Request a core limit increase
This article describes how to collect the information and how to submit a support request for increasing the number of cores for Azure Lab Services in your Azure subscription.
When you reach the cores limit for your subscription, you can request a core limit increase (sometimes called an increase in capacity, or a quota increase) to continue using Azure Lab Services. The request process allows the Azure Lab Services team to ensure that your subscription isn't involved in any cases of fraud or unintentional, sudden large-scale deployments.
Learn more about the general process for creating Azure support requests.
Prerequisites
- To create a support request, your Azure account needs the Owner, Contributor, or Support Request Contributor role at the subscription level.
Prepare to submit a request
Before you create a support request for a core limit increase, you need to gather additional information, such as the number and size of cores and the Azure regions. You might also have to perform some preparation steps before creating the request.
Determine the regions for your labs
Azure Lab Services resources can exist in many regions. You can choose to deploy resources in multiple regions close to the lab users. For more information about Azure regions, how they relate to global geographies, and which services are available in each region, see Azure global infrastructure.
Determine the number of VM cores in your request
In your support request, you need to provide the number of additional VM cores. Each VM size has a number of VM cores. Azure Lab Services groups VM sizes together in size groups. You request VM cores for a specific size group.
- Small / Medium / Large cores
- Medium (Nested Virtualization) / Large (Nested Virtualization) cores
- Small (GPU Compute) cores
- Small GPU (Visualization) cores
- Medium GPU (Visualization) cores
To determine the total number of cores for your request: total VM cores = (# cores for the selected VM size) * (# VMs)
For example, you need more capacity for 20 Medium VMs. The number of additional VM cores for 20 Medium VMs is then 80 (4 cores per VM * 20).
Best practices for requesting a core limit increase
The time it takes to assign capacity varies depending on the VM size, region, and number of cores requested. You won't have to go through the process of requesting extra capacity often, but to ensure you have the resources you require when you need them, you should:
- Request capacity as far in advance as possible.
- If possible, be flexible on the region where you're requesting capacity.
- Recognize that capacity remains assigned for the lifetime of a subscription. When lab plans or labs are deleted, the capacity remains assigned to the subscription.
- Request extra capacity only if you need more than is already assigned to your subscription.
- Make incremental requests for VM cores rather than making large, bulk requests. Break requests for large numbers of cores into smaller requests for extra flexibility in how those requests are fulfilled.
Start a new support request
You can follow these steps to request a core limit increase:
In the Azure portal, navigate to your lab plan or lab account, and then select Request core limit increase.
On the New support request page, enter the following information, and then select Next.
Name Value Issue type Service and subscription limits (quotas) Subscription Select the subscription to which the request applies. Quota type Azure Lab Services On the Additional details tab, select Enter details in the Problem details section.
Make core limit increase request
When you request core limit increase, you must supply some information to help the Azure Lab Services team evaluate and action your request as quickly as possible. The more information you can supply and the earlier you supply it, the more quickly the Azure Lab Services team is able to process your request.
Depending on whether you use lab accounts or lab plans, you need to provide different information on the Quota details page.
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Deployment Model | Lab Account (Classic) |
| Region | Select one or more regions in the Azure geography you would like to increase. |
| Alternate regions | Select one or more alternate regions in the Azure geography, in case your preferred regions have no available capacity. |
| Virtual network regions | Select one or more alternate regions in the Azure geography where you might host virtual networks for advanced networking. |
| Virtual machine size | Select the VM size for which you need additional capacity. |
| Requested additional core limit | Enter the number of additional cores for your subscription. |
| What is the lab account name? | Only applies if you're adding cores to an existing lab. Select the lab account name. |
| What's the month-by-month usage plan for the requested cores? | Enter the rate at which you want to add the extra cores, on a monthly basis. |
| Additional details | Provide more information to make it easier for the Azure Lab Services team to process your request. For example, you could include your preferred date for the new cores to be available or if you plan to use GPU VM sizes. |
When you've entered the required information and any extra details, select Save and continue.
Complete the support request
To complete the support request, enter the following information:
Complete the remainder of the support request Additional details tab using the following information:
Advanced diagnostic information
Name Value Allow collection of advanced diagnostic information Select yes or no. Support method
Name Value Support plan Select your support plan. Severity Select the severity of the issue. Preferred contact method Select email or phone. Your availability Enter your availability. Support language Select your language preference. Contact information
Name Value First name Enter your first name. Last name Enter your last name. Email Enter your contact email. Additional email for notification Enter an email for notifications. Phone Enter your contact phone number. Country/region Enter your location. Save contact changes for future support requests. Select the check box to save changes. Select Next.
On the Review + create tab, review the information, and then select Create.
Next steps
For more information about capacity limits, see Capacity limits in Azure Lab Services.
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