Azure Local (Formerly Azure Stack HCI) Test Environment with MinisForum MS-01 & MS-A2

High-Performance Computing Workstations & Servers
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Hi Everyone!

Saw the video this morning on the MS-A2 machine, it looks really interesting.

I want to play around with Azure Local (formerly Azure stack HCI) in a home lab setup to investigate possible use cases for some of my customers. I am very seriously considering the MinisForum MS-01 and the MS-A2 for this. My thought is that I can have it running on them both as a local heterogeneous cluster, this is not for production but testing does it work? Also it would be handy for being able to possibly test bugs for clients on AMD vs Intel processors.

Before I make the jump to purchase and get them shipped out to Australia, it would be awesome if someone might be able to test if this is possible or has had experience doing something similar.

I have seen a blog post, sorry can’t link here, (My Azure Stack HCI Home Lab - Part 1 by Nathan Nellans) someone doing similar with the MS-01 however it having some issues, but overall working OK, i’d just like to do it with the AMD and Intel machines, it looks like there is a workaround for the ECC requirement (for the MS-01).

Would love any feedback / suggestions / experience people have with Azure Local as well!

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I read that blog. This sounds interesting. I’m not sure what it means to have Azure running locally… I doubt there’s a portal, but I figure you can use azure cli, right? I wonder if you can run bicep IaC pipelines.

It would be nice to have a home sandbox where I can try stuff that is locked out at work. My work in Azure is always a wonder… “Am I doing it wrong, or do I just not have permission?”

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