AZ-104 Exam EP 32: Azure Files and FileSync

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on using Azure Files and Azure File Sync, based on the AZ-104 Exam series. It covers the essential concepts, managing file shares, and setting up Azure File Sync, making it relevant for Azure Administrators and anyone preparing for the AZ-104 exam.

Step 1: Understand the Difference Between Files and Blobs

• Files: Typically used for shared access, providing a file system interface.
• Blobs: Used for unstructured data storage, ideal for large amounts of data like images or videos.
• Tip: Choose files for scenarios requiring shared access and blobs for large, unstructured data.

Step 2: Manage File Shares

• Creating a File Share:

  1. Navigate to the Azure portal.
  2. Select "Storage accounts" and choose your account.
  3. Click on "File shares" in the left menu.
  4. Click "+ File share" to create a new share.
  5. Provide a name and configure the quota.

• Accessing File Shares:

  • Use SMB (Server Message Block) or REST API for access.
  • Ensure you have proper permissions set for users.

Step 3: Utilize File Share Snapshots

• Creating Snapshots:

  1. Go to your file share in the Azure portal.
  2. Click on "Snapshots" and select "+ Snapshot".
  3. Name the snapshot and confirm.

• Restoring from Snapshots:

  • Navigate to the snapshot and select "Restore" to recover files as needed.

Step 4: Set Up Azure File Sync

• Purpose: Azure File Sync enables synchronization of on-premises Windows Server file shares with Azure Files.
• Components:
  • Storage Sync Service: The backbone service for syncing.
  • Sync Group: A logical grouping of the file shares to sync.
  • Registered Servers: The Windows server that connects to Azure.

Step 5: Implement File Sync Steps

1. Create a Storage Sync Service:

   • In the Azure portal, search for "Storage Sync Services".
   • Click on "+ Add" to create a new service.

2. Register Your Server:

   • Download the Azure File Sync agent on your on-premises server.
   • Run the agent and register the server to the Storage Sync Service.

3. Create a Sync Group:

   • In the Storage Sync Service, select "Sync Groups" and click "+ Add".
   • Choose the Azure file share and the registered server to sync with.

4. Configure Cloud Tiering (Optional):

   • Enable cloud tiering to manage the local storage space by offloading unused files to Azure.

5. Monitor and Manage Sync Status:

   • Check the status in the Azure portal to ensure synchronization is occurring correctly.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the fundamental aspects of Azure Files and Azure File Sync, including managing file shares, creating snapshots, and setting up Azure File Sync. By understanding these concepts, you can effectively manage file storage in Azure. Next steps might include exploring advanced configurations or integrating Azure Files with other Azure services.