[Feature Request] Change default VM size for `az vm create` and `az vmss create` from Standard_DS1_v2 to Standard_D2s_v5

[haagha]

Summary

The default VM size for az vm create (--size) and az vmss create (--vm-sku) is currently Standard_DS1_v2, which is an older-generation SKU. This should be updated to Standard_D2s_v5 to align with modern VM families and improve the out-of-box experience for users.

Current State

Command	Parameter	Current Default
az vm create	--size	Standard_DS1_v2
az vmss create	--vm-sku	Standard_DS1_v2

Requested Change

Update both defaults to Standard_D2s_v5, which is the current-generation general-purpose v5 size offering better price/performance.

Justification

1. Standard_DS1_v2 is a legacy SKU — The Dsv2-series is multiple generations behind and is not recommended for new workloads.
2. Azure PowerShell already moved forward — New-AzVM defaults to Standard_D2s_v3 today (source) and has a breaking change registered to move to Standard_D2s_v5 in v15.0.0.
3. The breaking change is already registered in this repo — _breaking_change.py registers the change from Standard_DS1_v2 → Standard_D2s_v5 for both vm create and vmss create, but with target_version=None. This means the warning is shown to users today with no timeline for the actual change.
4. Standard_D2s_v5 provides better compute performance, lower cost per vCPU, and broader availability than the Dsv2-series.

Proposed Action

• Set a concrete target_version for the registered breaking change in _breaking_change.py
• Update the actual default values in the CLI to Standard_D2s_v5 in the targeted release

Environment

• Azure CLI: 2.x (all current versions)
• Affects: az vm create, az vmss create

[yonzhan]

Thank you for opening this issue, we will look into it.

[github-actions]

Here are some similar issues that might help you. Please check if they can solve your problem.

• VMSS create: switch default vm size from standard_d1_v2 to standard_ds1_v2 #5970
• Change the Default VM Size in CLI [P0 | Issue 1 of 2] #31358

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Possible solution (Extracted from existing issue, might be incorrect; please verify carefully)

Solution 1:

I will find a time to switch this default, preferably in sync with portal.

Reference:

• VMSS create: switch default vm size from standard_d1_v2 to standard_ds1_v2 #5970 (comment)

Solution 2:

We need to modify the default VM size of VM creation ASAP as we've officially started placing quota restrictions on Standard_DS_v2 family (and several others) per the retirement announcement. Request: For all instances in CLI where default VM is a v2 or v3 VM family, change to Standard_D2as_v5.

Reference:

• Change the Default VM Size in CLI [P0 | Issue 1 of 2] #31358 (comment)

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[microsoft-github-policy-service]

🔔 Routing this issue to @act-observability-squad.