azure-kubernetes-service

# Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Skill This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities. ## How to Use This Skill > **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file > **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md) This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content: - **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown. - **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown. ## Category Index | Category | Lines | Description | |----------|-------|-------------| | Troubleshooting | L37-L64 | Diagnosing and fixing AKS cluster issues: networking, DNS, upgrades, workloads, GPU/Windows nodes, Fleet, encryption, logs, and add-ons using tools like ACNS, Desktop Insights, and NPD. | | Best Practices | L65-L115 | Operational best practices for running AKS in production: upgrades, reliability, performance, cost, security, networking, storage, autoscaling, multi-tenancy, and workload isolation. | | Decision Making | L116-L174 | Guidance for planning and decision-making on AKS: migrations, upgrades, networking, scaling, cost optimization, compliance, OS/VM choices, and comparing AKS with other platforms/services. | | Architecture & Design Patterns | L175-L203 | Architectural patterns and design choices for AKS and Fleet: HA/DR (active-active/passive-cold), networking/ingress, PCI, GPUs, stateful apps, multi-region, and cross-cluster placement. | | Limits & Quotas | L204-L230 | AKS limits, SLAs, quotas, version/support policies, networking and outbound requirements, autoscaling and Istio/KEDA constraints, and node/system pool capacity and upgrade behavior | | Security | L231-L315 | Securing AKS clusters: identity/RBAC, Entra auth, managed identities, network isolation, encryption, CIS hardening, PCI controls, Azure Policy, secure node/ingress access, and key/cert management. | | Configuration | L316-L481 | Configuring AKS clusters and fleets: networking, storage, GPUs, autoscaling, security, routing/ingress, extensions, databases, monitoring, and node/fleet lifecycle and upgrade settings. | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L482-L508 | Patterns and code for integrating AKS with AI toolchains, KAITO, Ray, storage, secrets, observability, autoscaling, dev tools, and external services (MCP, Istio, KEDA, Key Vault, etc.). | | Deployment | L509-L558 | Deploying and upgrading AKS clusters and apps, including CI/CD, service meshes, autoscaling, storage and networking migrations, AI/ML and Wasm workloads, and cross-cloud app migration. | ### Troubleshooting | Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Diagnose and fix common Agentic CLI for AKS issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/agentic-cli-for-aks-troubleshoot | | Diagnose AKS workloads with AKS Desktop AI assistant | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aks-desktop-deploy-ai-assistant | | Use AKS Desktop Insights to troubleshoot workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aks-desktop-deploy-troubleshooting | | Support and troubleshooting options for Azure Kubernetes Service | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aks-support-help | | Troubleshoot AKS network issues using ACNS metrics and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/container-network-observability-guide | | Troubleshoot CoreDNS issues in AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/coredns-troubleshoot | | Use CanIPull to diagnose AKS–ACR connectivity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/deploy-canipull-application-aks | | Use Kubernetes events to troubleshoot AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/events | | Diagnose GPU node health with NPD in AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/gpu-health-monitoring | | Troubleshoot Inspektor Gadget extension issues on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/inspektor-gadget-troubleshoot | | Monitor and troubleshoot AKS KMS etcd encryption | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/kms-observability | | Collect and view kubelet logs from AKS nodes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/kubelet-logs | | Abort and inspect AKS long-running operations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/manage-abort-operations | | Diagnose and fix common Open Service Mesh add-on issues on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/open-service-mesh-troubleshoot | | Use AKS security bulletins for vulnerability troubleshooting | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/security-bulletins/overview | | Handle AKS upgrade blocks from deprecated Kubernetes APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/stop-cluster-upgrade-api-breaking-changes | | Troubleshoot Container Network Insights Agent issues on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/troubleshoot-container-network-insights-agent | | Troubleshoot SNAT port exhaustion for AKS load balancers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/troubleshoot-source-network-address-translation | | Troubleshoot UDP packet drops in AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/troubleshoot-udp-packet-drops | | Diagnose and resolve Azure AKS upgrade issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/upgrade-aks-faq | | Resolve common Windows Server on AKS issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/windows-faq | | Identify and migrate preview Azure Kubernetes Fleet CRDs to supported versions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/kubernetes-fleet/howto-migrate-preview-to-ga-fleets | | Interpret Fleet resource placement status for debugging | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/kubernetes-fleet/howto-understand-placement | | Access and use Azure Fleet agent logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/kubernetes-fleet/view-fleet-agent-logs | ### Best Practices | Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Apply AKS production cluster upgrade strategies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aks-production-upgrade-strategies | | Apply AKS deployment and cluster reliability practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-app-cluster-reliability | | Optimize AKS cluster costs with practical guidelines | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-cost | | Apply GPU best practices on AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-gpu | | Apply GPU observability best practices on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-gpu-observability | | Apply MLOps best practices on AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-ml-ops | | Apply proactive monitoring best practices for AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-monitoring-proactive | | Apply multi-tenancy best practices in AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-multi-tenancy | | Optimize AKS performance and scaling for small to medium workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-performance-scale | | Tune AKS for large-scale performance and scaling | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-performance-scale-large | | Best practices for AKS ephemeral NVMe disks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/best-practices-storage-nvme | | Configure and tune AKS cluster autoscaler | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/cluster-autoscaler-overview | | Apply