I currently have a resource group that contains: Managed Identity Network Security Group Virtual Machine Scale Set Virtual Machine Scale Set Managed Identity Load Balancer Public IP Address Load Balancer I have tried to delete one of the load balancers and the public IP address but it keeps getting created automatically. I'm not sure how to stop this automatic creation from happening.

Deleting a Load Balancer and Public IP Address

Ho, Keith D 120

I currently have a resource group that contains:

Managed Identity
Network Security Group
Virtual Machine Scale Set
Virtual Machine Scale Set
Managed Identity
Load Balancer
Public IP Address
Load Balancer

I have tried to delete one of the load balancers and the public IP address but it keeps getting created automatically. I'm not sure how to stop this automatic creation from happening.

Robina 260 Reputation points

2024-12-18T18:40:55.8266667+00:00
The automatic recreation of the Load Balancer and Public IP Address is typically linked to the Virtual Machine Scale Set (VMSS) configuration. When you use a VMSS with an Azure Load Balancer, the Load Balancer and associated Public IP Address are managed resources tied to the VMSS. If you delete them manually, Azure recreates these resources to maintain the functionality of the VMSS.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

1. Review VMSS Configuration

Check Load Balancer Integration: Confirm that the VMSS is configured to use the Load Balancer for traffic distribution.

Modify or Remove Load Balancer Association:

Navigate to the VMSS in the Azure Portal.

Under the Networking section, verify the Load Balancer configuration.

Detach the Load Balancer if it's no longer required.

2. Delete VMSS Before Deleting the Load Balancer

If the Load Balancer and Public IP Address are tightly coupled with the VMSS:

Scale the VMSS Down to 0 Instances: This ensures no resources depend on the Load Balancer.

Delete the VMSS: After scaling to 0, delete the VMSS entirely.

Delete the Load Balancer and Public IP Address: Once the VMSS is removed, you can safely delete the associated resources.

3. Use the Azure CLI or PowerShell

To ensure proper deletion, use Azure CLI or PowerShell:

Remove Load Balancer:
az network lb delete --resource-group <ResourceGroupName> --name <LoadBalancerName>

Remove Public IP Address:
az network public-ip delete --resource-group <ResourceGroupName> --name <PublicIpName>

4. Check for Automation or Policies

If the resources are still being recreated:

Check for Azure Policy or Automation Scripts that might be enforcing the existence of the Load Balancer or Public IP.

Disable or update these configurations as needed.

Key Considerations

Removing a Load Balancer may impact application availability if it is actively used for traffic distribution.

Ensure that no other services depend on the Load Balancer or Public IP before deletion.
ChaitanyaNaykodi-MSFT 26,936 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2024-12-18T22:15:03.3333333+00:00

@Ho, Keith D

Thank you for reaching out.

I understand when you try to delete one of the load balancers and the public IP address but it keeps getting created back automatically.

Any operation performed in a resource group is generally logged into the Activity Logs in Azure Portal. You can check who initiated the event to re deploy the Load balancer and the Public IP again.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

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Deleting a Load Balancer and Public IP Address

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