FYI: Azure ARM64 VMs generally available

[dennisameling]

Hi! Just wanted to let you know that Azure now has ARM64 VMs (including Windows 11) in GA: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-virtual-machines-with-ampere-altra-arm-based-processors-generally-available/.

I created an Azure Resource Manager template together with a basic post-deployment script that installs things like Git for Windows (x64) and the GitHub Actions Runner (x64). Have documented everything here: https://github.com/dennisameling/azure-arm64-templates

Hope that helps make your life a bit easier as things like QEMU config are not needed for this setup - Microsoft provides official Azure Windows 11 ARM64 images now 🎉

[jeremyd2019]

That's great! I might need to set up an Azure account and try it. I filled out their form for the beta, but never heard anything, possibly because I didn't have an account, and possibly because I indicated I was only interested in one or two instances.

[jeremyd2019]

Ok, I was eventually able to get a free trial Azure account (which has since expired). However, I was dealing with somebody at Microsoft, and it seems to have opened up a can of worms regarding licensing (especially with regards to an independent developer). I think the issues all boil down to the fact that Windows on ARM is only available as a "client" OS, but the Windows licenses were all written based on the idea that the "server" SKU would be the right thing to use a) in the cloud, and b) as an online service like a runner. I am not sure how "b" plays out even with a physical self-hosted runner though; I don't want to peer too deeply for fear of finding out I can't do that either 😨

[dennisameling]

That's good to know, thanks for sharing! I'll do a bit more research in that area too