No problem.
The first thing I want to address is, 'The portal keeps creating linux type DCRs'
This is also happening for me as well and I believe it's a bug where the 'Kind' was somehow implicitly set to 'Linux'. I'm sure Microsoft will work on it. But this issue will not prevent it from working.
I do see your screen shots and see some DCRs etc. but for the sake of being on the same page it might be best to start over.
Step 1:
In the Portal go to (AMW) Azure Monitor Workspaces. You will see AMWs like: 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' unless you created custom AMWs like I did (if not, I’ll explain below).
While in Azure Monitor Workspaces – DELETE ALL 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>'
Deleting will not hurt anything and will make it easier going forward to be on the same page. Also, keep in mind those AMWs were and are AUTOMATICALLY created when you go to VM > Insights and click Configure to configure/enable (OTel) OpenTelemetry, so again, ok to delete.
NOTE: for me, 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' is messy and a little confusing so before I enabled OTel I created my own custom standard Azure Monitor Workspaces (I did a little research and confirmed you can use custom AMW's for OTel).
NOTE: if you already enabled OTel on some VMs and are using 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' don't worry if/when you delete them from the steps above as it resets the VM OTel configuration to start over (explained below).
If you choose to create custom AMW's, in the Portal go to: Azure Monitor Workspaces and create as many as needed, for me one per sub. e.g.: DCR-VMI-OTEL-Monitor-<subscription>
NOTE: whether you use 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' or create custom AMWs Azure will automatically create corresponding DCR and (DCE) Data Collection Endpoints. If you create custom AMWs then the DCR and DCE will have the same name as the AMW so again that’s why I like the custom standard AMW, e.g.: DCR-VMI-OTEL-Monitor-<subscription>
NOTE: When you Configure/Enable OTel for VM > Insights you can then manually select the CUSTOM AMW you created for that subscription (explained below).
Step 2:
A MUST for me anyway. As you are probably aware if your VMs were/are running the classic VM Insights your VMs are already running the 'AzureMonitorWindowsAgent'.
Here is one thing that definitely was a problem for me. Now keep in mind I could not find any KB or doc stating this is required (thanks Microsoft!) and I found out myself because I was just trying anything - but update the 'AzureMonitorWindowsAgent' extension to at least version 1.38.1.0 (I believe Microsoft just released 1.39.0.0 on or after 11/01/2025). Last week all my VMs and ARC VMs were running version 1.36.x.x and OTel would NOT work until after updating to version 1.38.1.0. NOTE for Linux O/S a version shown might only be v.1.37.x.x so use that, otherwise it will be 1.38.1.0 or newer.
Step 3:
Next, this is a MUST. (I could not find a KB, doc., etc.) If you were/are already running the classic VM Insights (like I am) using DCR 'MSVMI-<dcr_name>', go to the Portal > Data Collection Rules, click on the DCR Rule for those VMs. On the left click Resources blade search for the VM or select all VMs and select disassociate. Disassociate the VMs from the DCR otherwise OTel will assume the VM is running classic Insights.
Step 4:
Go to Data Collection Rules and for EVERY VM you enabled OTel, DELETE those DCR's. e.g.: 'MSVMOtel-<region>-<servername>
New VM OTel DCR's will be re-created, so again, ok to delete.
Configuration Pre-check:
- All 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' have been deleted (step 1)
- OPTIONAL: if (IF) you created custom AMWs (again, not required as you can use, 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' ) (step 1)
- You updated 'AzureMonitorWindowsAgent' extension to at least version 1.38.1.0 (or newer) (step 2)
- Azure VMs
- Azure ARC VMs
- Disassociate VM(s) from classic 'MSVMI-<dcr_name>' DCR rule (step 3)
- All OTel VM/ARC VM DCRs have been deleted (step 4)
Step 5:
NOTE: It doesn’t matter if you choose to use 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' or if you use custom AMWs the same applies for both when configuring VM OTel.
Choose a VM > Insights > select Configure
NOTE the two check boxes:
Box 1: Leave the box checked for OpenTelemetry and if you did create a custom AMW it will either already be selected or you can click the drop-down and select the custom AMW. NOTE: in my case since I manually created custom AMWs and deleted all 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' my custom AMW is preselected with no drop-down as it’s not needed. If not using a custom AMW then just leave the 'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>' selected.
Box 2: This is a MUST! For classic Insights UNCHECK the box next to Classic log-based metrics. NOTE: OTel will NOT work if the VM is still using Classic log-based metrics. I do not know why that check box is even an option when enabling OTel.
Click Next or Review + Enable
Click Enable
Step 6: Only for ARC Machines
Now the last thing this, so far, ONLY applies to ARC VMs (I’m not sure why). As you know when you enable OTel for a VM and/or ARC VMs it automatically creates a DCR like: 'MSVMOtel-<region>-<vmname>'. This is also where we see ‘Kind’ = Linux even though the O/S is Windows.
- In the Portal go to Data Collection Rules
- For each ARC VM select/click the DCR: MSVMOtel<region><servername>
- At the top of the Overview page click on 'Configure DCE' tab
- Click the drop-down menu
- Option 1 if custom: Select custom AMW for that subscription
- OR option 2: Select - ‘'Default-VMInsights-<region>-<guid>’ AMWs
- Click Save
Finished!
KEEP IN MIND. As I’m sure you know, making changes in Azure like this can be slow when updating at the back-end. And from my experience enabling OTel is no exception. In some cases Azure VMs took up to 30 minutes before data was being ingested. And especially for some of my ARC VMs (mostly because they are really remote) it took an hour before OTel was reporting data. So yeah, there’s that.
I realize this is a lot but hopefully all that makes sense. If you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to reach out. Hopefully you can get this working.
Let me know how it goes.
Best,
Steve