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azure-devtest-labs

Expert knowledge for Azure DevTest Labs development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment.

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How to use

  1. Copy the installation command and review the source package before installing it in your own agent environment.
  2. Check the source document for required tools, credentials and supported hosts.
  3. Describe your input and desired deliverable; review the output against the source material.
npx skills add https://github.com/microsoftdocs/agent-skills --skill azure-devtest-labs

Before you start

  • Installation does not include a model subscription, API allowance or permission to access your files.
  • Repository stars and installation counts describe activity, not an independent quality or security test.
Original skill document

Rendered from the source repository. Headings, examples, code, tables, links, and referenced images are preserved.

Azure DevTest Labs Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure DevTest Labs. 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

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

CategoryLinesDescription
TroubleshootingL37-L44Diagnosing and fixing DevTest Labs VM and environment creation/deployment issues, artifact application failures, connectivity problems, and handling Defender for Cloud security alerts.
Best PracticesL45-L49Guidance on organizing and collaborating on DevTest Labs infrastructure as code across teams, including branching, environments, and distributed resource development workflows
Decision MakingL50-L58Guidance on planning PoCs and enterprise-scale deployments, choosing images and Gen1 vs Gen2 VMs, and setting governance for organization-wide DevTest Labs use.
Architecture & Design PatternsL59-L63Enterprise-scale DevTest Labs architectures: hub-spoke design, network/security layout, governance, cost management, and best practices for large org lab deployments.
Limits & QuotasL64-L68Managing DevTest Labs limits and quotas, viewing current usage, and requesting or configuring quota increases for labs, VMs, and related resources.
SecurityL69-L86Securing DevTest Labs: identities, RBAC and granular policy permissions, secrets/Key Vault, disk/storage encryption, secure VM access (RDP Gateway, Bastion, browser), Trusted Launch, and security alerts.
ConfigurationL87-L108Configuring DevTest Labs environments and VMs: images, networks, policies, costs, tags, ARM templates, artifacts, activity logs, alerts, IPs, and resource groups.
Integrations & Coding PatternsL109-L128Automating DevTest Labs with ARM, PowerShell, CLI, Functions, and Automation: creating/importing VMs, managing images/VHDs, environments, users, VM start/stop, and cross-lab usage reporting.
DeploymentL129-L135Guides for deploying and migrating DevTest Labs: ARM templates, CI/CD and Azure Pipelines integration, region moves, and handling Azure Basic Load Balancer retirement.

Troubleshooting

TopicURL
Fix DevTest Labs VM connectivity by redeployinghttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-redeploy-vm
Troubleshoot DevTest Labs artifact application failureshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-troubleshoot-apply-artifacts
Troubleshoot DevTest Labs VM deployment failureshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/troubleshoot-vm-deployment-failures
Troubleshoot DevTest Labs VM and environment creation failureshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/troubleshoot-vm-environment-creation-failures

Best Practices

TopicURL
Set up distributed DevTest Labs resource developmenthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/best-practices-distributive-collaborative-development-environment

Decision Making

TopicURL
Plan and execute a DevTest Labs proof of concepthttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/deliver-proof-concept
Choose between custom images and formulas in DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-comparing-vm-base-image-types
Choose and use Gen1 vs Gen2 VMs in DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-gen2-vm
Govern Azure DevTest Labs resources across an organizationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-guidance-governance-resources
Plan DevTest Labs deployment at enterprise scalehttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-guidance-scale

Architecture & Design Patterns

TopicURL
Enterprise reference architecture for Azure DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-reference-architecture

Limits & Quotas

TopicURL
View and increase Azure DevTest Labs quotas and limitshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-scale-lab

