Tag: Azure Hybrid

Jul222020July 22, 2020July 22, 20209Commentsby Thomas Maurer
Microsoft Azure Stack HCI version 20H2

Azure Stack HCI version 20H2 – everything you need to know!

Posted in Azure Arc, Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Hardware, Hybrid Cloud, Hyper-V, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, PowerShell, Virtualization, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server

Microsoft just announced the new Azure Stack HCI, delivered as an Azure hybrid service, at Microsoft Inspire 2020. Azure Stack HCI, as a hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) solution, is expanding the Azure Stack portfolio to offer a comprehensive and flexible lineup of edge infrastructure and hybrid cloud environments. In this blog post, I want you to provide you with an overview of the new Azure Stack HCI, version 20H2.

You can also find the full announcement blog on Azure.com.

What’s Azure Stack HCI

Azure Stack HCI is a hyper-converged cluster solution that runs virtualized Windows and Linux workloads in a hybrid on-premises environment. Some of the most popular use cases are datacenter modernization, Remote/Branch office scenarios, SQL Server based virtual applications, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, and running Kubernetes clusters.

  • Hyperconverged infrastructure stack – The Azure Stack HCI operating system is based on core components from Windows Server, and it is designed and optimized on being the best virtualization host and hyper-converged platform. It is enhanced with software from Azure that includes our latest hypervisor with built-in software-defined storage and networking, that you install on servers you control, on your premises. This provides additional functionally, features and performance.
  • Delivered as an Azure hybrid service – Azure Stack HCI is now delivered as an Azure service with a subscription-based licensing model and hybrid capabilities built-in. You can enhance the cluster with Azure hybrid capabilities such as cloud-based monitoring, site recovery, and backup, as well as a central view of all of your Azure Stack HCI deployments in the Azure portal.
  • Familiar for IT to manage and operate – Runs on your choice of hardware, from your preferred vendor, and continue using the tools and processes your team already knows to manage virtual machines, including Windows Admin Center, System Center, and PowerShell.

This new Azure Stack HCI product takes its name from a program that Microsoft has run for several years with recent versions of Windows Server. That program was very popular, and it’s what inspired this new product.

Azure Stack HCI - Inspired by its popular predecessor

Azure Stack HCI – Inspired by its popular predecessor

Part of the Azure Stack Portfolio

Azure Stack HCI joins the growing family of Azure Stack solutions, which offers a comprehensive and flexible lineup of edge infrastructure. The Azure Stack portfolio ranges from Azure Stack Hub, which is an extension of Azure, bringing the agility and innovation of cloud computing to your on-premises environment, to Azure Stack Edge, which brings Azure compute for AI and machine learning at the edge.

Azure Stack HCI version 20H2 - Part of the Azure Stack portfolio

Azure Stack HCI version 20H2 – Part of the Azure Stack portfolio

You can learn more about the Azure Stack portfolio on Azure.com.

Read More

Jun022020June 2, 2020June 7, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Skylines Summer Sessions - Azure Arc - Azure StackSkylines Summer Sessions - Azure Arc - Azure Stack

Skylines Summer Sessions – Azure Arc & Azure Stack

Posted in Azure Arc, Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Hybrid Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Webinar, Windows Admin Center, Work

I am happy to let you know that I will be speaking about Azure Arc and Azure Stack during the Skylines Summer Sessions. During the Summer months, Sklines Academy is bringing you a host of different interactive chats with Azure experts from around the world. You can join these sessions on YouTube. My video will air on Tuesday, June 2nd, at 7 pm CEST.

In this Skylines Summer Session, I am discussing Azure Hybrid together with Microsoft MVPs Richard Hooper and Gregor Suttie.

I hope you enjoy the Skylines Summer Sessions. You can check out more about the Azure Stack Portfolio or Azure Arc for Cloud-Native Hybrid Cloud management on my blog. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.


May242020May 24, 2020May 24, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
One Ops Question How do I integrate Azure Stack Hub in your Datacenter

One Ops Question – How do I integrate Azure Stack Hub in your Datacenter?

Posted in Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Thomas Maurer

In this week’s One Ops Questions, I am going to answer how do I integrate Azure Stack Hub in your Datacenter?

How do I integrate Azure Stack Hub in your Datacenter?

If you want to integrate Azure Stack Hub into your on-premises environment, you will need to think and make about a couple of design decisions, like network integration, management considerations, and more. Here you can find more information about Datacenter integration planning considerations for Azure Stack Hub integrated systems. You can also learn more about the full Azure Stack portfolio including Azure Stack Hub, Azure Stack HCI, and Azure Stack Edge.

