1---2name: azure-data-box-family3description: Expert knowledge for Azure Data Box development including troubleshooting, best practices, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when using Data Box/Disk/Heavy for offline data copy, SMB/NFS uploads, REST APIs, CMKs/Key Vault, or NTFS ACL preservation, and other Azure Data Box related development tasks. Not for Azure Import Export (use azure-import-export), Azure Stack Edge (use azure-stack-edge), Azure Virtual Machines (use azure-virtual-machines).4---5# Azure Data Box Skill
6
7This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Data Box. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.
8
9## How to Use This Skill
10
11> **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
12
13> **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)
14
15This 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.
18
19## Category Index
20
21| Category | Lines | Description |
22|----------|-------|-------------|
23| Troubleshooting | L34-L50 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Data Box and Data Box Disk issues: audit/order logs, validation and unlock errors, SMB/REST/upload copy failures, and time sync or connection problems. |
24| Best Practices | L51-L56 | Guidance on preserving NTFS ACLs, file permissions, and metadata when copying data to Azure Data Box and Data Box Disk using supported tools and settings |
25| Limits & Quotas | L57-L66 | Limits on capacity, files, connections, and usage for Data Box, Data Box Disk, and Data Box Heavy devices, including quotas, supported configurations, and operational constraints. |
26| Security | L67-L77 | Securing Azure Data Box: certificates, CMKs in Key Vault, Customer Lockbox, built‑in protections, and applying Azure Policy (including regulatory controls) to Data Box and Data Box Disk. |
27| Configuration | L78-L97 | Configuring and operating Data Box/Heavy/Disk: cabling, system/network requirements, local UI/portal admin, SMB/NFS/NAS copy workflows, and setting blob access tiers (Hot/Cool/Archive). |
28| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L98-L107 | Patterns and tools for integrating Data Box with apps and backup products (REST APIs, VHD to managed disks, file share to SharePoint, Commvault, OpenText, Veeam migrations). |
29
30### Troubleshooting
31| Topic | URL |
32|-------|-----|
33| Use Azure Data Box audit logs for diagnostics and security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-audit-logs |
34| Use logs to resolve Azure Data Box Disk validation issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot |
35| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk data copy problems | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-data-copy |
36| Review and fix Azure Data Box Disk upload errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-data-upload |
37| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk unlock tool errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-unlock |
38| Use logs to troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk upload issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-upload |
39| Track and audit Azure Data Box export orders and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-export-logs |
40| Track and audit Azure Data Box import orders and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-logs |
41| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box data copy errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot |
42| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box upload copy errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-data-upload |
43| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box REST copy issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-rest |
44| Fix SMB share connection failures to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-share-access |
45| Fix time synchronization issues on Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-time-sync |
46
47### Best Practices
48| Topic | URL |
49|-------|-----|
50| Preserve ACLs and metadata with Azure Data Box Disk | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-file-acls-preservation |
51| Preserve ACLs and metadata when copying to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-file-acls-preservation |
52
53### Limits & Quotas
54| Topic | URL |
55|-------|-----|
56| Azure Data Box Disk capacity and usage limits FAQ | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-faq |
57| Review Azure Data Box Disk capacity and file limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-limits |
58| Operational limits and usage details for Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-faq |
59| Capacity and connection limits for Azure Data Box Heavy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-heavy-limits |
60| Azure Data Box device and connection limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-limits |
61| Understand Azure Data Box device capacities and usage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-overview |
62
63### Security
64| Topic | URL |
65|-------|-----|
66| Use custom certificates for Azure Data Box web UI and Blob | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-bring-your-own-certificates |
67| Configure Customer Lockbox approvals for Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-customer-lockbox |
68| Manage customer-managed keys for Azure Data Box in Key Vault | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-customer-managed-encryption-key-portal |
69| Security features and protections in Azure Data Box Disk | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-security |
70| Understand and manage Azure Data Box security features | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-security |
71| Apply Azure Policy built-ins to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/policy-reference |
72| Apply Azure Policy regulatory controls to Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/security-controls-policy |
73
74### Configuration
75| Topic | URL |
76|-------|-----|
77| Choose cabling options for Azure Data Box data transfer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-cable-options |
78| Copy data to Azure Data Box via SMB with access tiers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-copy-data |
79| Use Azure Data Box local copy service from NAS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-copy-data-via-copy-service |
80| Copy data to Azure Data Box via NFS with access tiers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-copy-data-via-nfs |
81| Copy exported data from Azure Data Box via SMB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-export-copy-data |
82| Copy exported data from Azure Data Box via NFS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-export-copy-data-via-nfs |
83| Copy data to Data Box Disk with access tiers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-deploy-copy-data |
84| Set up and unlock Azure Data Box Disk securely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-deploy-set-up |
85| System and network requirements for Azure Data Box Disk | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-system-requirements |
86| System and network requirements for Azure Data Box Heavy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-heavy-system-requirements |
87| Send Azure Data Box data to Hot, Cool, or Archive tiers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-how-to-set-data-tier |
88| Configure and manage Azure Data Box using local web UI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-local-web-ui-admin |
89| Administer Azure Data Box devices via Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-portal-admin |
90| Administer Azure Data Box Disk via Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-portal-ui-admin |
91| Review Azure Data Box system and client requirements | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-system-requirements |
92| Supported APIs and tools for Azure Data Box Blob storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-system-requirements-rest |
93
94### Integrations & Coding Patterns
95| Topic | URL |
96|-------|-----|
97| Migrate on-premises VHDs to Azure managed disks via Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-copy-data-from-vhds |
98| Use REST APIs with Azure Data Box Blob storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-copy-data-via-rest |
99| Copy data to Data Box Heavy via REST APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-heavy-deploy-copy-data-via-rest |
100| Migrate file shares to SharePoint Online with Data Box Heavy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-heavy-migrate-spo |
101| Plan migrations using Commvault Air Gap Protect with Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/migrate-commvault-data-box |
102| Migrate data with OpenText solutions and Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/migrate-opentext-data-box |
103| Migrate backups with Veeam and Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/migrate-veeam-data-box |
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