Part 4: On-Premises Readiness
DOCUMENT CATEGORY: Runbook SCOPE: On-premises infrastructure preparation PURPOSE: Prepare AD, network, and hardware for Azure Local MASTER REFERENCE: Microsoft Learn - Azure Local Prerequisites
Status: Active
This phase prepares the on-premises infrastructure for Azure Local deployment, including Active Directory configuration, network infrastructure setup, and hardware preparation.
Stages Covered
| Stage | Description | Folder |
|---|---|---|
| 08 | Active Directory Preparation | phase-01-active-directory/ |
| 09 | Enterprise Network Readiness Validation | phase-02-enterprise-readiness/ |
| 10 | Network Infrastructure Configuration | phase-03-network-infrastructure/ |
In This Section
- Active Directory - OU structure, service accounts, DNS configuration
- Network Infrastructure - Switch configuration, VLANs, firewall rules
- Hardware
- Cabling Guide - Physical connectivity for Dell AX nodes
- Dell Server Prep - BIOS, iDRAC, storage controller configuration
Key Deliverables
| Deliverable | Description |
|---|---|
| AD Structure | OUs, service accounts, group policies |
| DNS Records | Forward and reverse lookup zones |
| Network VLANs | Management, storage, compute, BMC networks |
| Switch Config | Dell switch port configurations |
| Firewall Rules | Required endpoints for Azure connectivity |
| Server BIOS | Optimized settings for Azure Local |
Network Device Configurations
Configuration templates are available in the toolkit repository:
| Device Type | Location | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dell Switches | configs/network-devices/switches/ | IIC reference config |
| FortiGate Firewalls | configs/network-devices/firewalls/ | IIC reference config |
| OpenGear Console | configs/network-devices/opengear/ | IIC reference config |
| BMC/iDRAC | configs/network-devices/bmc/ | IIC reference config |
Note: Enterprise-wide OpenGear configurations are maintained in Product OpenGear. The configs in the toolkit are Azure Local deployment-specific only.
Prerequisites
All hardware must be racked, powered, and cabled before starting this phase.
This includes:
- Dell AX servers installed in racks per vendor specifications
- Power connections to redundant PDUs
- Network cabling completed per design specifications (management, storage, compute networks)
- iDRAC/BMC interfaces accessible via out-of-band management network
- Console server connections established (if applicable)
- Top-of-Rack switches physically installed and powered
Refer to the Low-Level Design for physical cabling specifications and port mappings.
Before starting this phase:
- Completed CI/CD Infrastructure
- Completed Azure Foundation
- All servers racked, powered, and cabled per vendor guidance
- iDRAC/BMC accessible for all servers
- Network switches installed and powered
- Physical access to site
- Network switch and firewall access
- Domain admin credentials
Next Steps
After completing on-premises prerequisites, proceed to Cluster Deployment to install and configure the cluster.
Navigation
| ← Azure Foundation | ↑ Part 3: On-Premises Readiness | Phase 01: Active Directory → |
Version Control
| Version | Date | Author | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 2025-06-01 | Azure Local Cloud CI/CD Engineering | Initial document |
| 1.1 | 2026-03-03 | Azure Local Cloud CI/CD Engineering | Standardized runbook format |
End of Task