🌟 Azure AI Services on Containers: Professional Samples & Deployment Guide

Welcome to the Azure AI Containers Samples repository! This collection provides professional-grade examples, deployment instructions, and technical guidance for leveraging Azure AI Services in Docker containers. Run robust AI workloads anywhere—on-premises, in the cloud, or at the edge—with enterprise data governance and flexible scaling.

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🗂️ Table of Contents

1. 👀 Overview: What are Containers?
2. 🤖 Azure AI Containers
   • 🎯 Benefits
   • ✅ Supported Services
   • 🔌 Connectivity Options
3. 🚀 Deployment Options
   • 📦 Microsoft Container Registry
   • 🐋 Docker Setup
4. 🛠️ Installation Guide
5. 🔗 Reference Links
6. ❓ FAQ
7. 🎬 Sample Demos & Learning Resources
8. 📞 Contact

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👀 Overview: What are Containers?

A container is a portable, lightweight unit bundling an application and its dependencies. Containers abstract away infrastructure, allowing consistent deployment across OS/hardware environments.

• 🚚 Portability: Deploy on any platform—local, cloud, edge.
• 🏰 Isolation: Run securely and independently, side-by-side.
• ⚡ Efficiency: Minimal resource overhead, fast startup.
• 🗄️ Centralized Management: Discover & manage via registries (Docker Hub, Azure MCR).

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🤖 Azure AI Containers

Azure AI containers deliver Microsoft Cognitive Services and Applied AI features through Docker images, allowing you to run workloads in the environment of your choice.

🎯 Benefits

• 🏎️ Performance: Low-latency, high throughput for real-time and bulk processing scenarios.
• 🔒 Data Governance: Keep data on-premises for maximum compliance (healthcare, finance, regulated verticals).
• 🌐 Offline & Edge: Operate in disconnected or remote scenarios; ideal for field and branch deployments.
• 🗂️ Deployment Control: Version and update containers at your own pace.

✅ Supported Services

See the latest Azure AI Container Support Matrix for all supported services.

🔌 Connectivity Options

• Connected Containers:
  Local data processing; telemetry and billing sent to Azure (pay-as-you-go).
  

• Disconnected Containers:
  Fully offline, annual prepaid license, no cloud connectivity.
  

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🚀 Deployment Options

You can run Azure AI containers in various orchestration environments:

• 🐋 Docker Engine: Docs
• ☁️ Azure Container Instances (ACI): Docs
• 🧩 Azure Container Apps (serverless): Docs
• ⚙️ Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): Docs

📦 Microsoft Container Registry

Find official Azure AI images in Microsoft Artifact Registry (MCR).

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🐋 Docker Setup

Essential Docker Commands:

1. ⬇️ Pull the Container

   docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/azure-cognitive-services/form-recognizer/layout-4.0

2. ▶️ Run the Container

   docker run --rm -it -p 5000:5000 --memory 18g --cpus 8 \
   mcr.microsoft.com/azure-cognitive-services/form-recognizer/layout-4.0 \
   EULA=accept BILLING=https://<yourendpoint>.cognitiveservices.azure.com <API_KEY>

3. 🔍 Check Container Status

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🛠️ Installation Guide

1. 📝 Prerequisites

   • Install Docker
   • Active Azure subscription & endpoint (for connected mode)
   • Sufficient hardware (per container requirements)

2. 🧲 Choose, Pull, and Run Container

   • Select a service from the Supported Containers list
   • Use sample commands above

3. 📊 Monitoring & Management

   • Use Docker CLI or your container orchestration platform of choice

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🔗 Reference Links

• 📖 Azure AI Containers Documentation
• 🗄️ Register for Disconnected Containers
• 📦 Microsoft Container Registry (MCR)
• 🐙 Microsoft on Docker Hub

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❓ FAQ

• 💡 General Containers FAQ
• 🔗 Disconnected Containers FAQ

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🎬 Sample Demos & Learning Resources

• 🎥 Demo Videos
• 📚 Microsoft Learn: AI Containers Module
• 🧠 AI-KnowlEDGE Accelerator
• 📈 Container Services Overview (PowerPoint)

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📞 Contact

Serge Retkowsky
📧 [email protected]
🔗 LinkedIn

Last updated: April 10, 2025