Microsoftdocs Agent Skills

Included skill

Azure Migrate

Expert knowledge for Azure Migrate development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when configuring Azure Migrate appliances, Arc/AMA, AppCAT/.NET assessments, VMware agentless replication, or Resource Mover, and other Azure Migrate related development tasks. Not for Azure Database Migration service (use azure-database-migration), Azure Site Recovery (use azure-site-recovery), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines), SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-sql-virtual-machines).

Source: /skills/azure-migrate/SKILL.md

Azure Migrate Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Migrate. 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-L55 Diagnosing and fixing Azure Migrate issues: appliance setup, discovery/assessment errors, dependency analysis, project creation, private endpoints, VMware agentless replication, and OS/web app migration.
Best Practices L56-L66 Best practices for preparing on-prem/VMware machines and appliances, configuring VM hydration, running test migrations, and creating custom/AppCAT/PostgreSQL assessment rules for Azure Migrate.
Decision Making L67-L105 Guidance for interpreting Azure Migrate assessments, choosing sizing and tools, planning migration waves and execution, and making platform/service decisions across VMware, AWS, GCP, SQL, web, and Java workloads.
Architecture & Design Patterns L106-L111 Architecture and data flow for Azure Migrate using Arc-based discovery and Hyper-V, including components, connectivity, prerequisites, and how discovery/inventory works.
Limits & Quotas L112-L125 Limits, prerequisites, region support, and scale guidance for Azure Migrate appliances and discovery/migration of VMware, Hyper-V, and physical servers.
Security L126-L139 Securing Azure Migrate: least-privilege roles/accounts, Private Link discovery/migration, encrypted VM moves, Trusted Launch, RBAC, and Entra ID app registration.
Configuration L140-L163 Configuring Azure Migrate and related tools: assessment settings (VM, SQL, PostgreSQL, .NET/AppCAT), appliances, Arc/AMA, private endpoints, landing zones, and Resource Mover destination options.
Integrations & Coding Patterns L164-L169 Patterns and tools for integrating code analysis and automation into Azure Migrate, including GitHub Copilot insights, AppCAT CLI, CAST Highlight scans, and REST-based VMware migration.
Deployment L170-L180 Guides for deploying Azure Migrate appliances, preparing legacy servers, automating deployments with PowerShell/DevOps, and moving Azure/SQL resources between regions and governments.

Troubleshooting

Topic URL
Resolve Azure Migrate discovery and dependency issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/common-questions-discovery-dependency-analysis?view=migrate
Diagnose and troubleshoot Azure Migrate appliance https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-appliance-diagnostic?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate appliance deployment problems https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-appliance?view=migrate
FAQ for troubleshooting Azure Migrate assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-assessment-faq?view=migrate
Troubleshooting scenarios for Azure Migrate assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-assessment-supported-scenarios?view=migrate
Resolve common Azure Migrate assessment issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-assessment?view=migrate
Troubleshoot agentless VMware replication in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-changed-block-tracking-replication?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate dependency analysis issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-dependencies?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate server and SQL discovery https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-discovery?view=migrate
Troubleshoot common Azure Migrate service issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-general?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate private endpoint connectivity https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-network-connectivity?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate project creation issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-project?view=migrate
Troubleshoot slow or stuck VMware agentless migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-replication-vmware?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Windows OS upgrade in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-upgrade?view=migrate
Troubleshoot Azure Migrate web app migration issues https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/troubleshoot-webapps-migration?view=migrate

Best Practices

Topic URL
Develop custom YAML rules for AppCAT 7 assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/appcat-7-rule-guide?view=migrate
Apply PostgreSQL assessment rules for Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-rules-for-postgresql?view=migrate
Apply security best practices to Azure Migrate appliance https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/best-practices-security?view=migrate
Best practices for test migrations of virtual machines https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-test-replicating-virtual-machines?view=migrate
Use Azure Migrate hydration process for VM configuration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/hydration-process?view=migrate
Prepare VMware VMs for agentless migration to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-for-agentless-migration?view=migrate
Prepare on-premises machines for Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-for-migration?view=migrate

