Introduction to Azure Files

Azure Files offers the industry's first fully managed cloud file share that is accessible via the industry-standard Server Message Block (SMB) protocol and the Network File System (NFS) protocol. This means you can "lift and shift" applications that rely on file shares to Azure without needing to change them significantly.

Key Features and Benefits

Managed File Shares: Azure handles the underlying hardware infrastructure, patching, and updates.
Protocol Support: Access shares using SMB (for Windows, Linux, and macOS) or NFS (for Linux and macOS).
Scalability: Scale your file storage capacity and performance as your needs grow.
Durability and Availability: Built on Azure Storage, offering high durability and availability.
Hybrid Cloud Capabilities: Azure Files can be integrated with Azure File Sync for seamless on-premises and cloud synchronization.

Use Cases

Azure Files is ideal for a variety of scenarios, including:

Lift-and-Shift Applications: Migrating applications that require shared storage without code changes.
Development and Testing: Providing shared storage for development teams.
Configuration Files: Storing application configuration files centrally.
Container Storage: Serving as persistent storage for containerized applications.
Home Directories: Providing user home directories in a cloud-native environment.

Accessing Azure Files

You can mount Azure file shares directly onto your virtual machines or on-premises servers using standard SMB or NFS clients. For easier integration and management, especially in hybrid scenarios, consider using Azure File Sync.

Mounting with SMB (Windows Example)

To mount an Azure file share using SMB on Windows:

Obtain the storage account name and access key from the Azure portal.
Open File Explorer.
Right-click on "This PC" and select "Map network drive...".
Choose a drive letter and enter the network path in the format: \\<storage-account-name>.file.core.windows.net\<share-name>
Click "Finish". You may be prompted for credentials. Use your storage account name as the username and the access key as the password.

Mounting with NFS (Linux Example)

Mounting with NFS requires enabling the NFS protocol for your storage account and ensuring your network allows access. The specific commands will vary based on your Linux distribution.

Important: Always follow the latest documentation and security best practices when configuring and accessing Azure Files.

Performance Tiers

Azure Files offers different performance tiers to meet your workload requirements:

Standard: Uses HDDs for cost-effective storage, suitable for general-purpose file sharing.
Premium: Uses SSDs for high performance, ideal for latency-sensitive workloads.

Getting Started

To begin using Azure Files, you'll need an Azure subscription. You can then create a storage account and a file share within it. Refer to the detailed quickstart guide for step-by-step instructions.