General Purpose Sizes Migration Guide

This migration guide is designed for users of Azure General Purpose virtual machines (VMs), which are scheduled for retirement. To ensure minimal disruption and to continue optimizing cost and performance, this guide helps you transition to the latest series VMs.

This document covers:

• Recommended replacement VM series
• Detailed migration steps
• Common questions and guidance on handling RIs.

By migrating to newer VM series, you gain access to improved price-performance ratios, broader regional availability, and the latest hardware capabilities.

Recommended Replacement VM Series

*Refers to the lowest VM size in the given target VM Family. For actual VM specifications, please refer to the VM product sizes page.

For optimal performance and experience, we generally recommend using the newer v5 VM series. This ensures you have access to the latest features such as Premium Storage, Accelerated Networking, and Nested Virtualization.

Note that Lsv3 and Lasv3 series are the latest generation L-series VMs.

Use the Azure VM size documentation to help identify suitable VM sizes.

Migration Steps

Optional: For Reserved Instance (RI) customers only

• Review your current reservations using the Azure Reservation Management page.
• If applicable, exchange existing reservations for newer VM series or trade in your reservations for an Azure Savings Plan for compute.

Identify the Target VM Size

• Evaluate your current VM's workload and performance requirements.
• Select a comparable size from the above table that meets your CPU, memory, and storage needs.

Check and Request Quota Increases

• Before resizing, verify that your subscription has sufficient quota for the target v5 VM series.
• Request more quota through the Azure portal if needed.

Resize the Virtual Machine

You can resize your VM through the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or PowerShell. Follow these steps:

1. Stop (deallocate) the VM.
2. Resize the VM to your selected v5 series.
3. Start the VM after resizing.

Refer to the full Azure VM resizing guide for more detailed instructions.

FAQ

Q: Which Sizes Are Being Retired?

The following sizes are being retired by 1 May 2028.

• D/Ds series:
  • Standard_D1 to Standard_D4
  • Standard_DS1 to Standard_DS4
  • Standard_D11 to Standard_D14
  • Standard_DS11 to Standard_DS14
• Dv2/Dsv2 series:
  • Standard_D1v2 to Standard_D5_v2
  • Standard_DS1v2 to Standard_DS5_v2
  • Standard_D11_v2 to Standard_D15_v2
  • Standard_DS11_v2 to Standard_DS15_v2
  • Standard_D2_v2_Promo to Standard_D5_v2_Promo
  • Standard_DS2_v2_Promo to Standard_DS5_v2_Promo
• LS series:
  • Standard_L4s to Standard_L32s

Q: Why Should I Migrate?

If you are actively running any sizes listed in this article, these VMs are set to retire in 2028. Migration is mandatory to avoid unexpected shutdown. Additionally, migration yields the following benefits:

• Performance: Newer VM series offer better price-to-performance ratios.
• Regional Availability: The v5 series has broader regional support across Azure data centers.
• Future-proofing: Migrate ahead of the retirement schedule to avoid disruption.

Q: I am on pay-as-you-go (PayGo) or Savings Plan Pricing. Is There a Concern with Migration?

No. If you’re using PayGo or a savings plan, migrating to a newer VM type won't disrupt your current billing. The migration process remains seamless with no changes required in your subscription or payment plan.

Q: I'm on Reserved Instances (RIs) with an Older VM. How Do I Handle Migration?

If you have active Reserved Instances for D, Dv2, Dsv2, or L-series VMs, follow these steps:

Step 1: Review Current Reservations

• Check your active RIs in the Azure portal.

Identify which RIs are expiring or will be affected by the VM retirement.

Step 2: Migrate and Manage Your RIs

Depending on your business needs, consider these options:

1. Exchange Existing Reservations:

   • Swap current RIs for a new VM series without any penalties.

   • Refer to the RI Exchange Guide

2. Trade-In for Savings Plan:

   • Convert your existing RIs into an Azure Savings Plan for compute.

   • This offers flexibility across VM families and regions.

   • Follow the Azure RI Trade-In Tutorial.

3. Purchase New RIs:

   • Buy new reservations that align with your new v5 VM series.

   • Consider shorter terms (1-year) for flexibility.