Microsoft Azure Network Adapter overview
Learn how to use the Microsoft Azure Network Adapter (MANA) component of Azure Boost to improve the performance and availability of virtual machines (VMs) in Azure. MANA is a next-generation network interface that provides stable forward-compatible device drivers for Windows and Linux operating syst
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Learn how to use the Microsoft Azure Network Adapter (MANA) component of Azure Boost to improve the performance and availability of virtual machines (VMs) in Azure. MANA is a next-generation network interface that provides stable forward-compatible device drivers for Windows and Linux operating systems. MANA hardware and software are engineered by Microsoft and take advantage of the latest advancements in cloud networking technology.
Important
The following dates represent the earliest potential placement on MANA-capable hardware in public cloud:
- May 26, 2026
- Intel v5: Dv5, Dsv5, Ddv5, Ddsv5, Dlsv5, Dldsv5, Ev5, Esv5, Edv5, Edsv5
- Cobalt 100 v6: Dpsv6, Dpdsv6, Dplsv6, Dpldsv6, Epsv6, Epdsv6
- Timeline under review: Dsv4, Dv4, Ddsv4, Ddv4, Esv4, Ev4, Edsv4, Edv4, Dsv3, Dv3, Esv3, Ev3, Bsv2, Dv2, Dsv2, Av2, Fsv2, Fs, F, G, GS, Ls
Compatibility
MANA supports several VM operating systems. Although your VM might be running a supported operating system, you might need to update the kernel (Linux) or install drivers (Windows) to leverage MANA or the latest features.
MANA maintains feature parity with previous Azure networking features. VMs run on hardware with both Mellanox and MANA NICs, so existing mlx4 and mlx5 support still needs to be present.
For operating system support see Azure Accelerated Networking Overview.
Custom images and legacy VMs
To maximize performance, we recommend using an operating system that supports MANA. If the operating system doesn't support MANA, network connectivity is provided through the hypervisor's virtual switch. The virtual switch is also used during some infrastructure servicing events where the Virtual Function (VF) is revoked.
DPDK on MANA hardware
For information about using DPDK on MANA hardware, see Microsoft Azure Network Adapter and DPDK on Linux.
Note
Running DPDK on MANA hardware requires the Linux kernel 6.14 or later or a backport of the Ethernet and InfiniBand drivers from the Linux kernel 6.14 or later. If you use an earlier Linux image from Azure Marketplace, you need to update the kernel.
Evaluating performance
Differences in VM types, operating systems, applications, and tuning parameters can affect network performance in Azure. For this reason, we recommend that you benchmark and test your workloads to achieve the expected network performance.
For information on testing and optimizing network performance in Azure, see TCP/IP performance tuning for Azure VMs and Virtual machine network bandwidth.
Getting started with MANA
Tutorials for each supported OS type are available to help you get started:
- For Linux support, see Linux VMs with Azure MANA.
- For Windows support, see Windows VMs with Azure MANA.
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