Work with Azure Desired State Configuration extension version history

  • Article

Note

Azure Automation State Configuration will be retired on September 30, 2027, please transition to Azure Machine Configuration by that date. For more information, see the blog post announcement. The Azure Machine Configuration service combines features of DSC Extension, Azure Automation State Configuration, and the most commonly requested features from customer feedback. Azure Machine Configuration also includes hybrid machine support through Arc-enabled servers.

Caution

Azure Automation DSC for Linux has retired on 30 September 2023.

The Azure Desired State Configuration (DSC) VM extension is updated as-needed to support enhancements and new capabilities delivered by Azure, Windows Server, and the Windows Management Framework (WMF) that includes Windows PowerShell.

This article provides information about each version of the Azure DSC VM extension, what environments it supports, and comments and remarks on new features or changes.

Latest version

Version 2.83

  • Release date:
    • February 2021
  • OS support:
    • Windows Server 2019
    • Windows Server 2016
    • Windows Server 2012 R2
    • Windows Server 2012
    • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
    • Windows Client 7/8.1/10
    • Nano Server
  • WMF support:
    • WMF 5.1
    • WMF 5.0 RTM
    • WMF 4.0 Update
    • WMF 4.0
  • Environment:
    • Azure operated by 21Vianet
  • Remarks: This release includes a fix for unsigned binaries with the Windows VM extension.

Version 2.80

  • Release date:
    • September 26, Sep-2019 (Azure) | July 6, 2020 (Azure operated by 21Vianet)
  • OS support:
    • Windows Server 2019
    • Windows Server 2016
    • Windows Server 2012 R2
    • Windows Server 2012
    • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
    • Windows Client 7/8.1/10
    • Nano Server
  • WMF support:
    • WMF 5.1
    • WMF 5.0 RTM
    • WMF 4.0 Update
    • WMF 4.0
  • Environment:
    • Azure operated by 21Vianet
  • Remarks: No new features are included in this release.

Version 2.76

  • Release date:
    • May 9, 2018 (Azure) | June 21, 2018 (Azure operated by 21Vianet)
  • OS support:
    • Windows Server 2016
    • Windows Server 2012 R2
    • Windows Server 2012
    • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
    • Windows Client 7/8.1/10
    • Nano Server
  • WMF support:
    • WMF 5.1
    • WMF 5.0 RTM
    • WMF 4.0 Update
    • WMF 4.0
  • Environment:
    • Azure operated by 21Vianet
  • Remarks: This version uses DSC as included in Windows Server 2016; for other Windows OSs, it installs the Windows Management Framework 5.1 (installing WMF requires a reboot). For Nano Server, DSC role is installed on the VM.
  • New features:
    • Improvement in extension metadata for substatus and other minor bug fixes.

Supported versions

Warning

Versions 2.4 through 2.13 use WMF 5.0 Public Preview, whose signing certificates expired in August 2016. For more information about this issue, see the following blog article.

Version 2.19

  • Release date: June 3, 2016
  • OS support: Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
  • WMF support: WMF 5.0 RTM, WMF 4.0 Update, WMF 4.0
  • Environment: Azure operated by 21Vianet
  • Remarks: This version uses DSC as included in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview; for other Windows OSs, it installs the Windows Management Framework 5.0 RTM (installing WMF requires a reboot).

Next steps