Where Should You Install the Azure Connected Machine Agent?

AZ-800 By islever Editorial Last updated

Short answer

E Server1 and VM2 only

Question

You have on-premises servers that run Windows Server as shown in the following table. You have an Azure subscription that contains a virtual machine named VM1. You need to ensure that you can manage all the servers by using Azure Arc. The solution must minimize administrative effort. On which servers should you install the Azure Connected Machine agent? - Exhibit: Where Should You Install the Azure Connected Machine Agent?
  1. Server1 only
  2. VM1 only
  3. VM2 only
  4. VM1 and VM2 only
  5. Server1 and VM2 only Correct Answer

Key Takeaways

This question tests your understanding of Azure Arc resource scope and prerequisites, with the common trap being the redundant installation of agents on already-managed Azure virtual machines.

The Azure Connected Machine agent extends centralized Azure management to non-Azure infrastructure like on-premises servers. Community consensus confirms that native Azure VMs already possess built-in platform capabilities, making external agent installation unnecessary and counterproductive.

Common mistake: Candidates frequently choose options including VM1, mistakenly assuming all listed servers require the same connectivity solution regardless of their hosting environment, which directly violates the minimize administrative effort requirement.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

The Azure Connected Machine agent is explicitly designed to extend Azure governance, monitoring, and policy enforcement to resources outside the Azure cloud boundary. Since Server1 and VM2 reside in your local datacenter, deploying the agent on these hosts enables seamless integration with Azure Arc-enabled servers without disrupting existing workflows. Native Azure VMs like VM1 are automatically discovered and managed through the Azure control plane, eliminating the need for additional software agents and directly satisfying the goal of minimizing administrative overhead.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Selecting any option that includes VM1 contradicts Microsoft's architectural guidance, as Azure-native workloads leverage platform-level extensions rather than third-party or cross-platform agents. Limiting deployment to only Server1 or only VM2 creates management gaps across your hybrid estate, failing to provide comprehensive visibility or compliance reporting. Including VM1 introduces unnecessary patching cycles, configuration drift risks, and security exposure without delivering any functional advantage over native Azure services.

Community Comment Notes

Multiple verified candidates emphasize that excluding native Azure VMs is critical for passing this exam objective [1]. One contributor explicitly notes that Azure Stack Hub and standard Azure VMs already possess similar management capabilities, making agent installation redundant [1]. Another user reinforces this by highlighting that avoiding unnecessary installations on VM1 directly satisfies the minimize administrative effort constraint outlined in the prompt [2]. These insights consistently validate Option E as the only architecturally sound choice.

Official Reference

These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Always differentiate between native Azure resources and hybrid/on-premises workloads when configuring management tools. If a question emphasizes minimizing administrative effort, prioritize solutions that leverage built-in platform features over extension-based agents.

Community Votes

E
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer E. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 3 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 3

  1. db94 👍 3 Answered E
    You shouldn't install Azure Arc on virtual machines hosted in Azure, Azure Stack Hub, or Azure Stack Edge, as they already have similar capabilities. You can, however, use an Azure VM to simulate an on-premises environment for testing purposes, only. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-arc/servers/prerequisites
  2. stonwall12 👍 1 Answered E
    Answer: E, Server1 and VM2 only Azure Connected Machine agent is required for on-premises servers only. Native Azure VMs like VM1 are already managed by Azure natively. This minimizes administrative effort by avoiding unnecessary agent installation on VM1. Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-arc/servers/agent-overview
  3. Ksk08 👍 4
    Answer E

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