How to Sync Microsoft Azure Files?

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Microsoft Azure was formerly known as Windows Azure. It is a family of a large chunk of cloud storage services that are specifically meant for developers and large enterprises.

With an Azure account, you get free access to the Azure File Sync Client in order to sync your on-premise file servers with an online storage account. Not only does it reduce the server costs for your firm, but the transition to cloud backup also facilitates data recovery if required. Azure is also increasingly used to store local file servers while keeping their local references intact.

The services covered under the Azure product-family are listed below:

  • Windows Virtual Machines
  • Linux Virtual Machines
  • Online File Storage
  • Managed Disks
  • Blob Storage
  • SQL Database
  • Azure Cosmos DB
  • Ink Recognizer
  • Form Recognizer
  • Custom Vision
  • Computer Vision
  • Host for Web apps
  • Mobile services

In this article, we’ll discuss the procedure to synchronize Azure files. This process can be broadly classified into seven steps:

 

Step 1: Create a New Storage Account

In order to host and synchronize your on-premises servers, you first need to create a storage account with Azure as follows:

  1. Visit the Microsoft Azure page, and click on Start free. Microsoft provides a 12-months trial free of cost.
  2. Fill-out the account registration form and submit the details.
  3. Now, go to your Azure Portal.
  4. Click on All Services, followed by Storage Account.
  5. Click on the Add button.
  6. If you already have an active subscription, select it from the drop-down box (for example Visual Studio Enterprise).
  7. Type a name for your storage account.
  8. Set the Deployment Model to Resource Manager and Account Kind to Storage V2 (General purpose V2).
  9. Select your location from the drop-down box.
  10. Now set the Replication to Geo-redundant storage (GRS).
  11. Set the Performance to Standard that uses magnetic disks. For higher performance, go with the premium performance option.
  12. Choose an Access Tier among Hot or Cold type of storage. (Refer to Note # 2 below for additional information).
  13. Enable the Secure Transfer Required feature and now choose to create a new Resource Group namely Resource Group 1.
  14. Finally, click the Create button to conclude creating your cloud storage account on Microsoft Azure.

Note:

  1. Remember that after the free period, the overall cost for your Azure account largely depends upon your storage needs and the features you opt-in for. By selecting minimal features and minimal storage quota, you can reduce the subscription fee.
  2. While creating your storage account, you will be prompted to choose between the hot cloud or cold cloud (types of storage). When it comes to data storage, hot cloud refers to the most frequently used, fastest and consequently, expensive Internet storage. Your data is available on-demand, you can access it as and when required. On the contrary, the cold cloud refers to the less frequently used, slower and cheaper data storage. With the cold cloud, you can’t access your data right away as opposed to hot storage.

 

Step 2: Create a File Share

After creating a storage account with Azure, you’ll need to create a File Share. The steps are as follows:

  1. Click the File Service option in the left-hand side panel and select File.
  2. Now click the + File Share icon on the toolbar.
  3. In the New File Share dialog box, specify a name and quota for your file share. For example, MyFileShare1 and 4096 GB respectively.
  4. Click OK to confirm the new File Share creation.

 

Step 3: Create a New Resource

The next step is to create a New Resource from the same Azure Portal.

  1. Click on New Resource.
  2. Type your desired name and then select Azure File Sync from the drop-down box.
  3. Click on the Create button.

 

Step 4: Obtain the Latest Modules

Now we have to obtain the latest modules in order to define the server endpoint and cloud account endpoint in the subsequent steps.

  1. Make sure that AzureRM already exists on your server-side.
  2. Open up Windows Powershell as an admin.
  3. Execute the following command:
    • Install-Module AzureRM
  4. This will install the latest modules required for this procedure.

 

Step 5: Download Microsoft Azure File Sync Agent

We’ll now download the Microsoft Azure File Sync Client that facilitates Azure file synchronization.

  1. Go to the Microsoft Azure File Sync Client download page.
  2. Download the appropriate version and begin the installation process.
  3. After the installation is over and you will open the Azure File Sync application for the first time, you will be promoted to check for new updates. Click OK to confirm.
  4. You will need to log into your Microsoft Azure account. Simply click the Sign in button and type in your login credentials.
  5. In the subsequent Storage Sync Service page, you don’t have to create a new resource group again as we have already created it earlier. Simply select your existing subscription package, Resource Group, and your storage account.
  6. Click on Register.
  7. You’ll now be shown all the registered servers list.

 

Step 6: Build a Sync Group

Now that the initial set up is over, you’ll need to build a Sync Group as follows:

  1. Click on the + Sync Group icon on the upper right corner of the screen.
  2. Enter a name for your Sync Group and then select your subscription (For example Visual Studio Enterprise).
  3. Select your storage account.
  4. Finally, click on Create and a new Sync Group will be automatically created for you.

 

Step 7: Add a Server Endpoint

The last step is to add a server endpoint for the sync group that you’ve created.

  1. Click the Add Server Endpoint option.
  2. Choose your registered server and specify the server path. (For example C:\home\public).
  3. De-select the Cloud Tiering feature.
  4. Click on Create.

You will now be able to see a Server Endpoint listing your server(s) along with other information such as your server health, files to be synced, and other synchronization activity.

 

Raza Ali Kazmi
Website

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Raza Ali Kazmi works as an editor and technology content writer at Sorcim Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. He loves to pen down articles on a wide array of technology related topics and has also been diligently testing software solutions on Windows & Mac platforms. If you have any question about the content, you can message me or the company's support team.