Discovery Sessions Overview
DOCUMENT CATEGORY: Runbook SCOPE: Discovery and planning session framework PURPOSE: Structure and guide discovery workshops MASTER REFERENCE: Microsoft Learn - Azure Local Planning
Status: Active
Discovery sessions are structured workshops conducted with stakeholders to gather requirements, assess infrastructure, and plan Azure Local deployments. This framework ensures consistent, thorough discovery across all deployments.
Overview
The discovery process is organized into five phases that progressively build the complete picture needed for successful Azure Local deployment:
- Pre-Discovery Planning - Internal preparation and scheduling
- Requirements Workshops - Stakeholder interviews and requirements gathering
- Workload Assessment - Technical analysis of existing workloads
- Data Consolidation - Compile and validate gathered information
- Planning Outputs Review - Formal review of discovery artifacts
Sessions
| Session | Description | Duration | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Discovery Planning | Internal prep, scheduling, initial data request | 2-4 hours | deployment team |
| Requirements Workshops | Business & technical requirements gathering | 4-8 hours | All stakeholders |
| Workload Assessment | Existing infrastructure and workload analysis | 4-6 hours | Technical teams |
| Data Consolidation | Compile, validate, and organize discovery data | 2-4 hours | deployment team |
| Planning Outputs Review | Formal review of completed discovery package | 1-2 hours | All stakeholders |
Workflow
flowchart LR
A["Pre-Discovery<br/>Planning"] --> B["Requirements<br/>Workshops"]
B --> C["Workload<br/>Assessment"]
C --> D["Data<br/>Consolidation"]
D --> E["Planning Outputs<br/>Review"]
E --> F["Discovery<br/>Complete"]
Key Deliverables
| Deliverable | Description |
|---|---|
| Discovery Questionnaire | Completed requirements document |
| Site Assessment Report | Physical and network infrastructure evaluation |
| Workload Inventory | Catalog of workloads to migrate/deploy |
| Architecture Design | Proposed cluster topology and network design |
| Bill of Materials | Hardware, licensing, and resource requirements |
Prerequisites
Before beginning discovery sessions:
- Deployment approved and scheduled
- Discovery team assigned
- Initial data request sent to stakeholders
- Access to key stakeholders confirmed
Next Steps
After completing discovery, proceed to CI/CD Infrastructure to establish automation infrastructure.