pod sandboxing resource and security practices in AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/considerations-pod-sandboxing | | Enforce AKS deployment safeguards and best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/deployment-safeguards | | Implement pod security best practices on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/developer-best-practices-pod-security | | Optimize AKS workload resource management practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/developer-best-practices-resource-management | | Apply GPU profiling best practices on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/gpu-profiling-faq | | Use Image Cleaner to remove vulnerable AKS images | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/image-cleaner | | Use TCP keepalive to improve AKS network resilience | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/improve-network-fault-tolerance-in-aks-using-tcp-keepalive | | Select appropriate Inspektor Gadget tools on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/inspektor-gadget-catalog | | Plan AKS rollback strategies for failed migrations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/kubernetes-migration-rollback-strategies | | Apply network security best practices to AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/network-policy-best-practices | | Plan node image updates for NAP in AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/node-auto-provisioning-upgrade-image | | Configure and monitor AKS node auto-repair | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/node-auto-repair | | Control AKS node reimage and disruption behavior | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/node-disruption-policy | | Operate cost-optimized AKS clusters at scale | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operate-cost-optimized-scale | | Apply AKS scheduler features for workload isolation | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operator-best-practices-advanced-scheduler | | Implement cluster isolation strategies in Azure Kubernetes Service | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operator-best-practices-cluster-isolation | | Apply AKS cluster security operator best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operator-best-practices-cluster-security | | Implement container image security best practices in AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operator-best-practices-container-image-management | | Apply AKS network resource best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operator-best-practices-network | | Apply AKS scheduler best practices for quotas | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operator-best-practices-scheduler | | Apply AKS storage and backup operator best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/operator-best-practices-storage | | Protect data on AKS for PCI DSS compliance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/pci-data | | Apply PCI risk assessment and code practices on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/pci-ra-code-assets | | Design zone-resilient Azure Kubernetes Service clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/reliability-zone-resiliency-recommendations | | Load test and validate MongoDB resiliency on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/resiliency-mongodb-cluster | | Use AKS node pool version rollback safely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/roll-back-node-pool-version | | Apply security best practices to Azure Kubernetes Service clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/secure-aks | | Validate MongoDB resiliency during AKS node pool upgrades | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/upgrade-mongodb-cluster | | Handle AKS Linux node reboots using kured | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/upgrade-node-image-kured | | Upgrade AKS node pools and control plane safely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/upgrade-node-pools | | Apply OS upgrade best practices for AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/upgrade-os-version | | Validate Valkey resiliency during AKS node pool upgrades | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/upgrade-valkey-aks-nodepool | | Validate and operate PostgreSQL HA deployments on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/validate-postgresql-ha | | Load test and validate Valkey cluster resiliency on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/validate-valkey-cluster | | Apply AKS Windows container best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/windows-best-practices | ### Decision Making | Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Choose migration paths for legacy apps to AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aks-legacy-migration | | Plan and execute migration to Azure Kubernetes Service | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aks-migration | | Choose VM sizes and generations for AKS workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/aks-virtual-machine-sizes | | Use AKS application routing with Kubernetes Gateway API | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/app-routing-gateway-api | | Migrate AKS Automatic clusters between SKUs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/automatic/aks-automatic-sku-migration | | Migrate AKS clusters from Availability Sets to VM node pools | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/availability-sets-on-aks | | Choose between AKS and other Azure container services | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/compare-container-options-with-aks | | Choose small vs large language models on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-ai-ml-language-models | | Plan IP address space for Azure AKS clusters | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-network-ip-address-planning | | Choose and understand legacy CNI options in Azure Kubernetes Service | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-network-legacy-cni | | Choose the right AKS scaling option for workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/concepts-scale | | Use Azure Advisor recommendations for AKS cost | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/cost-advisors | | Migrate from Dapr OSS to Dapr extension on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/dapr-migration | | Compare AWS and Azure platforms for EDW workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/eks-edw-understand | | Understand AWS vs Azure differences for web apps | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/eks-web-understand | | Plan migration off Flatcar Container Linux on AKS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/flatcar-container-linux-for-aks | | Choose and configure AKS Free, Standard, Premium tiers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/free-standard-pricing-tiers | | Adopt and migrate to Gen2 VMs for AKS node pools | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/generation-2-vms | | Select AKS Automatic or Standard for workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/get-started-aks | | Choose and configure HPA for AKS workloads | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/horizontal-pod-autoscaler | | Choose and configure AKS hyperscale control plane | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/hyperscale-configuration-aks |