Find out more on Microsoft Docs.

Try Azure for free: https://aka.ms/TryAzure13

I hope you enjoyed watching the One Ops Question video on how do I integrate Azure Stack Hub in your Datacenter. If you have questions, feel free to leave a comment!


May192020May 19, 2020June 7, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Microsoft Build 2020

Microsoft Build 2020 Expert Q&A Azure Hybrid Cloud Management

Posted in Azure Arc, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Events, Hybrid Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Webinar, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server 2019, Work

This year, the Microsoft Build 2020 (May 19-20) will be a global digital experience with a non-stop, 48-hour interactive livestream experience straight to your screen. In the digital event session catalog, you find out more about the learning content at the for Microsoft developers but also IT Pros. I am happy to let you know that I will be part of a Microsoft Build 2020 Expert Q&A session on Azure Hybrid Cloud Management together with Sarah Lean (Microsoft Cloud Advocate).

Expert Q&A: Azure Hybrid Cloud and Management

Wednesday, May 20 – 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM CEST 

Community Connections experience – Connect with experts to discuss Azure Hybrid Cloud and Management Technologies like Azure Arc, Azure Stack, Azure Stack HCI, Azure Management, Azure Governance, Azure Migrate, and Azure File Sync.

In this Microsoft Build Q&A session, we will be there to answer questions about Azure Hybrid Cloud and Management. Join us on topics like:

I hope you join us at this year’s Microsoft Build 2020 conference online! If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.


May112020May 11, 2020June 7, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Livestream Hybrid Cloud Server Management with Azure Arc

Livestream on Hybrid Cloud Server Management with Azure Arc

Posted in Azure Arc, Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, PowerShell, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server, Windows Server 2019

On Wednesday, May 27, I plan to do a Livestream on how to govern and manage servers in a hybrid cloud environment with Azure Arc. In the live stream, we will set up my Azure environment and add on-premises Windows and Linux servers to Azure Arc, so I can start managing them using the Azure Resource Manager.

Azure Arc allows you to onboard physical and virtual servers in your hybrid environment (on-premises, edge, and multi-cloud). By joining serves to Azure Arc, you get the benefits you are used from native Azure resources, like tags, RBAC, and many more. In the preview, you can now use Azure Management services like Azure Log Analytics and Azure Policy to make sure your servers are compliant across your hybrid environment.

Livestream Azure Arc for Servers – Hybrid Cloud Server Management

YouTube Livestream will be starting on Wednesday, May 27 at 16:00 (CEST): Make sure you set a reminder!

 ▶ Download the calendar ICS file here. 📅✔

You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel to get a notification.

Manage and govern your hybrid servers using Azure Arc

Thomas Maurer shows you how you can manage and govern your Windows and Linux machines hosted outside of Azure on your corporate network or other cloud providers, similar to how you manage native Azure virtual machines. When a hybrid machine is connected to Azure, it becomes a connected machine and is treated as a resource in Azure. Azure Arc provides you with the familiar cloud-native Azure management experience, like RBAC, Tags, Azure Policy, Log Analytics, and more.

If you are interested in these topics, join me and check out the following links:

Join us on the YouTube Livestream

If you are interested, join us on May 27 online. I am really looking forward to chatting with you in the Livestream about hybrid cloud server management with Azure Arc. You can find the live stream here on YouTube.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.


May102020May 10, 2020May 18, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Cloud with Chris Podcast

Cloud with Chris – Podcast on Hybrid Cloud

Posted in Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Webinar, Windows Server

I was on the Cloud with Chris podcast to talk about Hybrid Cloud and especially what Microsoft Azure has to offer with the Azure Hybrid services. Cloud with Chris is a great podcast if you want to learn more about different cloud computing technologies and concepts. You can listen to the podcast right here.

Cloud with Chris

Exploring Cloud concepts with Chris Reddington (Welsh Tech Geek, Cloud Advocate, Musical Theatre Enthusiast and Improving Improviser!). We will regularly invite guests to talk about their experiences with the cloud and hear about some of the lessons learned around their cloud journey.

In episode 6, we focused on Hybrid Cloud and how Microsoft Azure can really provide value. Microsoft Azure is designed to be hybrid and helps our customers to run their services where ever they need them, connect existing services to the cloud, and make their on-premises environment even better. In the podcast, we are talking about how you can connect existing systems to Azure Hybrid services, the new Azure Stack portfolio, Azure Arc, and much more.

