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Merge pull request #16687 from ManikaDhiman/md-compare-arc-vms
Compare VM capabilities
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‎azure-local/TOC.yml

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items:
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- name: What is Azure Arc VM management?
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href: manage/azure-arc-vm-management-overview.md
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- name: Compare VM management capabilities
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href: concepts/compare-vm-management-capabilities.md
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- name: Review prerequisites
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href: manage/azure-arc-vm-management-prerequisites.md
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- name: Assign RBAC role

‎azure-local/concepts/compare-vm-management-capabilities.md

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---
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title: Compare management capabilities of Azure Local VMs
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description: Learn about the kinds of virtual machines (VMs) that can run on Azure Local and compare their management capabilities.
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ms.topic: conceptual
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author: ManikaDhiman
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ms.author: v-manidhiman
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ms.date: 02/04/2025
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---
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# Compare management capabilities of Azure Local VMs
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[!INCLUDE [applies-to](../includes/hci-applies-to-23h2.md)]
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This article describes the types of virtual machines (VMs) available on Azure Local and compares their management capabilities in Azure.
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## Types of VMs on Azure Local
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Here are the different types of VMs that you can run on your Azure Local system:
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- **Arc VMs:** Windows and Linux VMs hosted outside of Azure, on your corporate network, running on Azure Local.
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- Are created using [Arc VM provisioning flow](../manage/create-arc-virtual-machines.md?tabs=azureportal), registered to [Arc Resource Bridge](/azure/azure-arc/resource-bridge/overview), and have the [Connected Machine agent](/azure/azure-arc/servers/agent-overview) installed.
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- Offer extensive management capabilities in the Azure portal, second only to native Azure VMs.
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- Through Arc Resource Bridge, Arc VMs provide lifecycle management capabilities like starting, stopping, changing VM memory/vCPU, and adding or removing data disk and network interfaces.
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- Through the Connected Machine agent, Arc VMs leverage Azure Arc extensions such as Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Azure Monitor to govern, protect, configure, and monitor virtual machines.
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- Can be managed through Azure.
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- **[Arc-enabled servers](/azure/azure-arc/servers/overview):** Windows and Linux physical servers and virtual machines hosted outside of Azure, on your corporate network, or on other cloud providers with the Connected Machine agent installed.
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- Arc-enabled servers run on Azure Local as virtual machines.
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- Lack the lifecycle management capabilities that Arc VMs offer.
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- Through the Connected Machine agent, Arc-enabled servers leverage Azure Arc extensions such as Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Azure Monitor to govern, protect, configure, and monitor virtual machines.
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- Can be managed through Azure.
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- **Non-Arc VMs:** Windows and Linux VMs created and hosted outside of Azure, on your corporate network, running on Azure Local.
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- Aren't connected to Azure.
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- Can't be managed through Azure.
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The following table compares the provisioning and management methods for the various types of Azure Local VM:
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| VM provisioning and management methods | Arc VMs | Arc-enabled servers | Non-Arc VMs |
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| :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- |
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| Provisioning method | [Arc VM provisioning flow](../manage/create-arc-virtual-machines.md?tabs=azureportal). Create Arc VMs using Azure CLI, Azure portal, or Azure Resource Manager template. Using ARM templates, you can also automate VM provisioning in a secure cloud environment. <br><br> [Azure Migrate flow](../migrate/migration-azure-migrate-overview.md). Migrate existing VMware and Hyper-V VMs as Arc VMs to Azure Local using the migration flow. | Connect these machines to Azure by [deploying the Connected Machine agent](/azure/azure-arc/servers/deployment-options) | On-premises provisioning flow. Use local tools like Failover Cluster Manager available in your on-premises environment, or use [Windows Admin Center](../manage/vm.md#create-a-new-vm), [System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM)](/system-center/vmm/provision-vms), or [PowerShell](../manage/vm-powershell.md#create-a-vm).|
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| Management method | Via Azure. | Via Azure. See [Management and monitoring for Azure Arc-enabled servers](/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/hybrid/arc-enabled-servers/eslz-management-and-monitoring-arc-server). | Via the local tools. Manage these VMs through the management consoles of the same local tools used for their creation. |
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> [!NOTE]
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> Currently, conversion of an Arc-enabled server or non-Arc VM to an Arc VM isn't supported.
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## Compare VM management capabilities
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The following table compares the management capabilities for Arc VMs, Arc-enabled servers, and non-Arc VMs across various operations and features available through the Azure portal:
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|Management capability|Arc VMs|Arc-enabled servers|Non-Arc VMs|
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|:-----|:-----:|:-----:|:-----:|
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| **Settings** |
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| - Start|✅|❌|❌|
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| - Restart |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Stop |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Delete |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Save State (CLI) |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Pause (CLI) |✅|❌|❌|
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| - GPU configuration (CLI) |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Add network interface |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Connect with SSH |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Add a new data disk |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Change vCPU count |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Change Memory amount |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Change Min memory |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Change Max memory |✅|❌|❌|
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| **Operations** |
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| - Microsoft Defender for Cloud |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Security recommendations |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Extension Support |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Locks |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Policies (RBAC, compliance) |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Machine Configuration |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Automanage |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Run command |✅|✅|❌|
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| - SQL Server Configuration |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Updates | ✅ <br>(free) | ✅ <br>(additional cost) | ❌ |
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| - Inventory |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Change tracking |✅|✅|❌|
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| **Windows management** |
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| - Windows Admin Center |❌|✅|❌|
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| - Best Practices Assessment |✅|✅|❌|
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| **Monitoring** |
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| - Azure Monitor |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Insights|✅|✅|❌|
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| - Logs |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Alerts |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Metrics |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Workbooks |❌|✅|❌|
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| **Automation** |
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| - CLI/PS |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Tasks |✅|✅|❌|
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| - Export template |✅|❌|❌|
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| - Resource health |❌ <br>(Use Alerts) |✅|❌|
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## Next steps
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- Review [Azure Arc VM management prerequisites](../manage/azure-arc-vm-management-prerequisites.md).

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