# Azure Virtual Network

> Expert knowledge for Azure Virtual Network development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and deployment. Use when configuring VNet peering, gateways, service endpoints, encryption, NVAs, or upgrading Basic to Standard IPs, and other Azure Virtual Network related development tasks. Not for Azure Virtual Network Manager (use azure-virtual-network-manager), Azure Virtual WAN (use azure-virtual-wan), Azure VPN Gateway (use azure-vpn-gateway), Azure ExpressRoute (use azure-expressroute).

- Skill: `atc-net/azure-virtual-network` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add atc-net/azure-virtual-network`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/atc-net/azure-virtual-network/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: atc-net (https://skillmd.com/u/atc-net)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/atc-net/azure-virtual-network

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# Azure Virtual Network Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Virtual Network. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, 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

This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch`. Returns Markdown.
- **Fallback**: Use `WebFetch`. Returns Markdown.

## Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Troubleshooting | L32-L36 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure VM/VNet connectivity issues: routing and NSG problems, NVAs and routing appliances, SMTP blocking, VNet peering, encryption, and VNet deletion errors. |
| Best Practices | L37-L48 | Best practices for Azure VM/VNet networking: NIC internals, NSGs, outbound access, MTU and TCP/IP tuning, throughput optimization, and using VNet service endpoints securely and efficiently. |
| Decision Making | L49-L58 | Guidance on design choices: when to use accelerated networking, routing preferences, VNets vs appliances, IP upgrade paths, VNet integration options, and cost/performance trade-offs. |
| Architecture & Design Patterns | L59-L65 | Designing VNet architectures: subnet extension for migrations, VNet peering, hybrid two-tier apps, traffic mirroring with TAP, topology planning, and custom routing options. |
| Limits & Quotas | L66-L71 | VM networking limits: MANA support per VM size, static public IP assignment and quotas, and per-VM network throughput caps and constraints. |
| Security | L72-L81 | Network security for VNets: Kubernetes network policies, layered controls, Azure Policy for VNets, Virtual Network encryption concepts/config, and securing storage egress with service endpoint policies. |
| Configuration | L82-L113 | Configuring Azure Virtual Network behavior: IPs (public/private/custom), DNS, DHCP, encryption, peering, gateways, monitoring, and MANA settings for VMs, NVAs, and PaaS delegation. |
| Deployment | L114-L117 | Guidance for upgrading Azure Basic public IP addresses to Standard SKU, including requirements, steps, and considerations for network resources and downtime. |

### Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Register and create Azure Virtual Network routing appliances | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/how-to-create-virtual-network-routing-appliance |

### Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Understand Azure Accelerated Networking internals on Linux | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/accelerated-networking-how-it-works |
| Apply Azure Virtual Network design best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/concepts-and-best-practices |
| Tune MTU settings for Azure virtual machines | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/how-to-virtual-machine-mtu |
| Understand and control default outbound access for Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/default-outbound-access |
| Configure Azure NSG rules and traffic processing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/network-security-group-how-it-works |
| Tune Azure VM network settings for higher throughput | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-optimize-network-bandwidth |
| Configure and use Azure VNet service endpoints | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-service-endpoints-overview |
| Apply TCP/IP performance tuning on Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-tcpip-performance-tuning |

### Decision Making
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Decide when to use Azure Accelerated Networking | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/accelerated-networking-overview |
| Plan and execute upgrade from Basic to Standard public IPs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/public-ip-basic-upgrade-guidance |
| Choose Azure routing preference via Microsoft or ISP network | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/routing-preference-overview |
| Use routing preference unmetered for Azure-to-CDN traffic | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/routing-preference-unmetered |
| Optimize Azure Virtual Network costs and trade-offs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-cost-optimization |
| Choose Azure VNet integration options for service isolation | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/vnet-integration-for-azure-services |

### Architecture & Design Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Design subnet extension strategies for Azure migrations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/subnet-extension |
| Implement hybrid two-tier application with Azure VNets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-scenario-udr-gw-nva |
| Plan Azure virtual network topology and connectivity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-vnet-plan-design-arm |

### Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Create Azure VM with static public IP and understand IP limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/virtual-network-static-public-ip |
| Understand Azure VM network throughput limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-machine-network-throughput |

### Security
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Configure Kubernetes network policies on Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/kubernetes-network-policies |
| Secure Azure Virtual Network deployments with layered controls | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/secure-virtual-network |
| Apply Azure Policy compliance controls to Virtual Network | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/security-controls-policy |
| Configure and manage Azure Virtual Network encryption | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-encryption-faq |
| Understand and use Azure Virtual Network encryption | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-encryption-overview |
| Secure Azure Storage egress with service endpoint policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-service-endpoint-policies-overview |

### Configuration
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Configure MANA for Linux Azure virtual machines | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/accelerated-networking-mana-linux |
| Configure MANA support and opt-out for Azure NVAs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/accelerated-networking-mana-network-virtual-appliance-opt-out |
| Configure advertised gateway prefixes for hub VNets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/how-to-advertised-gateway-prefixes |
| Configure subnet peering for Azure virtual networks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/how-to-configure-subnet-peering |
| Create and configure an encrypted Azure virtual network | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/how-to-create-encryption |
| Deploy a DHCP server VM for on-premises clients | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/how-to-dhcp-azure |
| Configure public IP addresses for Azure Application Gateway frontends | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/configure-public-ip-application-gateway |
| Configure public IP addresses for Azure Firewall deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/configure-public-ip-firewall |
| Configure public IP usage with Azure Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/configure-public-ip-load-balancer |
| Configure public IPs with Azure NAT Gateway for outbound SNAT | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/configure-public-ip-nat-gateway |
| Manage public IP addresses for Azure Virtual Machines | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/configure-public-ip-vm |
| Configure public IP addresses for Azure VPN gateways | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/configure-public-ip-vpn-gateway |
| Onboard and configure custom IPv6 address prefixes in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/create-custom-ip-address-prefix-ipv6-portal |
| Onboard and configure custom IPv4 address prefixes in Azure | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/create-custom-ip-address-prefix-portal |
| Manage Azure custom IP address prefixes and migrations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/manage-custom-ip-address-prefix |
| Create and manage Azure public IP address prefixes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/manage-public-ip-address-prefix |
| Configure monitoring and alerts for Azure Public IP addresses | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/monitor-public-ip |
| Reference metrics and logs for monitoring Azure Public IPs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/monitor-public-ip-reference |
| Configure Azure public IP address prefixes and zones | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/public-ip-address-prefix |
| Configure private and public IPs on Azure network interfaces | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/virtual-network-network-interface-addresses |
| Create and manage Azure public IP address resources | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/virtual-network-public-ip-address |
| Configure monitoring for Azure Virtual Network with Azure Monitor | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/monitor-virtual-network |
| Reference for Azure Virtual Network monitoring data | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/monitor-virtual-network-reference |
| Use built-in Azure Policy definitions for Virtual Network | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/policy-reference |
| Configure subnet delegation for Azure PaaS services | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/subnet-delegation-overview |
| Set up dynamic DNS registration for Azure VMs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-networks-name-resolution-ddns |
| Configure DNS name resolution for Azure virtual networks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/virtual-networks-name-resolution-for-vms-and-role-instances |
| Understand and configure Azure IP 168.63.129.16 usage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/what-is-ip-address-168-63-129-16 |

### Deployment
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Upgrade Azure Basic public IPs to Standard SKU | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-network/ip-services/public-ip-upgrade |