Use function keys in serial consoleįunction keys are enabled for usage for serial console in Windows VMs. Windows can be configured to crash and create a memory dump file when receiving an NMI.įor information on configuring Windows to create a crash dump file when it receives an NMI, see How to generate a crash dump file by using an NMI. After the NMI is delivered, the virtual machine configuration will control how the system responds. The serial console can be used to send an NMI to an Azure virtual machine by using the keyboard icon in the command bar. Today, programmers and system administrators often use NMI as a mechanism to debug or troubleshoot systems that are not responding. Historically, NMIs have been used to monitor for hardware issues on systems that required specific response times. To start a PowerShell instance, enter PowerShell in the CMD instance, and then press Enter.Ī non-maskable interrupt (NMI) is designed to create a signal that software on a virtual machine won't ignore. Press Enter, and then enter sign-in credentials with administrative permissions.Īfter you've entered valid credentials, the CMD instance opens. If you successfully connect, the prompt is SAC>:Įnter cmd to create a channel that has a CMD instance.Įnter ch -si 1 or press the + shortcut keys to switch to the channel that's running the CMD instance. Use Serial Console Use CMD or PowerShell in Serial ConsoleĬonnect to the serial console. If you think the 10-second timeout value is too short or too long, set it to a different value. The timeout that you set for the boot manager menu to display will impact your OS boot time. Reboot the system for the boot menu to be enabled In the Azure portal, select Run command, then select the command named EnableEMS from the list.Īlternatively, to manually enable the serial console for Windows VMs/virtual machine scale set created before February 2018, follow these steps:Ĭonnect to your Windows virtual machine by using Remote Desktopįrom an administrative command prompt, run the following commands:

SAC is supported on server versions of Windows but isn't available on client versions (for example, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7).įor older Windows Server images (created before February 2018), you can automatically enable the serial console through the Azure portal's run command feature.

Newer Windows Server images on Azure have Special Administration Console (SAC) enabled by default. Enable the serial console in custom or older images

If you are not seeing anything in the serial console, make sure that boot diagnostics is enabled on your VM or virtual machine scale set.

Serial number for virtual pool 4