Microsoft Azure supports the Linux operating system. All Linux distributions are welcome in Azure. To upload your Linux distribution to Azure, see the requirements. Marketplace images of the most popular Linux distributions are also available. Support for these images is available but requires a support contract. See the following sections for more details.
Microsoft and Red Hat partner to offer an integrated support experience. Support cost is integrated into the consumption cost of on-demand images.
Cloud Access (Bring-Your-Own-Subscription (BYOS)) support customers must have support agreements with both companies. Customers may be requested to engage with Red Hat through the Red Hat support agreement and bring Microsoft and Red Hat together on a service request.
Customers must register with SUSE to use these images. Microsoft may provide guidance for Linux issues, but may also defer customer issues to SUSE directly.
SUSE Images with Patching Support
These images include updates for your VM from SUSE. Microsoft may assist customers for Linux issues, but these images don't include extra support from SUSE. SUSE-related inquiries may require customers to engage with SUSE directly and require an active SUSE support agreement.
24x7 Support Images
These images include updates and support from Microsoft through the web, email, chat, and telephone. SUSE supports these images daily, as defined in their support policies for public cloud images in the SUSE Public Cloud Guide. These images are considered SUSE Level 3 subscriptions. VMs that are created from these images incur per-hour support fees and Azure platform fees.
Microsoft Support provides assistance for the Azure platform or services. Microsoft also provides commercially viable support for Linux. A support plan is required to receive Microsoft Support.
Azure Marketplace offers various Linux distributions. Microsoft provides support for Linux customers, but they might need to work with specific Linux vendors for further assistance. These vendors might be required to deliver distribution-specific fixes.
In Azure Marketplace, you may select a highly customized Linux image, such as a firewall appliance. Microsoft provides assistance for these images, but the Linux vendor must be engaged to troubleshoot specific system-related problems. Microsoft may collaborate with the vendor for those issues.
Microsoft Support doesn't assist customers for basic Linux administration, design, architecture, or deployment of applications or solutions on Azure.
The ability to customize Linux is one of the hallmarks of the operating system. We encourage you to use a Linux solution that benefits your organization. However, the Linux vendor may not support some modifications, such as custom kernels or modules. For vendor support, you may be required to use stock kernels or libraries for your image.
For some troubleshooting and performance tuning within Linux or applications, customers should directly contact the vendor of the supported Linux distribution or application.
Scenarios that are related to security aren't supported. These include but aren't limited to:
Compromised VMs
Security incident response investigations
Intrusion prevention assistance
Open-source technology support matrix
Microsoft may offer support for the following specific open-source technologies (subject to change):
Languages: PHP, Java, Python, and Node.JS
Database: MySQL
Web and application servers: Apache HTTP Server and Apache Tomcat
Frameworks: WordPress
Open-source technology support scope
Microsoft assists customers for supported open-source technologies. Customers who request support for design guidance or development assistance may be directed to forums or community support. Customers may also have to work directly with our Linux partners or software vendors for scenarios that Microsoft doesn't support. Examples include but aren't limited to:
Application development
Custom application troubleshooting
Custom code
The following situations are some of the support scenarios that Microsoft provides assistance for:
Issues that occur during installation or configuration
Deployment errors that occur when customers try to deploy applications to the Azure platform and services
Runtime errors that occur when customers use the Azure platform and services
Performance issues that affect applications that are built using the supported open-source technologies on the Azure platform and services
Third-party information disclaimer
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
Third-party contact disclaimer
Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find additional information about this topic. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of third-party contact information.
This comprehensive learning path reviews deployment and management of Linux on Azure. Learn about cloud computing concepts, Linux IaaS and PaaS solutions and benefits and Azure cloud services. Discover how to migrate and extend your Linux-based workloads on Azure with improved scalability, security, and privacy.