added note about sample parameters file and alternative azure portal link

Author: Manika Dhiman

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

@@ -3,26 +3,30 @@ 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: 05/06/2025
+ms.date: 05/07/2025
 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.
 ---
 
 # Deploy Azure Local using the Azure portal
 
-::: moniker range=">=azloc-2503"
-
 This article helps you deploy an Azure Local instance using the Azure portal.
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
 - Completion of [Register your machines with Azure Arc and assign deployment permissions](./deployment-arc-register-server-permissions.md).
 <!-- Cristian to confirm * For three-node systems, the network adapters that carry the in-cluster storage traffic must be connected to a network switch. Deploying three-node systems with storage network adapters that are directly connected to each machine without a switch isn't supported in this preview.-->
 
+::: moniker range="<=azloc-24113"
+
+- For the deployment of Azure Local 2411.3 and earlier versions, use the alternative version of the [Azure portal](https://aka.ms/dfc-2411deploycluster). Use it exclusively for deployment and not for any other purpose.
+
+::: moniker-end
+
 ## Start the wizard and fill out the basics
 
-1. Open a web browser and navigate to [**Azure portal**](https://portal.azure.com). Search for and select **Azure Local**. On the **Azure Arc|Azure Local**, go to the **Get started** tab. On the **Deploy Azure Local** tile, select **Create instance**.
+1. Go to the Azure portal. Search for and select **Azure Local**. On the **Azure Arc|Azure Local**, go to the **Get started** tab. On the **Deploy Azure Local** tile, select **Create instance**.
 
    :::image type="content" source="./media/deploy-via-portal/get-started-1.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Get started tab in deployment via Azure portal." lightbox="./media/deploy-via-portal/get-started-1.png":::
 
@@ -336,11 +340,3 @@ You might need to connect to the system via RDP to deploy workloads. Follow thes
 
 - If you didn't create workload volumes during deployment, create workload volumes and storage paths for each volume. For details, see [Create volumes on Azure Local and Windows Server clusters](/windows-server/storage/storage-spaces/create-volumes) and [Create storage path for Azure Local](../manage/create-storage-path.md).
 - [Get support for Azure Local deployment issues](../manage/get-support-for-deployment-issues.md).
-
-::: moniker-end
-
-::: moniker range="<=azloc-24113"
-
-To deploy Azure Local versions 2411.3 or earlier, use the **create-cluster-2411.3** Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template. For more information, see [Deploy Azure Local via Azure Resource Manager deployment template](./deployment-azure-resource-manager-template.md).
-
-::: moniker-end

azure-local/deploy/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ title: Azure Resource Manager template deployment for Azure Local, version 23H2
 description: Learn how to prepare and then deploy Azure Local instance, version 23H2 using the Azure Resource Manager template.
 author: alkohli
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 05/06/2025
+ms.date: 05/07/2025
 ms.author: alkohli
 ms.reviewer: alkohli
 ms.service: azure-local
@@ -137,6 +137,13 @@ With all the prerequisite and preparation steps complete, you're ready to deploy
 
     :::image type="content" source="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-24113-and-earlier.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing template selected for version 2411.3 and earlier." lightbox="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-24113-and-earlier.png":::
 
+6. On the **Basics** tab, you see the **Custom deployment** page. You can select the various parameters through the dropdown list or select **Edit parameters**.
+
+    :::image type="content" source="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-4a.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing Custom deployment page on the Basics tab." lightbox="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-4a.png":::
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> For an example parameter file that shows the format of various inputs, such as `ArcNodeResourceId`, see [azuredeploy.parameters.json](https://github.com/Azure/azure-quickstart-templates/blob/master/quickstarts/microsoft.azurestackhci/create-cluster-2411.3/azuredeploy.parameters.json).
+
 ::: moniker-end
 
 ::: moniker range=">=azloc-2503"
@@ -147,12 +154,15 @@ With all the prerequisite and preparation steps complete, you're ready to deploy
 
     :::image type="content" source="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-3a.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing template selected." lightbox="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-3a.png":::
 
-::: moniker-end
-
 6. On the **Basics** tab, you see the **Custom deployment** page. You can select the various parameters through the dropdown list or select **Edit parameters**.
 
     :::image type="content" source="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-4a.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing Custom deployment page on the Basics tab." lightbox="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-4a.png":::
 
+> [!NOTE]
+> For an example parameter file that shows the format of various inputs, such as `ArcNodeResourceId`, see [azuredeploy.parameters.json](https://github.com/Azure/azure-quickstart-templates/blob/master/quickstarts/microsoft.azurestackhci/create-cluster/azuredeploy.parameters.json).
+
+::: moniker-end
+
 7. Edit parameters such as network intent or storage network intent. Once the parameters are all filled out, **Save** the parameters file.
 
     :::image type="content" source="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-5.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing parameters filled out for the template." lightbox="./media/deployment-azure-resource-manager-template/deploy-arm-template-5.png":::