Understanding Azure VM Naming Conventions

Azure virtual machine names follow a specific pattern that encodes important information about the VM's capabilities. Understanding this naming convention helps you quickly identify the right VM size for your workload.

VM Name Structure

A typical VM name looks like: Standard_D4s_v5

Let's break down each component:

Family

The first letter(s) indicate the VM Family Series.

Examples:

D - General purpose
E - Memory optimized
F - Compute optimized
M - Memory intensive
N - GPU-enabled

Subfamily (Optional)

Used for specialized VM differentiations:

Subfamily	Meaning
`B`	Memory bandwidth optimized
`C`	Confidential (for DC, EC, NCC series) OR Compute intensive (for HC, NC, NCC series)
`D`	AI training and inference optimized
`G`	Cloud gaming and remote desktop optimized
`V`	Visualization and graphics optimized
`X`	Extra memory

Number of vCPUs

The number following the family letter indicates the number of virtual CPUs.

Example: D4 = 4 vCPUs

Constrained vCPUs (Optional)

For certain VM sizes, this denotes the number of vCPUs for constrained vCPU capable sizes.

Additive Features

Lower case letters denote additive features:

Feature	Meaning
`a`	AMD-based processor
`b`	Remote storage bandwidth optimized
`d`	Includes a local temp disk
`e`	Encrypted; contains confidential TDX capabilities
`f`	Flat ratio (1:1) of vCPU to memory size
`i`	Isolated size
`l`	Low memory; decreased vCPU to memory ratio
`m`	Memory intensive; highest vCPU to memory ratio in a particular series
`n`	Network optimized; increased vCPU to network bandwidth ratio
`o`	Increased vCPU to local SSD storage capacity ratio
`p`	ARM-based processor
`r`	Includes RDMA (InfiniBand) secondary network
`s`	Compatible with any premium SSD type
`t`	Tiny memory; smallest vCPU to memory ratio in a particular size

Accelerator Type (Optional)

Denotes the type of hardware accelerator in specialized/GPU SKUs.

Memory Capacity (Optional)

For M-series VMs, denotes memory capacity rounded to the nearest TiB.

Version

The version number of the VM Family Series (e.g., v5, v4, v3).

Common Examples

Standard_D4s_v5

D - General purpose family
4 - 4 vCPUs
s - Premium storage capable
v5 - Version 5 of the D-series

Standard_E16ads_v5

E - Memory optimized family
16 - 16 vCPUs
a - AMD processor
d - Local temp disk included
s - Premium storage capable
v5 - Version 5

Standard_F8s_v2

F - Compute optimized family
8 - 8 vCPUs
s - Premium storage capable
v2 - Version 2

Quick Tips

Premium Storage: Look for the s suffix to ensure your VM supports premium SSDs for better performance.
Local Temp Disk: The d suffix indicates a local temporary disk is included, useful for page files or caching.
AMD vs Intel: The a suffix indicates AMD processors, which often provide better price-performance for certain workloads.
Version Numbers: Higher version numbers (v5, v6) typically offer better performance and newer features than older versions (v2, v3).

Azure VM Naming Conventions