What Is Azure Stack Hub and How Does It Work

Azure Stack Hub is a hybrid cloud platform that allows you to run Azure services in your own datacenter or on-premises environment. It's essentially a mini version of Azure, designed to work seamlessly with the public cloud.

Azure Stack Hub is built on top of Windows Server and System Center, which provide the foundation for deploying and managing Azure services. This means you can use the same tools and processes you're familiar with in Azure to manage your on-premises environment.

One of the key benefits of Azure Stack Hub is that it allows you to deploy Azure services in a consistent and predictable way, even in environments with limited connectivity. This is achieved through the use of a local cache, which stores frequently accessed data and reduces the reliance on internet connectivity.

Azure Stack Hub is a powerful tool that allows you to modernize your mission-critical apps quickly. You can use consistent DevOps processes across Azure in the cloud and Azure Stack Hub on-premises.

You can update and extend existing apps or build new ones using Azure services, containers, serverless, and microservice architectures. This flexibility is a huge advantage, allowing you to adapt to changing business needs.

Azure Stack Hub is designed to work seamlessly with Azure, ensuring that your apps and data are easily accessible from anywhere.

You can use Azure services, containers, serverless, and microservice architectures to update and extend existing apps or build new ones.

With Azure, you can maintain full flexibility to deploy on-premises to help meet regulatory or policy requirements, no code changes needed.

Azure services can be used consistently across Azure in the cloud and Azure Stack Hub on-premises to quickly modernize your mission-critical apps.

Using Azure Stack Hub on-premises allows you to run Azure services in your own data center, giving you more control over your infrastructure.

Azure Stack Hub enables you to create hybrid solutions that run on Azure Stack Hub, making it easier to connect with technology and service partners.

By downloading select software and services from the Azure Marketplace, you can use them with Azure Stack Hub to create a seamless experience.

Resource providers are the foundation for all Azure Stack Hub IaaS and PaaS services. They're essentially web services that help you configure and control resources.

Azure Resource Manager relies on different resource providers to provide access to services. Service admins can also add new custom resource providers.

There are three foundational IaaS resource providers: Compute, Network, and Storage. These providers help deliver Azure-consistent services for the private cloud.

The Compute Resource Provider lets Azure Stack Hub tenants create their own VMs, including VM extensions for IaaS capabilities. It's also used to provision Linux VMs and run Bash scripts during deployment.

The Network Resource Provider delivers SDN and NFV features for the private cloud. You can use it to create resources like software load balancers, public IPs, and network security groups.

The Storage Resource Provider delivers four Azure-consistent storage services: blob, queue, table, and Key Vault account management. It also offers a storage cloud administration service for service provider administration.

Optional PaaS resource providers include App Service, SQL Server, and MySQL Server. These providers can be deployed and used with Azure Stack Hub.

Here are the three optional PaaS resource providers:

Only the most recently released version of a given resource provider that is compatible with your supported version of Azure Stack Hub is supported.

You can get up and running quickly with Azure Stack Hub integrated systems from one of our hardware partners. These systems are designed to deliver a consistent Azure experience.

Azure Stack Hub integrated systems are offered through a partnership of Microsoft and hardware partners, creating a solution that offers cloud-paced innovation and computing management simplicity.

You have the flexibility and control you need with an Azure Stack Hub integrated system, which can range in size from 4-16 servers, called a scale unit.

You can address latency and connectivity requirements by processing data locally in Azure Stack Hub and then aggregating it in Azure for further analytics.

With Azure Stack Hub, you can deploy disconnected solutions that don't require an internet connection or a connection to Azure.

By deploying Azure Stack Hub connected to the internet and Azure, you can take advantage of common app logic across both platforms.

You can even deploy Azure Stack Hub disconnected from the internet and from Azure, making it a great option for remote or offline locations.

For more information on connected and disconnected deployment models, you can check out the considerations for each.

You can deploy Azure Stack Hub integrated systems in various ways, thanks to a partnership between Microsoft and hardware partners.

These integrated systems offer cloud-paced innovation and computing management simplicity, giving you the flexibility and control you need.

You can choose from a range of scale units, each consisting of 4-16 servers.

Here's a brief overview of the deployment options:

You typically manage and operate these systems on-premises, giving you complete control over management and operations.

Now that you've set up your Azure Stack Hub, it's time to dive into the next steps.

First, familiarize yourself with the Azure Stack Hub administration portal to get a feel for how it works.

To understand how to use Azure Stack Hub, check out the documentation on usage and billing.

If you're looking to manage updates, here's where you should start: manage updates in Azure Stack Hub. This will help you stay on top of patches and updates.

For troubleshooting patch and update issues, follow these best practices to ensure you're taking the right steps.

Update packages for integrated systems are a crucial part of keeping your Azure Stack Hub deployment up to date and secure.

You can download full update packages from a secure Azure endpoint, or use the Azure Stack Hub Updates downloader tool to get them manually. These packages are released monthly and include the latest Windows Server security updates, non-security updates, and Azure Stack Hub feature updates.

Hotfix update packages are also available, hosted in the same secure Azure endpoint, and can be downloaded using the embedded links in each respective hotfix KB article.

There are two types of update packages: Microsoft software updates and OEM hardware vendor-provided updates. Microsoft is responsible for the end-to-end servicing lifecycle for the Microsoft software update packages, while Azure Stack Hub hardware partners are responsible for the hardware-related firmware and driver update packages.

Here are the details on each type of update package:

If your scale unit is connected, update packages will automatically appear in the administrator portal with the message "Update available".