Joining me in this episode is Thomas Maurer, a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft who engages with the community and customers around the world! Most of the focus so far in Cloud with Chris has been on Public Cloud, so Thomas and I adjust course slightly, and talk about Hybrid Cloud, and the new and upcoming features of the Microsoft Azure platform. Get ready to be introduced to a wide variety of Azure Technologies, and how they may be able to strengthen your on-premises, public cloud or multi-cloud deployments. Let’s listen in…

You can check out his podcast site and listen to it on the platform of your choice. You can learn more about Azure Hybrid here:

I hope you will enjoy the Cloud with Chris podcast on Hybrid Cloud, and if you have any questions please let me know in the comments.


Apr302020April 30, 2020April 29, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Speaking at Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020

Speaking at the Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020

Posted in Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Events, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Virtualization, Webinar, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server 2019

I am happy to let you know that I will be speaking virtually at the Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020 from May 11-14. This is a free four-day online event, where you can learn in different learning paths and tracks about the latest and greatest Microsoft technologies like Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, and many more. I will be speaking on Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14. The event will have a mix from sessions in German as well as sessions in English. My session will be in English and I will be talking in the Migrating Server Infrastructure and the Modern Cloud Operations track.

Migrating Server Infrastructure (Wednesday, May 13 – 13:30-17:30 CEST)

  • Migrating to Windows Server 2019 (Thomas Maurer – English)
    Tailwind Traders has acquired Northwind, a large subsidiary company. Northwind currently has 1500 servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 – either directly or virtually – on hardware at the midpoint of its operational lifespan. While Tailwind Traders will eventually move many of these workloads to Azure, Windows Server 2008 R2 end of life is quickly approaching. In this session, learn how Tailwind Traders’ used Azure hybrid management technologies to migrate servers, and the roles that they host, to Windows Server 2019.
  • Integrated Cloud Technologies – Hybrid Management Technologies (Thomas Maurer – English)
    Tailwind Traders has now migrated the majority of their server hosts from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2019. Now, they are interested in the Azure hybrid technologies that are readily available to them. In this session, learn how Tailwind Traders began using Windows Admin Center to manage its fleet of Windows Server computers and integrated hybrid technologies, such as Azure File Sync, Azure Arc, Azure Azure Site Recovery, and Azure Update Management to improve deployment performance and manageability.
  • Migrating IaaS Workloads to Azure (Markus Klein – German)
    Now that the migration of their server hosts from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2019 is complete, Tailwind Traders wants to begin the process of “lift and shift”: migrating some of their on-premises VMs they’ve been running in their datacenter. In this session, learn about how Tailwind Traders began the process of migrating some of their existing VM workloads to Azure and how this allowed them to retire aging server hardware and close datacenter and server rooms that were costing the organization a substantial amount of money.

You can find more information and register for free here.

Azure: Managing Cloud Operations (Thursday, May 14 – 13:30-17:30 CEST)

  • IaaS VM Operations (Thomas Maurer – English)
    In recent months, Tailwind Traders has been having issues with keeping their sprawling IaaS VM deployment under control, leading to mismanaged resources and inefficient processes. In this session, look into how Tailwind Traders can ensure their VMs are properly managed and maintained with the same care in Azure as they were in Tailwind Trader’s on-premises data centers.
  • Azure Governance and Management (Thomas Maurer – English)
    Tailwind Traders’ deployments are ocuring in an ad hoc manner, primarily driven by lack of protocol and unapproved decisions by various operators or employees. Some deployments even violate the organization’s compliance obligations, such as being deployed in a manner that violates PCI DSS rules. After bringing their existing IaaS VM fleet under control, Tailwind Traders wants to ensure that future deployments comply with policy and organizational requirements. In this session, walk through the processes and technologies that will keep Tailwind Trader’s deployments in good standing with the help of Azure Blueprints, Azure Policy, Locks, and more.

You can find more information and register for free here.

I hope you join us at the Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment. I also summarized some of the links to documentation which will help you with the topics above.

If you want to watch some videos on demand, check out my YouTube channel.



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    Thomas Maurer

    My name is Thomas Maurer. I am a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft. I am part of the Azure engineering team (Cloud + AI) and engage with the community and customers around the world. I am located in Switzerland. I am focusing on Microsoft technologies, especially cloud and datacenter solutions based on Microsoft Azure, Azure Stack and Windows Server. Opinions are my own.

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