Security

TopicURL
Configure managed identity for Azure DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/configure-lab-identity
Secure DevTest Labs access with Remote Desktop Gatewayhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/configure-lab-remote-desktop-gateway
Secure DevTest Labs VM access via Azure Bastionhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/connect-virtual-machine-through-browser
Configure DevTest Labs RBAC roles and user accesshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-add-devtest-user
Configure DevTest Labs lab-level secrets securelyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-lab-secrets
Grant granular permissions to DevTest Labs policieshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-grant-user-permissions-to-specific-lab-policies
Use Azure Key Vault secrets in DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-store-secrets-in-key-vault
Enable Trusted Launch for DevTest Labs Gen2 VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-trusted-launch
Enable secure browser-based access to DevTest Labs VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/enable-browser-connection-lab-virtual-machines
Enable user-assigned managed identities on DevTest Labs VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/enable-managed-identities-lab-vms
Configure customer-managed key disk encryption in DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/encrypt-disks-customer-managed-keys
Manage DevTest Labs storage accounts and encryption settingshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/encrypt-storage
View and respond to DevTest Labs environment security alertshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/environment-security-alerts
Configure managed identities for DevTest Labs environmentshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/use-managed-identities-environments

Configuration

TopicURL
View and interpret DevTest Labs activity logshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/activity-logs
Add and configure artifacts on DevTest Labs VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/add-artifact-vm
Configure Azure Compute Gallery for DevTest Labs imageshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/configure-shared-image-gallery
Configure activity log alerts for DevTest Labs eventshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/create-alerts
Add and manage tags on Azure DevTest Labs resourceshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-add-tag
Author custom DevTest Labs VM artifact definitionshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-artifact-author
Configure autoshutdown policies for DevTest Labs VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-auto-shutdown
Configure autostart policies for DevTest Labs virtual machineshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-auto-startup-vm
Configure cost tracking for Azure DevTest Labs with tagshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-cost-management
Configure allowed Azure Marketplace images in DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-marketplace-images
Add and configure virtual networks for DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-configure-vnet
Enable and manage licensed images in DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-enable-licensed-images
Configure and use formulas for DevTest Labs VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-manage-formulas
Configure Azure DevTest Labs policies for cost controlhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-set-lab-policy
Configure shared public IP addresses for DevTest Labs VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-shared-ip
Define DevTest Labs VMs with ARM templateshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-use-resource-manager-template
Configure network isolation for Azure DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/network-isolation
Configure resource groups for DevTest Labs virtual machineshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/resource-group-control

Integrations & Coding Patterns

TopicURL
Automate adding DevTest Labs users via ARM, PowerShell, and CLIhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/automate-add-lab-user
Create DevTest Labs custom images from VHD with PowerShellhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-create-custom-image-from-vhd-using-powershell
Create DevTest Labs environments from ARM templateshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-create-environment-from-arm
Upload VHDs to DevTest Labs storage using AzCopyhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-upload-vhd-using-azcopy
Upload VHDs to DevTest Labs with PowerShellhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-upload-vhd-using-powershell
Upload VHDs to DevTest Labs via Storage Explorerhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-upload-vhd-using-storage-explorer
Automate DevTest Labs VM creation with PowerShellhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-vm-powershell
Manage DevTest Labs VMs using Azure CLIhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-vmcli
Extend DevTest Labs automation using Azure Functionshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/extend-devtest-labs-azure-functions
Import DevTest Labs VMs between labs via REST/PowerShellhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/import-virtual-machines-from-another-lab
Report DevTest Labs usage across labs and subscriptionshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/report-usage-across-multiple-labs-subscriptions
Automate DevTest Labs with Azure CLI scriptshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/samples-cli
Use Azure PowerShell scripts for DevTest Labs automationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/samples-powershell
Control DevTest Labs VM start order with Automationhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/start-machines-use-automation-runbooks
Publish Visual Studio apps to DevTest Labs VMshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/test-app-azure
Script DevTest Labs VM start/stop with CLI and PowerShellhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/use-command-line-start-stop-virtual-machines

Deployment

TopicURL
Integrate DevTest Labs with enterprise CI/CD pipelineshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-dev-ops
Handle Azure Basic Load Balancer retirement in DevTest Labshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-standard-load-balancer
Deploy DevTest Labs resources with ARM templateshttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/devtest-lab-use-arm-and-powershell-for-lab-resources
Move Azure DevTest Labs to another regionhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest-labs/how-to-move-labs

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