azure-batch - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: azure-batch description: Expert knowledge for Azure Batch development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when configuring Batch pools, autoscale, containers, MPI jobs, Application Insights monitoring, or render workloads, and other Azure Batch related development tasks. Not for Azure Container Instances (use azure-container-instances), Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) (use azure-kubernetes-service), Azure Functions (use azure-functions), Azure HDInsight (use azure-hdinsight). compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation. metadata: generated_at: "2026-06-07" generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"

Azure Batch Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Batch. 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

Category	Lines	Description
Troubleshooting	L37-L43	Diagnosing and fixing Azure Batch job, task, pool, and node errors, including failure patterns, error codes, and best practices for handling and recovering from failures.
Best Practices	L44-L57	Guidance on designing efficient, secure, and performant Azure Batch solutions, including scheduling, dependencies, concurrency, output persistence, rendering workloads, and large-scale job/task optimization.
Decision Making	L58-L69	Guidance on choosing VM sizes, images, Spot and ephemeral disks, and planning/migrating pools (custom images, Compute Gallery, comms model) to optimize Azure Batch performance and cost.
Architecture & Design Patterns	L70-L75	Architectures and best practices for bursting on-prem render farms to Azure Batch, including storage layout, data movement patterns, and performance-optimized rendering workflows.
Limits & Quotas	L76-L81	Azure Batch account-level limits, default and adjustable quotas, and how to view, manage, and request quota increases using .NET and the Azure portal.
Security	L82-L100	Securing Batch accounts and pools: identity (Entra ID, managed identities, RBAC), keys/certs rotation, encryption, private endpoints/network perimeters, Key Vault, and Azure Policy governance.
Configuration	L101-L133	Configuring Azure Batch pools, nodes, and tasks: autoscale, OS upgrades, networking, storage mounts, containers, diagnostics events, metrics/logs, and secure task/user environments.
Integrations & Coding Patterns	L134-L147	Client SDKs, CLIs, and patterns for integrating with Azure Batch: managing pools/tasks, containers, MPI, storing task output, and monitoring with Application Insights.
Deployment	L148-L152	Deploying Azure Batch workloads using Azure Pipelines and CLI templates, including end-to-end job setup, automation, and integration into CI/CD workflows.

Troubleshooting

Topic	URL
Diagnose and handle Azure Batch job and task errors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-job-task-error-checking
Troubleshoot Azure Batch pool and node errors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-node-error-checking
Diagnose and handle Azure Batch task errors	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/error-handling

Best Practices

Topic	URL
Design efficient Azure Batch list queries	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-efficient-list-queries
Use job prep and release tasks in Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-job-prep-release
Schedule Azure Batch jobs for efficiency and priority	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-job-schedule
Run concurrent tasks on Azure Batch nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-parallel-node-tasks
Use Azure Batch capabilities for rendering workloads	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-rendering-functionality
Configure task dependencies for Azure Batch jobs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-dependencies
Persist Azure Batch task and job output data safely	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-output
Apply performance best practices for Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/best-practices
Optimize Azure Batch jobs with large task counts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/large-number-tasks
Apply security best practices to Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/security-best-practices

Decision Making

Topic	URL
Migrate Batch custom image pools to Compute Gallery	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-custom-image-pools-to-azure-compute-gallery-migration-guide
Choose and migrate custom images for Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-custom-images
Select compute-intensive and GPU VM sizes for Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-compute-intensive-sizes
Choose Azure Batch VM sizes and images	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-vm-sizes
Plan and migrate Azure Batch pools to new node communication model	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pools-to-simplified-compute-node-communication-model-migration-guide
Decide when to run Azure Batch workloads on Spot VMs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-spot-vms
Decide when to use ephemeral OS disks in Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/create-pool-ephemeral-os-disk
Plan and manage Azure Batch costs effectively	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/plan-to-manage-costs

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic	URL
Reference architectures for bursting render farms to Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-rendering-architectures
Design storage and data movement for Azure Batch rendering	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-rendering-storage-data-movement

