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README.md

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+# azurelocal-loadtools
+
+Automated performance and load testing for **Azure Local** clusters — storage, network, database, and system stress — with standardised reporting.
+
+> **Note:** This repository is under active development. Scripts, templates, and automation are not guaranteed to work at this time. Use at your own risk and expect breaking changes.
+
+---
+
+## Repository Structure
+
+```
+azurelocal-loadtools/
+├── config/                  # Central variable reference (variables.example.yml)
+├── src/                     # Shared modules and helpers
+├── tools/                   # One folder per test tool
+│   ├── vmfleet/             #   Storage IOPS / throughput / latency (DiskSpd)
+│   ├── fio/                 #   Fine-grained storage I/O benchmarking
+│   ├── iperf/               #   Network bandwidth, jitter, packet loss
+│   ├── hammerdb/            #   SQL Server OLTP / OLAP benchmarking
+│   └── stress-ng/           #   CPU, memory, and system stress testing
+├── docs/                    # Documentation (MkDocs source)
+├── tests/                   # Validation scripts
+├── monitoring/              # Monitoring dashboards and alerting
+├── reports/                 # Generated test reports
+└── .github/workflows/       # GitHub Actions workflows
+```
+
+---
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```powershell
+# 1. Clone and configure
+git clone https://github.com/AzureLocal/azurelocal-loadtools
+cd azurelocal-loadtools
+Copy-Item config\variables.example.yml config\variables.yml
+# Edit config\variables.yml with your cluster details
+
+# 2. Run a VMFleet storage benchmark
+.\tools\vmfleet\Invoke-VMFleetPipeline.ps1 `
+    -ConfigPath "config\variables.yml" `
+    -Profiles @("General") `
+    -CredentialSource Interactive `
+    -GenerateReports
+```
+
+See the [documentation site](https://azurelocal.github.io/azurelocal-loadtools/) for full instructions.
+
+---
+
+## Tools
+
+Each tool targets a specific performance domain and runs independently from a PowerShell terminal.
+
+| Tool | What It Tests | Target OS | Status |
+|------|--------------|-----------|--------|
+| VMFleet | Storage IOPS, throughput, latency via DiskSpd VM fleet | Windows (HCI host) | Fully Implemented |
+| fio | Fine-grained storage I/O benchmarking | Linux VMs | Structure Ready |
+| iPerf3 | Network bandwidth, jitter, packet loss | Linux / Windows | Structure Ready |
+| HammerDB | SQL Server OLTP / OLAP benchmarking | Windows VMs | Structure Ready |
+| stress-ng | CPU, memory, and system stress testing | Linux VMs | Structure Ready |
+
+Every tool follows the same pattern: **Install → Run Test → Collect Results**.
+
+---
+
+## Documentation
+
+- [Getting Started](./docs/getting-started/introduction.md)
+- [Architecture Overview](./docs/architecture/overview.md)
+- [Tools Overview](./docs/tools/index.md)
+- [Variable Reference](./docs/reference/variables.md)
+- [Contributing](./docs/contributing.md)
+
+---
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- **Azure Local** cluster (23H2+) registered with Azure Arc
+- Azure subscription with appropriate RBAC
+- PowerShell 7+
+- See tool-specific requirements in the documentation
+
+---
+
+## Contributing
+
+See [Contributing Guide](./docs/contributing.md) for coding standards, branch strategy, and PR guidelines.