Decision Making

Topic URL
Interpret AppCAT 7 Java migration readiness reports https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/appcat-7-interpret-report?view=migrate
Assess Java apps with legacy AppCAT 6 engine https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/java-6?view=migrate
Decide when to use AppCAT 7 for Java migrations https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/java?view=migrate
Interpret Azure Migrate assessment report outputs https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-report?view=migrate
Interpret Azure Migrate business case calculations https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/concepts-business-case-calculation?view=migrate
Evaluate performance coverage in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/confidence-ratings?view=migrate
Choose the right Azure Migrate discovery method https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discovery-methods-modes?view=migrate
Use Azure Migrate to build a migration business case https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-build-a-business-case?view=migrate
Build high-fidelity Azure migration execution plans https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-complete-wave-plan?view=migrate
Plan VMware-to-Azure migrations with Copilot agent https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-plan-analyze-migration-with-agent?view=migrate
Create migration waves for Azure Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-plan-create-waves?view=migrate
Decide and execute Windows Server OS upgrades during Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-upgrade-windows?view=migrate
Plan migration waves with Azure Migrate Wave Planning https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/overview?view=migrate
Evaluate readiness and savings for Arc-enabled servers https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/quickstart-evaluate-readiness-savings-for-arc-resources?view=migrate
Interpret Azure VM assessment results in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-assessment?view=migrate
Review Azure VMware Solution assessment outputs https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-azure-vmware-solution-assessment?view=migrate
Interpret SQL migration assessments in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-sql-assessment?view=migrate
Review web app assessment insights for Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/review-web-app-assessment?view=migrate
Choose agentless vs agent-based migration in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/server-migrate-overview?view=migrate
Choose performance vs as-is sizing in assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/target-right-sizing?view=migrate
Review PostgreSQL assessment results in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-review-postgresql-report?view=migrate
Choose Azure compute equivalents for AWS workloads https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-compute-from-aws
Select Azure database services for AWS migrations https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-databases-from-aws
Plan migration of GCP databases to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-databases-from-google-cloud
Select Azure services when migrating from AWS https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-from-aws
Map AWS networking services to Azure networking https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-networking-from-aws
Plan migration of AWS security services to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-security-from-aws
Plan and execute single-workload migrations to Azure https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-to-azure
Decommission AWS resources after Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-decommission
Evaluate workload health after AWS to Azure migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-evaluate
Execute AWS to Azure workload cutover safely https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-execute
End-to-end guidance for migrating one AWS workload https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-introduction
Plan an AWS to Azure workload migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-plan
Prepare AWS workloads and Azure environment for migration https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migration/migrate-workload-from-aws-prepare
Choose tools for moving Azure resources across regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/select-options-to-move-resources

Architecture & Design Patterns

Topic URL
Understand Arc-based discovery architecture in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/concepts-arc-resource-discovery?view=migrate
Understand Hyper-V migration architecture in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/hyper-v-migration-architecture?view=migrate

Limits & Quotas

Topic URL
Use Azure Migrate in unsupported regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/azure-migrate-unsupported-regions?view=migrate
Scale out Azure Migrate appliance for large VMware moves https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-scale-out-for-migration?view=migrate
Review Azure Migrate appliance prerequisites and support https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-appliance?view=migrate
Hyper-V to Azure migration support matrix https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-hyper-v-migration?view=migrate
Review Hyper-V discovery and assessment support matrix in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-hyper-v?view=migrate
Understand physical server discovery and assessment support limits in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-physical?view=migrate
Check VMware vSphere migration support and limits in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-vmware-migration?view=migrate
Check VMware discovery prerequisites and support limits in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix-vmware?view=migrate
Review Azure Migrate support matrix and limitations https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-support-matrix?view=migrate
Check Azure Migrate supported geographies and regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/supported-geographies?view=migrate

