Azure Local is full-stack infrastructure software that runs directly on bare metal hardware validated by OEM partners. With it, you can run containers, virtual machines, and some Azure services at distributed locations with central management from the cloud, enabled by Azure Arc. Microsoft provides and supports the complete software stack, so you don’t need separate tools or vendors for the underlying virtualization or storage.

Azure Arc is a bridge that extends Azure to existing environments and other clouds. Azure Local is an infrastructure solution that includes the capabilities of Azure Arc built-in and sets up automatically. Use Azure Local when you need new or refreshed infrastructure at distributed locations. Use Azure Arc when your environment already has infrastructure.

No, customers own the hardware and have operational control of their Azure Local environment. Day-to-day monitoring, management, support, and other functions are surfaced through Azure tools, but actions are customer-initiated. For example, when a software update is available, a notification appears in the Azure portal prompting you to apply the update. Customers may choose to outsource some or all operations to their solution vendor or another professional services provider.

Azure Stack HCI is now part of Azure Local. The same features and functionality continue to be offered in Azure Local. Azure Local provides additional flexibility. It supports smaller and larger deployments, more hardware, disconnected operations, and other capabilities such as new supported Azure services.

Review networking requirements and other prerequisites and then browse the solutions catalog to find validated hardware from your preferred vendor. Many preinstalled and ready-to-use solutions come with Azure Local software. If they’re not included, you can download and install Azure Local from the Azure portal. Once installed, Azure Local connects to Azure for day-to-day monitoring, management, support, and other functions. Azure Local is billed automatically to your Azure subscription.

Azure Local allows you to take advantage of cloud and on-premises resources working together and natively monitor, secure, and back up to the cloud.

Customers often choose Azure Local in the following scenarios:

• Deploy Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts on your on-premises infrastructure.

• Run Azure Arc services on-premises to build consistent hybrid and multicloud5 applications with support for VMs, data services, and app services.

• Data center consolidation and modernization to improve scalability, retire legacy SAN storage, lower costs, and simplify operations with unified tools and single-vendor support.

• Support branch office and edge workloads with cost-efficient two-node clusters, switchless networking, and centralized management in the Azure portal.

Azure Local is supported for the following regions:

Azure public

These public regions support geographic locations worldwide, for clusters deployed anywhere in the world:

• East US

• West Europe 

• Australia East

• Southeast Asia

• India Central

• Canada Central 

• Japan East

• South Central US
   

Azure Government (Preview)Regions supported in the Azure Government cloud:

• US Gov Virginia