Import and discover update packages with limited connectivity

This article explains how to discover and import update packages for Azure Local with limited connectivity. Starting with version 2503, the OS update components for Azure Local are distributed as a static payload, so you can import the update payload and install updates with limited connectivity to Azure.

Prerequisites

• Make sure you're running Azure Local 2411.3 or later to use this feature.

• Review About updates for Azure Local to understand the update process.

• Review Azure Local release information to check supported paths.

Solution update bundle

The CombinedSolutionBundle is a zip file that contains the update package for the Azure Stack HCI OS, core agents and services, and the solution extension. The CombinedSolutionBundle is named CombinedSolutionBundle.<build number>.zip, where <build number> is the build number for the release. The SHA256 hash is used to check the integrity of your download.

The following tables list the CombinedSolutionBundle versions and associated SHA256 hashes for existing deployments of Azure Local.

• For 25398.xxxx builds, use the CombinedSolutionBundle to update the OS and solution components for Azure Local.
• For 26100.xxxx builds, use the CombinedSolutionBundle to install a specific version of Azure Local.

For more information on the release cadence, see Azure Local release information.

Step 1: Download Solution update bundle

1. Download the bundle and note the SHA256 hash from the Solution update bundle table. Run this command:

   # Download the CombinedSolutionBundle
   Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "<download URI>" -OutFile "C:\ClusterStorage\Infrastructure_1\Shares\SU1_Infrastructure_1\import\CombinedSolutionBundle.<build number>.zip"
   

2. Verify the SHA256 hash of the downloaded CombinedSolutionBundle. Run this command:

   # Verify the SHA256 hash of the downloaded CombinedSolutionBundle
   Get-FileHash -Path "<path to CombinedSolutionBundle.zip>"
   

Step 2: Import the Solution update bundle

1. Create a folder for the update service to discover at the following ___location in the infrastructure volume of your system. Run this command:

   # Create a folder for the update service to discover
   New-Item C:\ClusterStorage\Infrastructure_1\Shares\SU1_Infrastructure_1\import -ItemType Directory
   

2. Copy the CombinedSolutionBundle you downloaded to the folder you created. Run this command:

3. Extract the contents to the Solution subfolder. Run this command:

   # Extract the contents of the CombinedSolutionBundle to the Solution subfolder
   Expand-Archive -Path C:\ClusterStorage\Infrastructure_1\Shares\SU1_Infrastructure_1\import\CombinedSolutionBundle.<build number>.zip -DestinationPath C:\ClusterStorage\Infrastructure_1\Shares\SU1_Infrastructure_1\import\Solution
   

4. Import the package to the update service. Run this command:

   # Import the module
   Add-SolutionUpdate -SourceFolder C:\ClusterStorage\Infrastructure_1\Shares\SU1_Infrastructure_1\import\Solution
   

5. Verify that the update service discovers the update package and that it's available to start preparation and installation. To discover the updates, run the Get-SolutionUpdate command. The update service discovers updates asynchronously, so you might need to run Get-SolutionUpdate command more than once.

6. If the update returns a state of AdditionalContentRequired, follow the instructions in Update Azure Local via PowerShell to import the required Solution Builder Extension (SBE) updates.

Next steps

• Learn more about Understanding update phases.

• Review Troubleshooting updates.

This feature is available in Azure Local 2411.3 and later.