Azure Batch SKU Upgrade and End-of-Life Warning

Hi Sandun Tharaka ,

Thank you for reaching out on the Microsoft Q&A.

To create a new Azure Batch pool now that your current image (20.04-LTS from microsoft-azure-batch) is nearing its end-of-life, you need to switch to a supported image since there's no direct upgrade option. First, check what’s available by running:

az batch pool supported-images list

If a newer version is listed, you can create a new pool with that image and migrate your workloads. But if there’s no newer version yet, you’ll need to use a custom image from the Azure Compute Gallery. This allows you to build an OS image with the required dependencies and use it for your Batch pools. Since Microsoft periodically updates available images, it’s also worth checking Azure’s documentation for any announcements. Plan this transition early to avoid service disruptions.

References:

Azure Batch best practices

Azure Batch Image Support & EOL dates

Azure Compute Gallery for custom images

Azure update on Marketplace image support for Batch pools

I hope this helps! If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

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Hi Sandun Tharaka,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A Platform! Thank you for asking your question here.

Since the only available SKU for microsoft-azure-batch is 20.04-LTS, and it’s nearing its end-of-life, you will need to consider alternative approaches:

1. Check for Alternative SKUs

Even though 20.04-LTS is the only option listed under microsoft-azure-batch, you can check if there are other supported images from Microsoft. Try running:

 az batch pool supported-images list --query "[?publisher=='canonical']"

This will list images from Canonical, which might include newer Ubuntu versions that you can use.

2. Use a Custom Image from Azure Compute Gallery

If a newer version isn’t available under microsoft-azure-batch, you’ll need to create a custom image with the required dependencies. Here’s how:

•Prepare a VM with the necessary configuration.

•Capture an image from this VM.

•Store it in Azure Compute Gallery.

•Use this custom image when creating a new Batch pool.

3. Monitor Azure Updates

Microsoft may release a newer supported image before the end-of-life date. Keep an eye on Azure’s official documentation and release announcements.

For now, the best course of action is to plan a migration to a supported image or use a custom image to prevent service disruptions.

Please refer the documents below.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/best-practices

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/batch/batch-sig-images

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