Azure Container Registry Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Container Registry. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, security, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

How to Use This Skill

> IMPORTANT for Agent: Use the Category Index below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., L35-L120), use read_file with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., [security.md](security.md)), use read_file on the linked reference file

> IMPORTANT for Agent: If metadata.generated_at is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If mcp_microsoftdocs tools are not available, suggest the user install it: Installation Guide

This skill requires network access to fetch documentation content:

• Preferred: Use mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch with query string from=learn-agent-skill. Returns Markdown.
• Fallback: Use fetch_webpage with query string from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown. Returns Markdown.

Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description | |----------|-------|-------------| | Troubleshooting | L37-L52 | Diagnosing and fixing ACR issues: health checks, error codes, login/auth, network, performance, transfer, logs, artifact cache/streaming, Arc extension, and customer-managed keys. | | Best Practices | L53-L60 | Best practices for ACR operations: managing public image dependencies, safe image deletion and storage cleanup, and robust image tagging/versioning strategies. | | Decision Making | L61-L67 | Guidance on choosing ACR auth for Kubernetes, migrating image signing from Docker Content Trust to Notary, and planning/configuring geo-replication for multi-region registries. | | Architecture & Design Patterns | L68-L73 | Patterns for ACR performance and governance: caching image pulls, geo-replication strategies, connected registries for edge/offline, and gated import workflows for public images. | | Limits & Quotas | L74-L79 | Details on ACR SKUs (Basic/Standard/Premium) feature differences, performance and throughput limits, and how image storage capacity and quotas are calculated and enforced. | | Security | L80-L118 | Securing ACR access: auth methods (Entra, managed identity, tokens), RBAC/ABAC, network/firewall/VNet rules, policy/compliance, encryption keys, image signing/verification, and Defender scanning. | | Configuration | L119-L138 | Configuring ACR behavior: cache and wildcard rules, purge/locks/soft delete, retention and IPv6, tasks (YAML, timers, agent pools, patching), webhooks, and monitoring metrics/logs. | | Integrations & Coding Patterns | L139-L155 | Integrating ACR with Kubernetes, ACI, GitHub Actions, Helm, ORAS, and ACR Transfer; configuring auth, caching, webhooks, and image signing/verification workflows. | | Deployment | L156-L160 | Using ARM templates to automate ACR quick tasks and data transfer, and deploying/managing ACR connected registries via Azure Arc extension |

Troubleshooting

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Run az acr check-health for quick ACR diagnostics | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-check-health | | Troubleshoot common Azure Container Registry issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-faq | | Interpret az acr check-health error codes and fixes | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-health-error-reference | | View and manage Azure Container Registry task run logs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-logs | | Troubleshoot Azure Container Registry Transfer issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-transfer-troubleshooting | | Troubleshoot Azure Container Registry network connectivity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-troubleshoot-access | | Troubleshoot ACR login, authentication, and authorization issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-troubleshoot-login-authn-authz | | Troubleshoot Azure Container Registry performance problems | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-troubleshoot-performance | | Troubleshoot Azure Container Registry artifact cache issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/troubleshoot-artifact-cache | | Diagnose and fix Azure Container Registry artifact streaming issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/troubleshoot-artifact-streaming | | Troubleshoot connected registry Arc extension issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/troubleshoot-connected-registry-arc | | Troubleshoot customer-managed keys in Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/tutorial-troubleshoot-customer-managed-keys |

Best Practices

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Manage public image dependencies using ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/buffer-gate-public-content | | Follow operational best practices for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-best-practices | | Delete ACR images safely to manage registry storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-delete | | Apply image tagging and versioning best practices in ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-image-tag-version |

Decision Making

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Select Kubernetes authentication options for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/authenticate-kubernetes-options | | Migrate ACR signing from DCT to Notary Project | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-content-trust-deprecation | | Plan and configure geo-replication for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-geo-replication |

Architecture & Design Patterns

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Design and use connected registries with ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/intro-connected-registry | | Implement gated import workflow for public images in ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/tasks-consume-public-content |

Limits & Quotas

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Compare Azure Container Registry SKU features and limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-skus | | Review Azure Container Registry image storage limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-storage |

