1---
2name: azure-data-box-family
3description: 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).
4compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
5metadata:
6 generated_at: "2026-08-09"
7 generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"
8---
9
10# Azure Data Box Skill
11
12This 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.
13
14## How to Use This Skill
15
16> **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
17
18> **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)
19
20This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
21- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
22- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.
23
24## Category Index
25
26| Category | Lines | Description |
27|----------|-------|-------------|
28| 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. |
29| 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 |
30| 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. |
31| 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. |
32| 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). |
33| 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). |
34
35### Troubleshooting
36| Topic | URL |
37|-------|-----|
38| Use Azure Data Box audit logs for diagnostics and security | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-audit-logs |
39| Use logs to resolve Azure Data Box Disk validation issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot |
40| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk data copy problems | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-data-copy |
41| Review and fix Azure Data Box Disk upload errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-data-upload |
42| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk unlock tool errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-unlock |
43| Use logs to troubleshoot Azure Data Box Disk upload issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-troubleshoot-upload |
44| Track and audit Azure Data Box export orders and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-export-logs |
45| Track and audit Azure Data Box import orders and logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-logs |
46| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box data copy errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot |
47| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box upload copy errors | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-data-upload |
48| Troubleshoot Azure Data Box REST copy issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-rest |
49| Fix SMB share connection failures to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-share-access |
50| Fix time synchronization issues on Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-troubleshoot-time-sync |
51
52### Best Practices
53| Topic | URL |
54|-------|-----|
55| Preserve ACLs and metadata with Azure Data Box Disk | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-file-acls-preservation |
56| Preserve ACLs and metadata when copying to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-file-acls-preservation |
57
58### Limits & Quotas
59| Topic | URL |
60|-------|-----|
61| Azure Data Box Disk capacity and usage limits FAQ | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-faq |
62| Review Azure Data Box Disk capacity and file limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-limits |
63| Operational limits and usage details for Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-faq |
64| Capacity and connection limits for Azure Data Box Heavy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-heavy-limits |
65| Azure Data Box device and connection limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-limits |
66| Understand Azure Data Box device capacities and usage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-overview |
67
68### Security
69| Topic | URL |
70|-------|-----|
71| 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 |
72| Configure Customer Lockbox approvals for Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-customer-lockbox |
73| 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 |
74| Security features and protections in Azure Data Box Disk | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-security |
75| Understand and manage Azure Data Box security features | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-security |
76| Apply Azure Policy built-ins to Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/policy-reference |
77| Apply Azure Policy regulatory controls to Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/security-controls-policy |
78
79### Configuration
80| Topic | URL |
81|-------|-----|
82| Choose cabling options for Azure Data Box data transfer | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-cable-options |
83| Copy data to Azure Data Box via SMB with access tiers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-copy-data |
84| 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 |
85| 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 |
86| Copy exported data from Azure Data Box via SMB | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-export-copy-data |
87| 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 |
88| Copy data to Data Box Disk with access tiers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-deploy-copy-data |
89| Set up and unlock Azure Data Box Disk securely | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-deploy-set-up |
90| System and network requirements for Azure Data Box Disk | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-disk-system-requirements |
91| System and network requirements for Azure Data Box Heavy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-heavy-system-requirements |
92| 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 |
93| Configure and manage Azure Data Box using local web UI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-local-web-ui-admin |
94| Administer Azure Data Box devices via Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-portal-admin |
95| Administer Azure Data Box Disk via Azure portal | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-portal-ui-admin |
96| Review Azure Data Box system and client requirements | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-system-requirements |
97| Supported APIs and tools for Azure Data Box Blob storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-system-requirements-rest |
98
99### Integrations & Coding Patterns
100| Topic | URL |
101|-------|-----|
102| 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 |
103| Use REST APIs with Azure Data Box Blob storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-deploy-copy-data-via-rest |
104| 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 |
105| Migrate file shares to SharePoint Online with Data Box Heavy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/data-box-heavy-migrate-spo |
106| Plan migrations using Commvault Air Gap Protect with Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/migrate-commvault-data-box |
107| Migrate data with OpenText solutions and Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/migrate-opentext-data-box |
108| Migrate backups with Veeam and Azure Data Box | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/databox/migrate-veeam-data-box |
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