Unlocking Edge Computing Potential: Azure Local and Azure Arc

how to deploy low-cost, small form-factor devices at the edge using Azure Local, enabled by Azure Arc. This innovative approach allows users to extend cloud capabilities to distributed locations without needing elaborate or expensive setups. Here’s a detailed overview of the key concepts and steps demonstrated in the video.

Overview of Azure Local and Azure Arc

Azure Local, powered by Azure Arc, is designed to facilitate cloud management for edge devices. It enables users to run workloads, virtual machines (VMs), and containers on low-cost hardware while maintaining simplicity with local identities—eliminating the need for an on-premises Active Directory. This is particularly beneficial for organizations with light computing requirements or constrained budgets.

Minimum Hardware Requirements

To get started with Azure Local, only minimal hardware is required:

• One compatible machine with:
  • An extra SSD (besides the boot disk)
  • One Gigabit Ethernet networking capability
• The hardware must support virtualization.

In the demo, a two-machine setup is showcased, featuring:

• Intel Xeon Processor (4 cores)
• 64 GB of memory
• 1 TB SSD

Setting Up the Infrastructure

Initial Setup

1. Connect Power and Ethernet: Each machine is connected to power and Ethernet ports.
2. Provisioning without Keyboard/Monitor: A USB drive containing a restricted OS is used to securely connect the machines to the cloud. By simply plugging in the USB and powering on, the machines boot up and connect automatically.

Claiming Machines in Azure

Once powered on, each machine generates a cryptographic voucher stored on the USB. This voucher is essential for claiming the machines in the Azure portal.

1. Navigate to Azure Arc in the Azure portal.
2. Create a site (e.g., “Redmond”) for organizing resources.
3. Under provisioning, upload the vouchers for each machine and select the desired operating system (e.g., Windows 24H2).

Configuration

The configuration process involves:

• Installing and configuring software remotely from the cloud.
• Setting up local identities using Azure Key Vault instead of Active Directory.
• Specifying network configurations by separating management and storage traffic across different cables.

Deploying Azure Local Instance

After provisioning, users can deploy an Azure Local instance:

1. Navigate to Azure Local within Azure Arc.
2. Validate and add machines.
3. Configure networking, clustering, and storage settings.

This process ensures that all necessary services are set up efficiently, including security hardening and connecting to relevant Azure services.

Creating Virtual Machines and Kubernetes Clusters

Once the Azure Local instance is ready:

• Users can create VMs directly from the cloud or migrate existing VMs from other platforms.
• The setup supports high availability as storage is replicated between physical machines.

Additionally, deploying modern applications is straightforward:

1. Define a logical network for Kubernetes.
2. Create an AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service) cluster that runs alongside existing VMs.

Conclusion

The video emphasizes that with Azure Local, organizations can leverage low-cost hardware to deploy comprehensive cloud solutions without complex setups. This flexibility enables various industries—such as retail, manufacturing, and healthcare—to adopt modern applications like AI inferencing locally on their edge devices.