Version: Next

Pre-Discovery Planning

DOCUMENT CATEGORY: Runbook SCOPE: Internal pre-discovery alignment PURPOSE: Prepare deployment teams for customer discovery MASTER REFERENCE: Microsoft Learn - Azure Local Planning

Status: Active

Before engaging with customers for discovery workshops, deployment teams must align internally on standards, requirements, and technical approach to ensure consistent and successful Azure Local deployments.

Azure Local Cloud Internal Alignment Meeting

Before engaging with the customer, deployment teams must align on standards, requirements, and approach.

Meeting Participants

Sales Engineer (Lead): Technical requirements and sizing
Solution Architect: Design standards and architecture patterns
Implementation Engineer: Deployment considerations
Network Engineer: Network design and VLAN allocation
deployment team Representative: Azure resource planning
Project Manager: Timeline and resource coordination

Meeting Agenda Items

1. Review Customer Contract and Scope

Contract specifications and deliverables
SLA requirements and service levels
Budget constraints and optimization opportunities
Timeline expectations and milestones

2. Establish Naming Standards

Standard Naming Convention Planning:
├── Customer Short Name: [lowercase, hyphens]
├── Environment Tags: prod, dev, test, dr
├── Region Codes: eus (East US), scus (South Central US)
├── Resource Type Identifiers:
│   ├── Cluster Nodes: {customer}AX01, {customer}AX02
│   ├── Resource Groups: rg-{customer}-azlocal-{env}-{region}
│   ├── Virtual Networks: vnet-{customer}-{env}-{region}
│   ├── Storage Accounts: st{customer}azlocal{env}
│   └── Key Vaults: kv-{customer}-{env}-{region}

3. Network Architecture Planning

Network Component	Standard Allocation	Customer Specific	Notes
Management VLAN	100-199 range	TBD	Customer preference
Storage VLAN 1	711 (default)	TBD	Can be customized
Storage VLAN 2	712 (default)	TBD	Can be customized
VM Network VLANs	200-299 range	TBD	Application specific
Backup VLAN	300-399 range	TBD	If segregated
Management IP Range	/24 minimum	TBD	6+ IPs required
VM Network IP Ranges	Based on sizing	TBD	Growth considered

4. Azure Resource Planning

Subscription model (single vs. multi-subscription)
Resource group structure and governance
Azure region selection and compliance
Cost estimation and optimization strategies

Technical Standards Review

Infrastructure Standards Documentation

Dell Hardware Configuration Standards

AX node model selection criteria
Memory and storage configuration patterns
Network adapter assignments
BIOS/firmware baseline versions

Azure Local Build Standards

Current supported build: 2601 (Windows Server 2025 foundation)
Dell Gold Image: 2510 (updates to 2601 during Arc registration)
OS Version: 26100.1742 for new deployments
Dell Solution Version: 12.2510.0.3165
Solution Builder Extension: 4.2.2512.1616
Upgrade path planning for existing 2506 deployments (OS version 26100.x)
Feature enablement decisions including new SDN preview features
Enhanced security baseline configuration (407 evaluated rules)

Operational Standards

Monitoring and alerting thresholds
Backup schedules and retention
Patching windows and maintenance schedules
Change management procedures

Pre-Discovery Checklist

Information to Gather Before Customer Meeting

Azure Local Cloud Internal Alignment Meeting
- Meeting Participants
- Meeting Agenda Items
Technical Standards Review
- Infrastructure Standards Documentation
Pre-Discovery Checklist
- Information to Gather Before Customer Meeting

Azure Local Cloud Internal Alignment Meeting​

Meeting Participants​

Meeting Agenda Items​

1. Review Customer Contract and Scope​

2. Establish Naming Standards​

3. Network Architecture Planning​

4. Azure Resource Planning​

Technical Standards Review​

Infrastructure Standards Documentation​

Dell Hardware Configuration Standards​

Azure Local Build Standards​

Operational Standards​

Pre-Discovery Checklist​

Information to Gather Before Customer Meeting​