Azure Connected Machine agent deployment options

You can connect machines in your hybrid environment directly with Azure by using different methods, depending on your requirements and the tools you prefer to use.

Onboarding methods

The following table highlights each method so that you can determine which one works best for your deployment. For detailed information, follow the links to view the steps for each method.

Supported OS Type Method Description
Linux and Windows Interactively Manually install the agent on a single or small number of machines to connect machines by using a deployment script.
From the Azure portal, you can generate a script and run it on the machine to automate the installation and configuration steps of the agent.
Linux and Windows Interactively or at scale Connect machines by using PowerShell.
Linux and Windows At scale Connect machines at scale by using Ansible playbooks to create a service principal for onboarding Ansible-managed nodes to Azure Arc-enabled servers at scale by using Ansible playbooks.
Linux and Windows At scale Connect machines by using a service principal to install the agent at scale noninteractively.
Windows Interactively Connect machines from Windows Admin Center.
Windows Interactively Connect Windows Server machines to Azure through Azure Arc setup.
Windows At scale Connect machines by running PowerShell scripts with Configuration Manager.
Windows At scale Connect machines with a Configuration Manager custom task sequence.
Windows At scale Connect Windows machines by using Group Policy.

Important

You can't install the Connected Machine agent on an Azure VM. The installation script warns you and rolls back if it detects that the server is running in Azure.

Be sure to review the basic prerequisites and network configuration requirements before you deploy the agent and any specific requirements listed in the steps for the onboarding method that you choose. To learn more about what changes the agent makes to your system, see Overview of the Azure Connected Machine agent.