[Shirimorshtein]

Summary

The free cluster's automatic upgrade to a full cluster ("graduation") is being deprecated. Customers who want a paid cluster create one themselves, move their data, and delete the free cluster when they're done. Microsoft doesn't convert, move, or delete the free cluster - deleting it is the customer's responsibility. Eventhouse in Microsoft Fabric (free trial) is recommended as the default growth path.

Changes

File	Change
start-for-free.md	Upgrade bullet -> create a new cluster and migrate your data; the free cluster isn't converted, moved, or deleted automatically. New sections Try Eventhouse in Microsoft Fabric for free and Move to a paid cluster. Related content updated; ms.date bumped.
start-for-free-move-to-paid.md	New how-to: create the paid cluster -> export/import data -> reapply permissions and data connections -> validate and switch -> delete the free cluster (customer action), plus the Eventhouse alternative.
start-for-free-web-ui.md	Overview bullet and Related content updated (move to a paid cluster / try Eventhouse).
start-for-free-upgrade.md + media/start-for-free-upgrade/*	Deleted; redirected to the new article in .openpublishing.redirection.json.
toc.yml	Admin > Manage > Free cluster: Upgrade a free cluster -> Move to a paid cluster.
start-for-free-event-hubs.md, whats-new-archive.md	Links to the removed article retargeted.

Timing - do not merge before the UI change ships

The free-cluster UI still shows Upgrade to Azure Cluster and runs the automatic flow today. Keep this PR as a draft until the UI change is in production, then merge so the docs and the product switch together.

Open items for reviewers

• Step 2 commands (export/import) need engineering validation on a real free cluster (Amir Dachabash's team).
• Final label of the UI button ("Upgrade to Azure Cluster" vs. "Move to a paid cluster"); align start-for-free-web-ui.md.
• Retake media/start-for-free-web-ui/start-for-free-overview-page.png after the UI change.
• Confirm the Fabric links resolve in the build.
• Legal/CELA review of the Important box wording (same owners as PR #7207).

Suggested reviewers: ADX content developer; Yochai Gilad (author of PR #7207); Amir Dachabash (step 2 commands); Noam Shapira / Michal Bar (PM review).

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[prmerger-automator]

Shirimorshtein : Thanks for your contribution! The author(s) and reviewer(s) have been notified to review your proposed change. Sreedhar Pelluru (@spelluru)@shirimorshtein

[learn-build-service-prod]

Learn Build status updates of commit a9c41b6:

✅ Validation status: passed

File	Status	Preview URL	Details
data-explorer/.openpublishing.redirection.json	✅Succeeded
data-explorer/media/start-for-free-upgrade/start-for-free-upgrade-cluster-details.png	✅Succeeded	n/a (file deleted or renamed)
data-explorer/media/start-for-free-upgrade/start-for-free-upgrade-cluster.png	✅Succeeded	n/a (file deleted or renamed)
data-explorer/start-for-free-event-hubs.md	✅Succeeded
data-explorer/start-for-free-move-to-paid.md	✅Succeeded
data-explorer/start-for-free-upgrade.md	✅Succeeded	n/a (file deleted or renamed)
data-explorer/start-for-free-web-ui.md	✅Succeeded
data-explorer/start-for-free.md	✅Succeeded
data-explorer/toc.yml	✅Succeeded
data-explorer/whats-new-archive.md	✅Succeeded

For more details, please refer to the build report.

[prmerger-automator]

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[Courtney Wales (Court72)]

Shirimorshtein

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I'll close this PR now.
#please-close
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