🚀 Inside Azure Stack Hub – Core Architecture and Components

Now that you understand the why of Azure Stack Hub, it’s time to explore the how.

In this blog, we dive into the core building blocks of Azure Stack Hub. Whether you’re an architect or admin, understanding the architecture is essential for deploying and managing hybrid workloads.

🧱 The Layered Architecture of Azure Stack Hub

Azure Stack Hub is built like a miniature Azure environment, with components working together to deliver a cloud-consistent experience.

🧩 Key Layers:

Physical Infrastructure Layer
- Delivered as an integrated system by OEM vendors (Dell, Lenovo, HPE)
- Comes preconfigured, validated, and supported
Infrastructure Control Layer
- Manages health, updates, and services
- Includes the Azure Stack Hub Operator Portal
- Handles region management, updates, and integrated systems lifecycle
Resource Provider Layer
- Core services: Compute, Storage, Network (built-in)
- Optional: App Services, Azure Functions, Kubernetes (via AKS Engine)
- Custom RP support for third-party services
Tenant Experience Layer
- Users interact via the Tenant Portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, and ARM templates
- Developers can deploy apps just like on Azure

🌐 Key Components Explained

1. Region

Azure Stack Hub supports a single region.
Each deployment represents a region (like a datacenter boundary).

2. Plans, Offers, Quotas, Subscriptions

Plans = Bundles of services
Offers = Packaged plans assigned to tenants
Quotas = Limits for usage (CPU, storage, etc.)
Subscriptions = What tenants use to consume resources

3. Azure Stack Hub Admin Portal

Used by operators to manage system updates, monitoring, usage, and billing.

4. Azure Stack Hub Tenant Portal

End users or tenants use this portal to deploy resources, VMs, and services.

🔐 Identity & Integration

Azure Stack Hub supports Azure AD or Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
Enables hybrid identity and RBAC controls just like in Azure
Works seamlessly with Azure Arc, Azure Monitor, and Azure Site Recovery

🔄 How Azure Resource Providers Work

Resource Provider	Description
Compute RP	Provision and manage VMs
Storage RP	Manage blob, table, and queue storage
Network RP	Setup VNets, subnets, NSGs, IPs
App Services RP	Host Web Apps, APIs, Functions
Kubernetes RP	Deploy AKS Engine for K8s workloads

🧪 Hands-on Practice Ideas

Log in to the Admin Portal and explore usage data
Create a sample Offer and assign it to a test subscription
Deploy a VM using ARM template from the Tenant Portal
Explore update management and alerts

✍️ Abhishek’s Take

Understanding the architecture is like holding the keys to a hybrid kingdom. Azure Stack Hub is carefully engineered to bring the public Azure experience to any environment, and mastering its layers unlocks powerful possibilities—from on-prem cloud to edge AI.

With this knowledge, you can start managing resources confidently, knowing how each part fits together.