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When you deploy Dell APEX Block Storage for the first time, you are automatically provided with a 90-day evaluation period for the Dell APEX Block Storage solution. At the end of 90 days, you can obtain a subscription license, which allows you to use Dell APEX Block Storage for a defined period of time.
The Azure instances that are deployed as part of the Dell APEX Block Storage cluster are aligned to the client subscription. It is the responsibility of the client to maintain the monthly subscription payment, based on the Azure and client agreement, along with the negotiated consumption rates.
Charges are applied to hold the Azure Premium Storage in perpetuity when instances backed with Azure Premium Storage are deallocated (created but not running), and the APEX Block Storage cluster is gracefully shut down.
Local instance store drives are not perpetually associated with the instance, because an instance can be re-instantiated on a different physical server. Therefore, every time an instance is stopped, Azure wipes the instance store capacity. In this case, Dell PowerProtect with Data Domain Virtual Edition would be required for backup of the data.
Scaling down a cluster deployed into Azure is also allowed. When additional capacity is no longer needed, the cluster nodes can be trimmed back to meet the new requirements.
For more information, see Azure Premium Storage pricing.