Introduction to Azure Storage Files

Azure Files offers fully managed cloud file shares that are accessible via the industry-standard Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. This makes it easy to lift and shift on-premises applications that rely on file shares to Azure. Azure Files also supports the Network File System (NFS) protocol for Linux-based workloads.

With Azure Files, you can:

  • Replace on-premises file servers: Migrate file shares to the cloud without significant application changes.
  • Share application settings: Provide shared configuration data for multiple instances of an application.
  • Store diagnostic data: Centralize logging and diagnostic information from various services.
  • Cloud-native applications: Use file shares for data that needs to be accessed by multiple VMs or containers.

Key Concepts

Storage Account

A storage account is the fundamental building block for Azure Storage. It represents a unique namespace in Azure for your storage data. A storage account provides access to Azure Files, Azure Blobs, Azure Queues, and Azure Tables. When you create an Azure Files share, it resides within a storage account.

File Share

A file share is the top-level container in Azure Files. It's a directory that can hold files and other directories. You can mount a file share on-premises or in the cloud using an SMB or NFS client.

Snapshots

Azure Files supports snapshots for file shares. A snapshot is a read-only, point-in-time copy of a file share. Snapshots are useful for backup and recovery scenarios, allowing you to revert to a previous state if data is accidentally deleted or corrupted.

Integration with Azure Services

Azure Files integrates seamlessly with other Azure services:

  • Azure Virtual Machines: Mount file shares directly to VMs for shared storage.
  • Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): Use Azure Files as persistent storage for your containerized applications.
  • Azure File Sync: Synchronize on-premises Windows file shares with Azure Files for cloud tiering and hybrid scenarios.

Use Cases

Lift and Shift Applications

Many legacy applications are designed to use network file shares. Azure Files provides a familiar interface and protocol (SMB) to migrate these applications to Azure with minimal code changes.

Shared Configuration Data

Applications deployed across multiple instances can use an Azure Files share to store and access common configuration files, making management simpler and ensuring consistency.

Development and Testing

Developers can use Azure Files to store shared code repositories, build artifacts, or test data that needs to be accessible by multiple development environments.

Getting Started

To get started with Azure Files, you'll need an Azure subscription and a storage account. You can then create a file share and access it using one of the following methods:

  • Mounting with SMB: Use standard Windows file explorer or Linux command-line tools.
  • Mounting with NFS: Use standard Linux NFS client tools.
  • Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell: Programmatically manage your file shares.
  • Azure Portal: A web-based interface for managing all your Azure resources.

For detailed instructions, please refer to the Azure Files Quickstart guide.

Learn More

Explore these resources to deepen your understanding of Azure Files: