Merge pull request #33718 from MashaMSFT/202504_sqlvmio

Staging IO Analysis GA

Author: prmerger-automator[bot]

azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/application-patterns-development-strategies.md

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ This article describes several application patterns that can be suitable for you
 * You need a full compatibility with SQL Server and want to move existing applications to Azure as-is.
 * You want to leverage the capabilities of the Azure environment but Azure SQL Database does not support all the features that your application requires. This could include the following areas:
 
-  * **Database size**: At the time this article was updated, SQL Database supports a database of up to 1 TB of data. If your application requires more than 1 TB of data and you don't want to implement custom sharding solutions, it's recommended that you use SQL Server in an Azure virtual machine. For the latest information, see [Scaling Out Azure SQL Database](/previous-versions/azure/dn495641(v=azure.100)), [DTU-Based Purchasing Model](../../database/service-tiers-dtu.md), and [vCore-Based Purchasing Model](../../database/service-tiers-vcore.md)(preview).
+  * **Database size**: At the time this article was updated, SQL Database supports a database of up to 1 TB of data. If your application requires more than 1 TB of data and you don't want to implement custom sharding solutions, it's recommended that you use SQL Server in an Azure virtual machine. For the latest information, see [Scaling Out Azure SQL Database](/previous-versions/azure/dn495641(v=azure.100)), [DTU-Based Purchasing Model](../../database/service-tiers-dtu.md), and [vCore-Based Purchasing Model](../../database/service-tiers-vcore.md).
   * **HIPAA compliance**: Healthcare customers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) might choose [SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines](sql-server-on-azure-vm-iaas-what-is-overview.md) instead of [Azure SQL Database](../../database/sql-database-paas-overview.md) because SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines is covered by HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA). For information on compliance, see [Microsoft Azure Trust Center: Compliance](https://azure.microsoft.com/support/trust-center/compliance/).
   * **Instance-level features**: At this time, SQL Database doesn't support features that live outside of the database (such as Linked Servers, Agent jobs, FileStream, Service Broker, etc.). For more information, see [Azure SQL Database Guidelines and Limitations](/previous-versions/azure/ff394102(v=azure.100)).
 

azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/doc-changes-updates-release-notes-whats-new.md

@@ -4,11 +4,10 @@ description: Learn about the new features for and improvements to SQL Server on
 author: MashaMSFT
 ms.author: mathoma
 ms.reviewer: randolphwest, mathoma, dpless
-ms.date: 04/02/2025
+ms.date: 04/09/2025
 ms.service: azure-vm-sql-server
 ms.topic: whats-new
 ms.custom:
-- ignite-2024
 tags: azure-service-management
 ---
 # What's new with SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines?
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ The following table lists the features of SQL Server on Azure VMs that are curre
 
 | Feature | Details |
 | --- | --- |
-| [I/O Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) | Use the Azure portal to identify performance issues with your SQL Server workloads from exceeding virtual machine and data disk limits. | 
 | [Modernization Advisor](../modernization-advisor.md) | Use the Modernization Advisor in the Azure portal to help you determine if migrating to Azure SQL Managed Instance saves you money or optimizes performance. |
 | [Premium SSD v2 in the Azure portal](storage-configuration-premium-ssd-v2.md) | Deploy your SQL Server on Azure VM with Premium SSD v2 disks in the Azure portal for improved throughput and performance. |  
 
@@ -46,6 +44,7 @@ The following table lists features of SQL Server on Azure VMs that have been mad
 
 | Changes | Month | Details |
 | --- | --- |--- |
+| [I/O Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) | April 2025 | Use the Azure portal to identify performance issues with your SQL Server workloads from exceeding virtual machine and data disk limits. | 
 | [Azure Elastic SAN](storage-configuration-azure-elastic-san.md) | March 2025 | Place your SQL Server workloads on an Azure Elastic SAN for improved performance, throughput, and cost. |
 | [FCI with Azure Elastic SAN](failover-cluster-instance-azure-elastic-san-manually-configure.md) | March 2025 | Deploy your SQL Server failover cluster instance (FCI) by using an Azure Elastic SAN. |
 | [Managed identity support for SQL Server 2022 on Azure VM](managed-identity-extensible-key-management.md) | January 2025 | Starting with SQL Server 2022 Cumulative Update 17 (CU17), managed identities are supported for SQL Server on Azure VMs (Windows only). Managed identities can be used with [SQL Server credentials](/sql/t-sql/statements/create-credential-transact-sql) to [back up to and restore SQL Server on Azure VM databases from Azure Blob storage](backup-restore-to-url-using-managed-identities.md). Support for managed identities also enables functionalities like [Extensible Key Management (EKM) with Azure Key Vault (AKV) and Managed Hardware Security Modules (HSM)](managed-identity-extensible-key-management.md) to be used with SQL Server on Azure VMs. |
@@ -63,6 +62,7 @@ Learn about significant changes to the SQL Server on Azure VMs documentation. Fo
 
 | Changes | Details |
 | --- | --- |
+| **I/O Analysis GA** | Use the Azure portal to identify performance issues with your SQL Server workloads from exceeding virtual machine and data disk limits. This feature is now generally available (GA). Review [I/O Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) to learn more. | 
 |**Place `tempdb` to ephemeral storage** | If you're manually installing SQL Server to an Azure VM, be sure to [place `tempdb` on ephemeral storage](../windows/tempdb-ephemeral-storage.md) to improve performance. This is a best practice for SQL Server on Azure VMs. |
 
 ### March 2025

azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/hadr-cluster-best-practices.md

@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ Use the Failover Cluster Manager to modify the **Max failures in specified perio
 
 VM or disk limits could result in a resource bottleneck that impacts the health of the cluster, and impedes the health check. If you're experiencing issues with resource limits, consider the following:
 
