Azure Files: Managed Cloud File Shares
Azure Files offers the world's first cloud enterprise file share that is accessible via the industry-standard Server Message Block (SMB) protocol and Network File System (NFS) protocol. This means you can "lift and shift" legacy applications that rely on file shares to Azure. Azure Files also supports authenticated access via Azure Storage authentication with Shared Key or Azure AD Domain Services (Azure AD DS) or on-premises Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) for hybrid identities. Azure Files can be concurrently mounted by multiple Linux, macOS, and Windows clients.
Key Features and Benefits
- SMB and NFS Protocol Support: Full support for industry-standard protocols allows for easy integration with existing applications and workflows.
- Managed Service: Azure handles all the underlying infrastructure, patching, and maintenance, reducing operational overhead.
- Scalability: Easily scale your file share capacity up or down as your needs change, without provisioning or managing hardware.
- High Availability and Durability: Data is stored redundantly, ensuring high availability and protection against data loss.
- Hybrid Identity: Integrate with on-premises Active Directory Domain Services or Azure AD DS for robust authentication and authorization.
- Multiple Client Support: Mountable from Windows, Linux, and macOS clients.
Use Cases
Azure Files is ideal for a wide range of scenarios:
- Replacing on-premises file servers: Migrate existing file shares to the cloud to reduce infrastructure costs and complexity.
- Application development and testing: Provide shared storage for development environments.
- Configuration file storage: Store application configuration files centrally for easy access by multiple instances.
- Lift-and-shift applications: Migrate existing applications that depend on file share access without significant re-architecture.
- Container storage: Provide persistent storage for containerized applications.
Storage Tiers
Azure Files offers different storage tiers to optimize for performance and cost:
| Tier | Description | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | SSD-backed storage providing high performance and low latency. | Latency-sensitive workloads, demanding applications, high IOPS requirements. |
| Transaction Optimized | HDD-backed storage optimized for general-purpose file serving with high transaction rates. | Web serving, general file shares, intermittent heavy transaction workloads. |
| Hot | HDD-backed storage for frequently accessed data. | General file sharing, user home directories. |
| Cool | HDD-backed storage for infrequently accessed data. | Archiving, backup data. |
Note: The availability of storage tiers may vary by region. Refer to the official Azure documentation for the most up-to-date information.
Getting Started
To get started with Azure Files, you typically need to:
- Create an Azure Storage account.
- Create a file share within the storage account.
- Configure access permissions and mount the share to your clients.
You can manage Azure Files through the Azure portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, or client libraries.
For detailed instructions and advanced configurations, please refer to the official Azure Files documentation.