1---2name: azure-load-balancer3description: Azure Load Balancer Skill4---5# Azure Load Balancer Skill67This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Load Balancer. 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.89## How to Use This Skill1011> **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 file1213> **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](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)1415This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:16- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.17- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.1819## Category Index2021| Category | Lines | Description |22|----------|-------|-------------|23| Troubleshooting | L37-L52 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Load Balancer issues: deployment errors, health events/logs, probes, connectivity/backend traffic, SNAT/timeouts, IMDS errors, and resource health/availability. |24| Best Practices | L53-L60 | Guidance on deploying Azure Load Balancer with VM scale sets, configuring inbound NAT, and building custom HTTP/HTTPS health probes (Python) using recommended best practices. |25| Decision Making | L61-L68 | Guidance on choosing the right Load Balancer SKU and planning/migrating configurations, including Basic→Standard, NAT rules v1→v2, and AWS NLB→Azure Load Balancer. |26| Architecture & Design Patterns | L69-L73 | Design patterns for outbound internet connectivity using Azure Load Balancer, including egress-only architectures and SNAT configuration, scaling, and best practices. |27| Limits & Quotas | L74-L79 | Configuring Azure Load Balancer TCP idle timeouts and reset options, and understanding how and when TCP resets are triggered and affect client connections. |28| Security | L80-L85 | Security guidance for Azure Load Balancer: hardening, access controls, and using Azure DDoS Protection to defend against volumetric and network attacks. |29| Configuration | L86-L106 | Configuring Azure Load Balancer behavior: backends/frontends (incl. cross-subscription, IP-based, outbound-only), rules, health probes, traffic distribution, monitoring, and SNAT outbound rules. |30| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L107-L114 | Using Azure IMDS and Monitor to programmatically query load balancer/VM IP metadata and retrieve load balancer metrics via CLI and REST APIs. |31| Deployment | L115-L119 | Guides for deploying Load Balancers: replicating configurations across regions and automating upgrades from Basic to Standard using PowerShell. |3233### Troubleshooting34| Topic | URL |35|-------|-----|36| Fix common Azure Load Balancer deployment errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-common-deployment-errors |37| Interpret Azure Load Balancer health event logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-health-event-logs |38| Monitor and alert on LoadBalancerHealthEvent logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-monitor-alert-health-event-logs |39| Use metrics, alerts, and health to diagnose Azure Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-standard-diagnostics |40| Test Azure Public Load Balancer frontend reachability | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-test-frontend-reachability |41| Troubleshoot common Azure Load Balancer connectivity issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-troubleshoot |42| Troubleshoot Azure Load Balancer backend traffic problems | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-troubleshoot-backend-traffic |43| Troubleshoot Azure Load Balancer health event log types | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-troubleshoot-health-event-logs |44| Troubleshoot Azure Load Balancer health probe status issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-troubleshoot-health-probe-status |45| Resolve common Azure IMDS error codes for Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/troubleshoot-load-balancer-imds |46| Troubleshoot Azure Load Balancer outbound SNAT and timeout issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/troubleshoot-outbound-connection |47| Diagnose Azure Load Balancer resource health and availability | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/troubleshoot-rhc |4849### Best Practices50| Topic | URL |51|-------|-----|52| Configure inbound NAT rules for VM scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/configure-inbound-nat-rules-vm-scale-set |53| Implement custom HTTP/HTTPS health probes with Python | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/create-custom-http-health-probe-howto |54| Apply Azure Load Balancer deployment best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-best-practices |55| Use Azure Standard Load Balancer with virtual machine scale sets | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-standard-virtual-machine-scale-sets |5657### Decision Making58| Topic | URL |59|-------|-----|60| Plan and execute upgrade from Basic to Standard Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-basic-upgrade-guidance |61| Migrate Azure Load Balancer NAT rules v1 to v2 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-nat-pool-migration |62| Plan AWS NLB to Azure Load Balancer migration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/network-load-balancing-aws-to-azure-how-to |63| Choose the right Azure Load Balancer SKU | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/skus |6465### Architecture & Design Patterns66| Topic | URL |67|-------|-----|68| Design outbound internet connectivity with Azure Load Balancer SNAT | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-outbound-connections |6970### Limits & Quotas71| Topic | URL |72|-------|-----|73| Configure Azure Load Balancer TCP idle timeout and reset | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-tcp-idle-timeout |74| Understand Azure Load Balancer TCP reset behavior | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-tcp-reset |7576### Security77| Topic | URL |78|-------|-----|79| Apply security best practices to Azure Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/secure-load-balancer |80| Protect Azure Load Balancer with Azure DDoS Protection | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/tutorial-protect-load-balancer-ddos |8182### Configuration83| Topic | URL |84|-------|-----|85| Configure Azure Load Balancer backend pools by IP | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/backend-pool-management |86| Configure cross-subscription backends for Azure Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/cross-subscription-how-to-attach-backend |87| Attach cross-subscription frontend IPs to Azure Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/cross-subscription-how-to-attach-frontend |88| Create global load balancer with cross-subscription backends | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/cross-subscription-how-to-global-backend |89| Configure cross-subscription internal Azure load balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/cross-subscription-how-to-internal-load-balancer |90| Configure outbound-only Azure Load Balancer with Bastion | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/egress-only |91| Configure Azure Load Balancer health probe settings | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-custom-probe-overview |92| Configure Azure Load Balancer traffic distribution mode | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-distribution-mode |93| Configure DHCPv6 on Linux VMs for Azure IPv6 | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-ipv6-for-linux |94| Understand Azure Load Balancer portal configuration options | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/manage |95| Manage Azure Load Balancer backend admin state | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/manage-admin-state-how-to |96| Configure and manage Azure Load Balancer inbound NAT rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/manage-inbound-nat-rules |97| Configure Azure Load Balancer health probes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/manage-probes-how-to |98| Configure Azure Load Balancer rule types and properties | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/manage-rules-how-to |99| Configure monitoring for Azure Load Balancer with Azure Monitor | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/monitor-load-balancer |100| Reference monitoring metrics and logs for Azure Load Balancer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/monitor-load-balancer-reference |101| Configure outbound rules for Azure Load Balancer SNAT | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/outbound-rules |102103### Integrations & Coding Patterns104| Topic | URL |105|-------|-----|106| Use Azure IMDS to retrieve load balancer metadata | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/howto-load-balancer-imds |107| Query load balancer and VM IP info via Azure IMDS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/instance-metadata-service-load-balancer |108| Retrieve Azure Load Balancer metrics using Azure Monitor CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-monitor-metrics-cli |109| Query Azure Load Balancer metrics via REST API | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/load-balancer-query-metrics-rest-api |110111### Deployment112| Topic | URL |113|-------|-----|114| Replicate Azure Load Balancer configuration across regions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/move-across-regions-azure-load-balancer |115| Automate Basic-to-Standard Load Balancer upgrade with PowerShell | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/load-balancer/upgrade-basic-standard-with-powershell |
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