-- Use [I/O Analysis (Preview)](storage-performance-analysis.md) in the Azure portal to identify disk performance issues that can cause a failover. 
+- Use [I/O Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) in the Azure portal to identify disk performance issues that can cause a failover. 
 - Ensure your OS, drivers, and SQL Server are at the latest builds.
 - Optimize SQL Server on Azure VM environment as described in the [performance guidelines](performance-guidelines-best-practices-checklist.md) for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
 - Use 
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ Exhausting I/O or CPU capacity for the VM can cause your availability group to f
 
 ### Use I/O Analysis
 
-Use [I/O Analysis (Preview)](storage-performance-analysis.md) in the Azure portal to identify disk performance issues that can cause a failover. 
+Use [I/O Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) in the Azure portal to identify disk performance issues that can cause a failover. 
 
 ### Monitor with VM storage IO metrics 
 

azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/manage-sql-vm-portal.md

@@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ Changing the license and edition metadata in the Azure portal is only supported
 
 ## Storage
 
-The **Storage** page of the **SQL virtual machines** resource allows you to analyze the I/O performance of your SQL Server workloads (currently in preview), identify missing best practices, and configure the storage settings for your SQL Server VM: 
+The **Storage** page of the **SQL virtual machines** resource allows you to analyze the I/O performance of your SQL Server workloads, identify missing best practices, and configure the storage settings for your SQL Server VM: 
 
 :::image type="content" source="./media/manage-sql-vm-portal/sql-vm-storage.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Azure portal, SQL virtual machines resource, showing where to view storage information.":::
 
 The **Storage** page has the following tabs: 
 
-- The [I/O Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) tab (currently in preview) provides insights into the I/O performance of your SQL Server workloads. Use this tab to identify VM level or disk level I/O throttling, as well as suggestions for remediation. 
+- The [I/O Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) tab provides insights into the I/O performance of your SQL Server workloads. Use this tab to identify VM level or disk level I/O throttling, as well as suggestions for remediation. 
 - Run I/O related best practices assessments from the [I/O Related Best Practices](sql-assessment-for-sql-vm.md) tab to identify missing storage best practices configurations for your SQL Server VM.
 - Use the [Storage Configuration](storage-configuration.md) tab to configure your data, log, and `tempdb` drives, such as to extend them. For guidance, review [storage configuration](storage-configuration.md) and [Storage: Performance best practices for SQL Server on Azure VMs](performance-guidelines-best-practices-storage.md).
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ The **Storage** page has the following tabs:
 
 ## Updates
 
-You have two different options when automatically patching your SQL Server on Azure VMs - the new integrated [Azure Update Manager](../azure-update-manager-sql-vm.md) experience currently in preview, and the existing [Automated Patching](automated-patching.md) feature. 
+You have two different options when automatically patching your SQL Server on Azure VMs - the new integrated [Azure Update Manager](../azure-update-manager-sql-vm.md) experience, and the existing [Automated Patching](automated-patching.md) feature (which is scheduled to retire on September 17, 2027). 
 
 Update Manager allows you to choose which updates and patches to apply to multiple SQL Server VMs at scale, including _Cumulative Updates_. **Automated Patching** lets you manage patches for a single VM and only applies updates that are marked as Critical or Important (which doesn't include Cumulative Updates for SQL Server). 
 

azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/performance-guidelines-best-practices-vm-size.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ title: "VM size: Performance best practices & guidelines"
 description: Provides VM size guidelines and best practices to optimize the performance of your SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machine (VM).
 author: dplessMSFT
 ms.author: dpless
-ms.reviewer: dpless, randolphwest, mathoma
+ms.reviewer: randolphwest, mathoma
 ms.date: 04/02/2025
 ms.service: azure-vm-sql-server
 ms.subservice: performance

azure-sql/virtual-machines/windows/sql-server-on-azure-vm-iaas-what-is-overview.md

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ To get started with SQL Server on Azure VMs, review the following resources:
 - **Connect to SQL VM**: To connect to your SQL Server on Azure VMs, review the [ways to connect](ways-to-connect-to-sql.md).
 - **Unlock feature benefits**: Registering your SQL Server VM with the [SQL IaaS Agent extension](sql-server-iaas-agent-extension-automate-management.md) unlocks a number of feature benefits, such as automated backup and patching. 
 - **Manage SQL VM from the portal**: You can manage SQL Server settings directly from the Azure portal by using the [SQL virtual machines](manage-sql-vm-portal.md) resource.
-- **Optimize performance**: Use the [SQL best practices assessment](sql-assessment-for-sql-vm.md) to validate that you're following [Best practices](performance-guidelines-best-practices-checklist.md) and use [I/O Performance Analysis (Preview)](storage-performance-analysis.md) to investigate I/O issues. 
+- **Optimize performance**: Use the [SQL best practices assessment](sql-assessment-for-sql-vm.md) to validate that you're following [Best practices](performance-guidelines-best-practices-checklist.md) and use [I/O Performance Analysis](storage-performance-analysis.md) to investigate I/O issues. 
 - **Migrate data**: Migrate your data to SQL Server on Azure VMs from [SQL Server](/data-migration/sql-server/virtual-machines/overview), [Oracle](../../migration-guides/virtual-machines/oracle-to-sql-on-azure-vm-guide.md), or [Db2](../../migration-guides/virtual-machines/db2-to-sql-on-azure-vm-guide.md).
 - **Pricing**: For information about the pricing structure of your SQL Server on Azure VM, review the [Pricing guidance](pricing-guidance.md).
 - **Frequently asked questions**: For commonly asked questions, and scenarios, review the [FAQ](frequently-asked-questions-faq.yml).