How to connect Azure Storage Explorer to Azure Data Lake Storage

To connect Azure Storage Explorer to Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS), you need to follow similar steps to connect to other Azure Storage resources.

Azure Data Lake Storage is built on top of Azure Blob Storage, but it offers additional capabilities for big data analytics, including hierarchical namespace support.

You can connect Azure Storage Explorer to Azure Data Lake Storage in the following ways.

1. Using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication (Recommended) – If your Azure subscription and Data Lake Storage are integrated with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).

2. Using Storage Account Name and Key – Directly using the account name and key.

3. Using Shared Access Signature (SAS) – For limited access to specific resources.

Prerequisites

1. Azure Storage Explorer installed. If you haven’t already, download it from the .

2. An Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS) account set up in your Azure subscription.

3. Ensure you have the necessary permissions (like Reader or Contributor role) to access the Azure Data Lake Storage account.

Step-by-Step Guide to Connect Azure Storage Explorer to Azure Data Lake Storage

Step 1: Install and Open Azure Storage Explorer

1. If you don’t have Azure Storage Explorer installed, download it from the and install it.

2. Open the application once installed.

Step 2: Open the Connect to Azure Storage Dialog

1. In Azure Storage Explorer, look for the plug icon or "Connect" button, typically located on the left side or top of the window.

2. Click the "Connect" button to open the "Connect to Azure Storage" dialog box.

Step 3: Connect Using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)

For Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, it's most common to authenticate using Azure AD because it provides secure, identity-based authentication.

Follow these steps:

1. In the Connect to Azure Storage dialog, select "Azure Account" and click Next.

2. A sign-in page will appear.

   • Use your Azure Active Directory (AAD) credentials (email/password) to log in.

3. Once you are signed in, select the appropriate subscription in the next window.

4. In the Explorer window, under Storage Accounts, you will see the Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 account listed.

   • It will appear alongside other storage accounts.

   • Expand it to access the file systems (containers) and data stored within them.

5. You can now browse through Data Lake Storage Gen2 file systems, upload/download files, and manage data.

Step 4: Connect Using Storage Account Name and Key

If you have the storage account key, you can directly connect using the Storage Account Name and Key.

This is another option if Azure AD authentication is not set up.

1. In the Connect to Azure Storage dialog, select "Use a storage account name and key" and click Next.

2. Enter the Storage Account Name (from your Azure Data Lake Storage account).

3. Enter the Account Key (you can get it from the Azure portal under Storage Account > Security + networking > Access keys).

4. After entering the details, click Next.

   • Your Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 account will now appear in the Explorer window.

Step 5: Connect to Azure Data Lake Storage Using Shared Access Signature (SAS) Token

If you have a Shared Access Signature (SAS) token for your Azure Data Lake Storage, you can use it to authenticate and access specific resources without needing the full account credentials.

Steps

1. In the "Connect to Azure Storage" dialog, select "Use a shared access signature (SAS) URI".

2. Paste the SAS URI you received for your Azure Data Lake Storage account.

A SAS URI typically looks like this:

xxxxxxxxxx
1
1
https://<storageaccount>.dfs.core.windows.net/<container>?<SAS-token>    

You can generate a SAS token in the Azure Portal:

• Navigate to your Azure Data Lake Storage account.

• Under Security + Networking, select Shared Access Signature.

• Define the permissions, expiry, and allowed IP ranges.

• Generate the SAS token, and then append it to the Data Lake Storage URI.

3. After pasting the SAS URI, click Next.

4. Your Data Lake Storage account will now appear in Azure Storage Explorer, and you can interact with its contents.

Step 6: Access Your Azure Data Lake Storage Resources

After successfully connecting, you'll see your Azure Data Lake Storage account listed in the Explorer panel.

1. Expand your Data Lake Storage account to view File Systems (formerly known as containers in Blob Storage).

2. Click on a File System to view and manage its contents.

3. You can now:

   • Browse and manage files.

   • Upload or Download files to/from the Data Lake.

   • Create new file systems, if you have appropriate permissions.

   • Generate SAS tokens for secure access.

Step 7: Managing Your Data in Azure Data Lake Storage

Once connected, you can perform actions such as:

• Uploading and downloading files between your local machine and Azure Data Lake.

• Viewing and editing files (e.g., images, text, or JSON files) stored in Data Lake.

• Renaming and deleting files and directories.

• Managing permissions and generating SAS tokens for sharing data.

Step 8: Disconnect from Azure Data Lake Storage

To disconnect from your Azure Data Lake Storage account:

1. In the Explorer window, right-click your Azure Data Lake Storage account.

2. Select "Disconnect" to remove the connection.

Troubleshooting Tips

1. If you don't see your Azure Data Lake Storage account, verify that you are signed in with the correct Azure AD credentials or check if you have sufficient permissions to access the storage account.

2. If you're using SAS tokens, make sure the token has the necessary permissions (e.g., read, write, delete) for the resource you're trying to access.

3. Ensure that your subscription and storage account are active.

Summary

Connecting Azure Storage Explorer to Azure Data Lake Storage is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can:

• Use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for secure, identity-based access.

• Use Storage Account Keys or SAS Tokens if Azure AD is not available.

• Manage and interact with your Data Lake Storage resources like file systems (containers), files, and directories directly from within Azure Storage Explorer.

This method provides an easy-to-use interface to perform operations such as uploading, downloading, and managing data stored in Azure Data Lake Storage.