How to configure Azure Files and Azure File Sync

Configuring Azure Files and Azure File Sync allows you to centralize and manage your file shares in the cloud while enabling synchronization across on-premises environments.

Below is a step-by-step guide.

Part 1: Configure Azure Files

Create a Storage Account

1. Go to the Azure Portal.

2. Click Create a resource > Storage Account.

3. Fill in the details:

   • Resource Group: Create a new one or select an existing one.

   • Region: Choose the location.

   • Performance: Choose Standard or Premium (Premium is optimized for high throughput).

   • Redundancy: Select a redundancy option (e.g., LRS, GRS).

4. Click Review + Create > Create.

Create an Azure File Share

1. Navigate to the storage account you created.

2. Under Data Storage, select File shares.

3. Click + File share and specify:

   • Name: Provide a unique name.

   • Quota: Define the storage limit (in GiB).

4. Click Create.

Access the Azure File Share

Mount the Share on Windows, macOS, or Linux

1. In the Azure Portal, select your file share.

2. Click Connect and choose the operating system.

3. Follow the instructions provided to mount the share:

   • Use the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol for Windows or macOS.

   • Use the NFS (Network File System) protocol for Linux (ensure the file share supports NFS).

Example Command for Windows

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net use Z: \\<StorageAccountName>.file.core.windows.net\<FileShareName> /u:<StorageAccountName> <StorageAccountKey>

Secure Access

Azure AD Authentication

Enable Azure AD for SMB shares to enforce identity-based access.

Firewall Settings

Configure network rules to restrict access to specific IP ranges or virtual networks.

Private Endpoint

Use private endpoints for enhanced security.

Part 2: Configure Azure File Sync

Install the Azure File Sync Agent

1. On your on-premises server, download and install the Azure File Sync Agent:

   • Get the agent installer from the .

2. After installation, restart the server.

Register the Server

1. Open the Azure File Sync Agent on your server.

2. Select Register and sign in with your Azure account.

3. Choose the subscription, resource group, and storage sync service.

Create a Storage Sync Service

1. In the Azure Portal, click Create a resource > Storage Sync Service.

2. Fill in the following:

   • Resource Group: Use the same group as your storage account.

   • Region: Match the region of your storage account.

   • Name: Provide a unique name.

3. Click Review + Create > Create.

Configure a Sync Group

1. Navigate to the Storage Sync Service you created.

2. Under Sync Groups, click + Sync Group.

3. Specify:

   • Name: Provide a name.

   • Storage Account: Select your storage account.

   • Azure File Share: Choose the file share you want to sync.

4. Click Create.

Add the Registered Server to the Sync Group

1. Go to the Sync Group you just created.

2. Click + Add server endpoint.

3. Specify:

   • Registered Server: Select the on-premises server you registered.

   • Path: Choose the folder on your server to sync with the Azure file share.

   • Cloud Tiering: Enable or disable (enabled allows frequently accessed data to be cached locally).

4. Click Create.

Monitor and Manage Sync

• Use the Azure Portal to monitor synchronization status and performance.

• Check the Event Viewer on the on-premises server for sync-related logs.

Best Practices for Azure Files and Azure File Sync

Enable Backups

Use Azure Backup to protect file shares.

Configure Permissions

Use Azure AD and RBAC for secure access.

Optimize Performance

Use Premium File Shares for high IOPS or low latency.

Monitor Usage

Use Azure Monitor for insights and alerts.

Cloud Tiering

Enable cloud tiering to save local storage space by keeping only hot data on-premises.

Summary

By following these steps, you can effectively configure and use Azure Files and Azure File Sync for a scalable and secure file-sharing solution.