--- title: 'Azure VM utils now included in Ubuntu: boosting cloud workloads' description: Ubuntu on Azure images now include azure-vm-utils by default. Learn how this provides more reliable disks, smoother networking, and simpler VM setup. url: https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-azure-vm-utils-included?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Jehudi](https://canonical.com/blog/author/jota-ce "More about Jehudi") 5 November 2025 # Azure VM utils now included in Ubuntu: boosting cloud workloads [Microsoft Azure](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/microsoft-azure) --- Share the article Ubuntu images on Microsoft Azure have recently started shipping with the open source package [**azure-vm-utils**](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/linux/azure-virtual-machine-utilities) included by default. Azure VM utils is a package that provides essential utilities and udev rules to optimize the Linux experience on Azure. This change results in more reliable disks, smoother networking on accelerated setups, and fewer tweaks to get things running. Here’s what you need to know: ## **What’s changing** * **Smoother storage on modern Azure VMs**: Ubuntu now provides consistent device naming across SCSI and NVMe, reducing post-reboot surprises and easing automation. * **Better handling of accelerated networking**: environments using MANA or Mellanox benefit from safer defaults that avoid double-managing passthrough interfaces. * **Less image customization**: the utility and rules that many platform teams previously added now ship in the image, removing one more custom step from your pipelines. ## **Why it matters** * **Fewer post-boot surprises**: predictable device names keep fstab, cloud-init and provisioning scripts stable across VM families and reboots. * **Smoother NVMe adoption**: newer VM families lean NVMe-first for performance; built-in rules make that transition painless while keeping SCSI setups working. * **Less to maintain:** the stock image now handles Azure disk naming and accelerated NICs (MANA/Mellanox), so teams can drop custom udev/Netplan snippets and avoid fstab surprises after reboots. ## **How to Get It** * **For New VMs**: No action is needed. The package is included by default in new Ubuntu images. * **For Existing VMs**: You can install the package directly from the Ubuntu archive, where it’s available for all current LTS and interim releases: sudo apt update && sudo apt install azure-vm-utils ## **Quick ways to verify** `azure-nvme-id --version           # tool present find /dev/disk/azure -type l      # predictable Azure disk links` [Get in touch Interested in running Ubuntu in your organization?](https://ubuntu.com/about/contact-us/form) ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Ubuntu and Ubuntu Pro on Azure Cobalt 200 VMs](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-azure-cobalt-200-vms) Microsoft has announced the preview of Azure Cobalt 200, its second-generation custom Arm silicon. Learn how Ubuntu and Ubuntu Pro support these new VMs from day one, offering... [Jehudi](https://canonical.com/blog/author/jota-ce) 2 June 2026 [### Canonical announces fully Managed Kubeflow AI operations platform on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace](https://canonical.com/blog/managed-kubeflow-microsoft-azure-canonical-release) Canonical has announced the general availability of Managed Kubeflow on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace. This fully managed MLOps platform allows enterprise AI teams to deploy... [Massimiliano Gori](https://canonical.com/blog/author/massigori) 21 May 2026 [### SQL Server 2025 is generally available on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS](https://canonical.com/blog/sql-server-2025-ubuntu-24-04-lts) Microsoft has announced the General Availability of SQL Server 2025 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Learn about the new CU1 features, including OS-level observability, Contained... [Jehudi](https://canonical.com/blog/author/jota-ce) 6 February 2026 [### A complete security view for every Ubuntu LTS VM on Azure](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-lts-vm-azure-security-view) Azure’s Update Manager now provides a complete security view for all Ubuntu LTS VMs—18.04, 20.04, 22.04, and 24.04—by showing available updates from Ubuntu Pro’s Expanded... [Jehudi](https://canonical.com/blog/author/jota-ce) 22 August 2025