Microsoft Introduces SSD Support for Azure Ephemeral OS Disks
In a significant development, Microsoft has launched General Availability (GA) for Standard SSD and Premium SSD support regarding Azure Ephemeral OS Disks. Previously, users could only utilize Standard HDD as their base disk type. This upgrade is poised to enhance performance and reliability for stateless workloads considerably.
Understanding Azure Ephemeral OS Disks
Azure Ephemeral OS Disks are specifically tailored for stateless virtual machines (VMs).These disks are local to the VM, meaning they do not persist data to Azure Storage. They are particularly advantageous for quick deployment and re-imaging scenarios. However, it’s essential to note that due to their ephemeral nature, any data will be lost upon re-imaging or when the VM is deallocated.
Benefits of Upgrading to SSDs
Beyond merely faster hardware, users will gain a multitude of advantages thanks to this announcement. Microsoft highlights that Premium SSDs come with a service-level agreement (SLA) of 99.9%, contrasted with the 95% SLA of Standard HDD. This improvement translates into enhanced uptime and overall reliability for users.
Performance metrics reveal that Premium SSDs deliver 8-10 times greater input/output operations per second (IOPS) than their Standard HDD counterparts. Specifically, benefits of employing SSDs include:
- Accelerated scaling and VM reliability
- Rapid deployment of streamlined desktop environments
- Quicker job initiation in clean setups
Cost Considerations for SSD Usage
While the use of Standard HDD as a base disk for Ephemeral OS Disks incurs no additional storage charges, opting for Standard or Premium SSDs will involve extra costs for the disk. It is crucial for companies to evaluate these expenses against the performance benefits.
Getting Started with SSDs in Azure
To utilize an SSD, users must select it as the base disk type during the creation of a virtual machine using Azure CLI, PowerShell, or ARM templates. Here is how you can create a VM with an Ephemeral OS disk and choose a Premium SSD base disk:
az vm create --name MyVM --resource-group MyRG --image UbuntuLTS --ephemeral-os-disk true --storage-sku Premium_LRS
Alternatively, if you prefer PowerShell, use the following command:
Set-AzVMOSDisk -VM $VirtualMachine -DiffDiskSetting Local -DiffDiskPlacement ResourceDisk -CreateOption FromImage -Caching ReadOnly -StorageAccountType "Premium_LRS"
Furthermore, users can seamlessly choose SSDs via the Azure Portal by selecting the Ephemeral OS disk option and then specifying Premium SSD in the OS Disk Type.
For more visuals, check the image credits at Depositphotos.com.
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