Security

Topic URL
Configure least-privilege VMware roles for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/best-practices-least-privileged-account?view=migrate
Configure Azure Migrate discovery over Private Link https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discover-and-assess-using-private-endpoints?view=migrate
Discover and assess servers via Azure Private Link https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discover-and-assess-using-private-endpoints?view=migrate
Migrate VMware VMs with SSE and customer-managed keys https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-migrate-vmware-vms-with-cmk-disks?view=migrate
Register Azure Migrate appliance using Entra ID app https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-register-appliance-using-entra-app?view=migrate
Create minimal-permission SQL account for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/least-privilege-credentials?view=migrate
Migrate Hyper-V servers using Private Link endpoints https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-hyper-v-servers-to-azure-using-private-link?view=migrate
Configure least-privilege PostgreSQL account for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/postgresql-least-privilege-configuration?view=migrate
Configure Azure RBAC roles for Azure Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-azure-accounts?view=migrate
Move encrypted Azure VMs between regions with Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/tutorial-move-region-encrypted-virtual-machines

Configuration

Topic URL
Use AppCAT 7 CLI commands and options https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/appcat-7-cli-guide?view=migrate
Configure AppCAT for .NET application migration assessments https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/appcat/dotnet?view=migrate
Meet Azure Migrate assessment prerequisites and settings https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-prerequisites?view=migrate
Configure general assessment properties in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/assessment-properties?view=migrate
Migrate dependency analysis from MMA to Azure Monitor Agent https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/azure-monitor-agent-migration?view=migrate
Understand Azure Migrate discovered metadata fields https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/discovered-metadata?view=migrate
Enable Azure Arc for servers discovered by Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-arc-enable-inventory?view=migrate
Discover SQL Server instances in existing Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-discover-sql-existing-project?view=migrate
Enable extra data collection on Arc-enabled servers https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-enable-additional-data-collection-for-arc-servers?view=migrate
Manage Arc resource synchronization in Azure Migrate projects https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-manage-arc-resource-sync?view=migrate
Configure Azure Migrate appliance for physical servers https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-set-up-appliance-physical?view=migrate
Configure Azure Migrate with Private Endpoints and Private Link https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-use-azure-migrate-with-private-endpoints?view=migrate
Reference for Azure Migrate Collector VM extension settings https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/migrate-virtual-machine-extension-reference?view=migrate
Configure Azure Migrate Platform Landing Zone settings https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/platform-landing-zone?view=migrate
Use built-in Azure Policy definitions for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/policy-reference?view=migrate
Configure PostgreSQL assessment properties in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/postgresql-assessment-properties?view=migrate
Create Azure Migrate project using ARM template https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/quickstart-create-migrate-project?view=migrate
Set Azure VM assessment properties in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/vm-assessment-properties?view=migrate
Manage resources created during VM move with Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/manage-resources-created-move-process
Configure destination settings for VM moves with Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/modify-target-settings

Integrations & Coding Patterns

Topic URL
Integrate CAST Highlight code scans with Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/cast-highlights-integration?view=migrate
Automate VMware to Azure migration via Site Recovery REST https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-automate-vmware-to-azure-migration-rest-api?view=migrate

Deployment

Topic URL
Deploy Azure Migrate appliance in Azure Government https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/deploy-appliance-script-government?view=migrate
Deploy Azure Migrate appliance using PowerShell script https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/deploy-appliance-script?view=migrate
Execute and track migration waves in Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/how-to-execute-track-waves?view=migrate
Prepare Windows Server 2003 for Azure Migrate https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/prepare-windows-server-2003-migration?view=migrate
Configure Azure DevOps pipelines for containerized apps https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/migrate/tutorial-app-containerization-azure-pipeline?view=migrate
Supported extension resource types in Azure Resource Mover https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/support-matrix-extension-resource-types
Check regional move support for Azure VMs https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/support-matrix-move-region-azure-vm
Support matrix for moving Azure SQL resources between regions https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/resource-mover/support-matrix-move-region-sql