an Azure Local instance from the Azure portal
 author: alkohli
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 03/11/2025
+ms.date: 03/24/2025
 ms.author: alkohli
 ms.service: azure-local
 #CustomerIntent: As an IT Pro, I want to deploy an Azure Local instance of 1-16 machines via the Azure portal so that I can host VM and container-based workloads on it.
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ This article helps you deploy an Azure Local instance using the Azure portal.
 
    :::image type="content" source="./media/deploy-via-portal/basics-tab-5.png" alt-text="Screenshot of successful validation on the Basics tab in deployment via Azure portal." lightbox="./media/deploy-via-portal/basics-tab-5.png":::
 
+    If the validation fails with wrong extension version, go to **Install extensions** to install the appropriate version of extension.
+
+    After the extensions are installed successfully, **Add machines** by selecting from the same list of machines and then **Validate selected machines**.
+
 1. **Select an existing Key Vault** or select **Create a new Key Vault**. Create an empty key vault to securely store secrets for this system, such as cryptographic keys, local admin credentials, and BitLocker recovery keys.
 
 1. On the **Create a new key vault** page, provide information for the specified parameters and select **Create**:

azure-local/whats-new.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ms.topic: overview
 author: alkohli
 ms.author: alkohli
 ms.service: azure-local
-ms.date: 03/19/2025
+ms.date: 03/25/2025
 ---
 
 # What's new in Azure Local?
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ This is a baseline release with the following features and improvements:
     - Several security enhancements were done for the Bootstrap service.
     - Service Principal Name (SPN) is deprecated for Arc registration.
     - The Arc installer script is simplified to only use `Start-ArcBootstrap` to register Azure Local machines with Arc.
+  - **Deployment of current version and previous versions**: Starting with this release, you can deploy the current version of Azure Local using the Azure portal. To deploy a previous version, use an Azure Resource Manager template that matches the version you wish to deploy. For more information, see [Deploy via ARM template](./deploy/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template.md).
 - **Environment checker related changes**
   - Environment checker is now integrated for connectivity tests.
   - Environment checker validates the composed image used for bootstrap.