This blog post series highlights the key announcements and major updates related to Azure Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Azure Stack, as officially released by Microsoft in the past two weeks.
Azure
Compute
Retirement: Azure Cloud Services Guest OS Families 2, 3, and 4
In July 2024, Azure announced the upcoming retirement of Guest OS Families 2, 3, and 4 for Cloud Services and Cloud Services Extended Support. The end-of-life dates are as follows: Windows Server 2008 R2 will retire in December 2024, while Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 will retire in February 2025. Customers utilizing these OS families need to take action to ensure their cloud services remain supported. To identify which cloud services are running the soon-to-be-retired OS Families, Azure provides a PowerShell script. The script will help pinpoint services that need migration, with recommendations to move to Guest OS family 7 (Windows Server 2022) for continued functionality and support.
Networking
Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) integration with Virtual WAN (preview)
Azure has announced the public preview of integrating Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) with Virtual WAN. Customers can now deploy Cisco FTD directly into a Virtual WAN hub, jointly managed by Microsoft Azure and Cisco. This integration allows the Cisco FTD in the hub to perform Next-Generation Firewall capabilities, inspecting all North-South, East-West, and Internet-bound traffic.
Storage
Azure File Sync Agent v18.2 Release
Azure has released version 18.2 of the Azure File Sync agent, now available on Microsoft Update and Microsoft Download Center. This release includes a rollup update for previous v18 and v18.1 releases, along with sync reliability improvements. It supports installations on Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022. Notably, a server restart is required for existing agent installations. The agent version for this release is 18.2.0.0, with detailed installation instructions provided in KB5023059.
Azure Elastic SAN Feature Updates
Azure has introduced significant updates to the Elastic SAN feature, now generally available. Customers can delete unused space on their SANs and scale down as necessary. This capability is useful for those who realize they do not need as much capacity as initially allocated. Note that scaling down can only occur at the SAN level, not at the volume level. Additionally, Azure has released diagnostic logging capabilities, allowing configuration of Elastic SAN to send Azure platform logs and metrics to various destinations. Two log configurations are available: “All” for every resource log and “Audit” for logs that record customer interactions with data or service settings.
Azure Stack
Azure Stack HCI
CISPE and Microsoft Agree Settlement in Fair Software Licensing Case
On July 11, 2024, Microsoft and CISPE reached an agreement related to CISPE’s competition complaint filed against Microsoft with the European Commission in November 2022. Microsoft committed to changes addressing European CISPE members’ claims, leading CISPE to withdraw its complaint. Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and AliCloud are excluded from these terms. A significant part of the agreement is the collaboration to release an enhanced version of Azure Stack HCI for European cloud providers. This will include features such as multi-session virtual desktop infrastructure, free Extended Security Updates, and pay-as-you-go SQL Server licensing. An independent European Cloud Observatory will monitor the agreement’s implementation. Microsoft has nine months to fulfill its commitments, or CISPE may refile its complaint.
Conclusion
Over the past two weeks, Microsoft has introduced a slew of updates and announcements pertaining to Azure Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Azure Stack. These developments underscore the tech giant’s unwavering commitment to enhancing its cloud offerings and adapting to the ever-evolving needs of businesses and developers. Users of Azure can anticipate improved functionalities, streamlined services, and enriched features as a result of these changes. Stay tuned for more insights as I continue to monitor and report on Azure’s progression in the cloud sphere.