Security

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Allow trusted Azure services to access network-restricted ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/allow-access-trusted-services | | Enable anonymous pull access for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/anonymous-pull-access | | Configure cross-tenant AKS authentication to Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/authenticate-aks-cross-tenant | | Restrict Azure Container Registry public access by IP rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-access-selected-networks | | Use Microsoft Entra service principals to access ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-auth-service-principal | | Choose and configure authentication methods for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-authentication | | Configure managed identity authentication to Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-authentication-managed-identity | | Use Azure Policy to audit ACR compliance | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-azure-policy | | Configure Microsoft Entra Conditional Access policies for ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-configure-conditional-access | | Enable Docker Content Trust for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-content-trust | | Use dedicated data endpoints to secure ACR traffic | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-dedicated-data-endpoints | | Control accepted Microsoft Entra auth scopes for ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-disable-authentication-as-arm | | Configure firewall rules for Azure Container Registry access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-firewall-rules | | Configure Azure ABAC repository permissions in Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-rbac-abac-repository-permissions | | Reference for Azure Container Registry built-in RBAC roles | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-rbac-built-in-roles-directory-reference | | Assign and manage ACR RBAC built-in roles | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-rbac-built-in-roles-overview | | Create and assign custom RBAC roles for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-rbac-custom-roles | | Use Azure Container Registry service tags for network rules | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-service-tag | | Access Key Vault secrets from ACR Tasks via managed identity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-authentication-key-vault | | Configure managed identity for ACR Tasks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-authentication-managed-identity | | Use managed identity for cross-registry auth in ACR Tasks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-cross-registry-authentication | | Configure token-based repository permissions in Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-token-based-repository-permissions | | Sign ACR images with CA certs via Key Vault | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tutorial-sign-trusted-ca | | Enforce AKS image signature verification with Ratify | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tutorial-verify-with-ratify-aks | | Restrict ACR access with virtual network service endpoints | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-vnet | | Disable artifact export to prevent ACR data exfiltration | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/data-loss-prevention | | Manage ACR Tasks network bypass policy with trusted services | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/manage-network-bypass-policy-for-tasks | | Reference of built-in Azure Policy definitions for ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/policy-reference | | Configure client tokens to pull from connected registries | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/pull-images-from-connected-registry | | Scan ACR images with Microsoft Defender for Cloud | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/scan-images-defender | | Apply Azure Policy compliance controls to ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/security-controls-policy | | Secure connected registry Arc extension deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/tutorial-connected-registry-arc | | Configure customer-managed encryption keys for ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/tutorial-customer-managed-keys | | Enable customer-managed keys on Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/tutorial-enable-customer-managed-keys | | Rotate and revoke customer-managed keys for ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/tutorial-rotate-revoke-customer-managed-keys |

Configuration

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Configure artifact cache in ACR using Azure CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/artifact-cache-cli | | Configure and run acr purge for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-auto-purge | | Reference Azure Container Registry endpoint types and flags | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-endpoint-reference | | Configure delete locks on ACR images and repositories | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-image-lock | | Enable IPv6 dual-stack endpoints for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-ipv6-dual-stack | | Configure retention policy for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-retention-policy | | Configure and use ACR soft delete retention policy | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-soft-delete-policy | | Use multi-step ACR Tasks to build, test, and patch images | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-multi-step | | YAML schema reference for Azure Container Registry Tasks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-reference-yaml | | Schedule Azure Container Registry Tasks with timers | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-scheduled | | Configure multi-step ACR Tasks for build workflows | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tutorial-multistep-task | | Webhook payload schema for Azure Container Registry events | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-webhook-reference | | Configure continuous patching for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/how-to-continuous-patching | | Monitoring metrics and logs reference for Azure Container Registry | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/monitor-container-registry-reference | | Configure dedicated agent pools for ACR Tasks | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/tasks-agent-pools | | Configure wildcard rules for ACR artifact cache | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/wildcards-artifact-cache |

Integrations & Coding Patterns

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Configure ACR-to-ACR artifact caching with managed identity | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/artifact-cache-acr-to-acr-cli | | Grant Azure Container Instances access to ACR with service principals | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-auth-aci | | Create Kubernetes pull secrets for Azure Container Registry access | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-auth-kubernetes | | Host and manage Helm chart repositories in ACR | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-helm-repos | | Manage OCI and supply chain artifacts in ACR with ORAS | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-manage-artifact | | Build images with Buildpacks using az acr pack build | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tasks-pack-build | | Automate ACR Transfer using ARM templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-transfer-arm-template | | Use ACR Transfer with Azure CLI extension | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-transfer-cli | | Build, push, and sign ACR images in GitHub Actions with Notation | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tutorial-github-sign-notation-artifact-signing | | Verify signed ACR images in GitHub Actions workflows | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tutorial-github-verify-notation-artifact-signing | | Sign ACR images with Notation using Azure Key Vault certificates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tutorial-sign-build-push | | Sign and verify ACR images using Notation and Artifact Signing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-tutorial-sign-verify-notation-artifact-signing | | Configure ACR webhooks for registry event notifications | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-webhook |

Deployment

| Topic | URL | |-------|-----| | Queue ACR quick task runs with ARM templates | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/container-registry-task-run-template | | Deploy the ACR connected registry Arc extension | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-registry/quickstart-connected-registry-arc-cli |