What is Azure Dedicated Host?
Azure Dedicated Host provides physically dedicated servers used exclusively by one customer. The service offers complete control over VM placement and hardware isolation for regulatory requirements.
Core Features
- Physical isolation at server level
- Control over maintenance windows
- Support for Azure Hybrid Benefit (BYOL)
- Integration with Availability Zones
- Multiple VM families per host
Typical Use Cases
- Compliance requirements for physical isolation
- Windows Server and SQL Server BYOL
- Performance-sensitive workloads
Benefits
- No noisy neighbors: consistent performance
- License compliance for socket or core-based software
- Full control over maintenance timing
- 99.99% SLA with Availability Zones
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure Dedicated Host: sizing, license optimization, compliance consulting, and migration of existing workloads.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need Dedicated Hosts?
For regulatory requirements (e.g., financial services, healthcare), license compliance (BYOL with socket limits), or performance requirements without noisy neighbors.
Which VM sizes can I place on a host?
Different VM families depending on host type. A Dsv3 host supports e.g., D2s_v3 to D64s_v3. You can mix VMs as long as total capacity is sufficient.
Can I bring Windows Server licenses?
Yes, Azure Hybrid Benefit for Windows Server and SQL Server is available. With Dedicated Hosts, core licenses count per physical host.
What is the availability?
99.99% SLA when using Availability Zones. Hosts can be organized in Host Groups for redundancy.
