Azure Stack Foundation
It is important to understand what exactly Azure Stack is and, for many organizations, when it should be used. Additionally, the exact capabilities that are supported are critical as part of planning.
Azure Stack 101
Azure Stack is purchased as a turn-key appliance, which means you purchase Azure Stack, connect it to power and the network, turn it on, and it’s ready to go. You don’t install an operating system on the hardware. (In fact, as with many hardware appliances, you have no direct access to the operating system on the bare-metal hardware.) You don’t configure a hypervisor. You don’t install “Azure.” You don’t manually patch the underlying operating systems or management layers. Instead, the Azure Stack is delivered by the vendor you purchase it from, who will then complete the deployment on-site, and it’s ready to go. This does not mean there is no management. Updates are provided, but these are a...