Limits & Quotas

Topic	URL
Manage Azure Batch accounts and quotas with .NET	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-management-dotnet
Review Azure Batch service quotas and limits	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-quota-limit

Security

Topic	URL
Rotate shared keys for Azure Batch accounts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/account-key-rotation
Enable automatic certificate rotation in Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/automatic-certificate-rotation
Authenticate Azure Batch apps with Entra ID	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-aad-auth
Secure Azure Batch Management with Entra ID	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-aad-auth-management
Encrypt Azure Batch data with customer-managed keys	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-customer-managed-key
Configure Azure RBAC roles for Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-role-based-access-control
Securely access Azure Key Vault from Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/credential-access-key-vault
Configure disk encryption for Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/disk-encryption
Manage Azure Batch private endpoint connections	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/manage-private-endpoint-connections
Configure user-assigned managed identities on Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/managed-identity-pools
Associate Azure Batch accounts with network security perimeters	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/network-security-perimeter
Use built-in Azure Policy definitions for Azure Batch governance	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/policy-reference
Configure Azure Batch private endpoints with Private Link	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/private-connectivity
Configure public network access for Azure Batch accounts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/public-network-access
Use Azure Policy compliance controls for Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/security-controls-policy

Configuration

Topic	URL
Reference for Azure Batch analytics events and alerts	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-analytics
Configure autoscale formulas for Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-automatic-scaling
Use Azure Batch task runtime environment variables	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-compute-node-environment-variables
Configure task-level container isolation in Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-container-isolation-task
Configure and use NVMe temporary disks on Azure Batch nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-nvme-temporary
Understand Azure Batch pool autoscale diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-autoscale-event
Understand Azure Batch pool create diagnostic event schema	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-create-event
Understand Azure Batch pool delete complete diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-delete-complete-event
Understand Azure Batch pool delete start diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-delete-start-event
Understand Azure Batch pool resize complete diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-resize-complete-event
Understand Azure Batch pool resize start diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-resize-start-event
Update configuration properties of Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-pool-update-properties
Understand Azure Batch task complete diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-complete-event
Understand Azure Batch task fail diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-fail-event
Understand Azure Batch task schedule fail diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-schedule-fail-event
Understand Azure Batch task start diagnostic event	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-start-event
Configure Auto OS Upgrade for Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-upgrade-policy
Configure Azure Batch task user accounts securely	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-user-accounts
Provision Azure Batch pools in virtual networks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-virtual-network
Create Azure Batch pools across availability zones	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/create-pool-availability-zones
Configure and monitor extensions on Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/create-pool-extensions
Create Azure Batch pools with static public IP addresses	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/create-pool-public-ip
Reference monitoring metrics and logs for Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/monitor-batch-reference
Configure external node endpoints for Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/pool-endpoint-configuration
Mount Azure Files shares on Azure Batch compute nodes	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/pool-file-shares
Configure and use Azure Batch task resource files	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/resource-files
Configure simplified compute node communication in Azure Batch	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/simplified-compute-node-communication
Create Azure Batch pools without public IP addresses	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/simplified-node-communication-pool-no-public-ip
Configure virtual file system mounts for Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/virtual-file-mount

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic	URL
Manage Azure Batch with Azure CLI commands	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-cli-get-started
Run containerized workloads on Azure Batch pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-docker-container-workloads
Use Azure Batch task and node count APIs	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-get-resource-counts
Build Azure Batch clients with JavaScript SDK	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-js-get-started
Use Azure Batch Python and .NET clients for Linux pools	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-linux-nodes
Run MPI workloads with Azure Batch multi-instance tasks	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-mpi
Manage Azure Batch resources using PowerShell cmdlets	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-powershell-cmdlets-get-started
Persist Batch output using .NET File Conventions library	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-output-file-conventions
Use Batch service API to store task output in Azure Storage	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-task-output-files
Instrument Azure Batch .NET apps with Application Insights	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/monitor-application-insights

Deployment

Topic	URL
Deploy Azure Batch HPC solutions with Azure Pipelines	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-ci-cd
Run Azure Batch jobs end-to-end using CLI templates	https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-cli-templates