Create an Azure file share

1. Understanding Azure File Share

Azure File Share is a service that allows you to create, manage, and share Server Message Block (SMB) file shares. It can be used to replace or supplement traditional on-premises file servers or NAS devices. Azure File shares can be used concurrently by cloud or on-premises deployments of Windows, Linux, and macOS.

2. Creating an Azure File Share

Before you create an Azure file share, you need to have an active Azure subscription, a storage account, and a file share.

• Create a Storage Account

A storage account is needed to contain the Azure file share.

1. In the Azure portal, go to ‘Storage Accounts’ and click ‘+ Add’.
2. Select your Azure Subscription, Resource Group, provide a unique name for the storage account, and specific the location.
3. Choose the ‘Performance’ (Standard or Premium), ‘Account kind’ (StorageV2 or BlobStorage), and ‘Replication’ (LRS, GRS, RAGRS, or ZRS) as per your requirements.
4. After reviewing all the information, click ‘Review + Create’ and finally, ‘Create’ to deploy the storage account.

• Create a File Share

Once you have a storage account, you can create an Azure file share.

1. In the Azure Portal, navigate to the storage account you just created.
2. Under ‘File service’, click ‘File shares’ and then ‘+ File share’.
3. Give your file share a unique name and specify the Quota (max size the share can grow to). Click ‘Create’ to finish the process.

3. Using an Azure File Share

To use the Azure file share, you need to mount it to the required system. For Windows, you use the ‘net use’ command in the Command Prompt, while Linux uses the ‘mount’ command. Remember, you will need the storage account name and key to connect.

For instance, to mount the file share in Windows:

NET USE [drive letter] \\[StorageAccountName].file.core.windows.net\[FileShareName] /U: AZURE\[StorageAccountName] [StorageAccountKey]

4. Conclusion

Azure File Share is a powerful, flexible service that allows you to efficiently create, share, and manage SMB file shares in your Azure environment. As you prepare for the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator Exam, understanding how to create and use Azure file share is a key skill you need to master.

In this post, we’ve taken a step-by-step approach to creating an Azure file share, starting from creating a storage account to finally mounting it. This is a practical scenario that tests your hands-on capability on the topic as covered in the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam.

Practice Test

The maximum size of an Azure file share can be 5TB.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: The maximum size of an Azure file share can be 100TB not 5TB.

Which of the following are valid ways to create an Azure file share? (Select all that apply)

• Azure portal
• PowerShell
• Azure CLI
• Azure DevOps

Answer: Azure portal, PowerShell, Azure CLI

Explanation: Azure portal, PowerShell, and Azure CLI are all valid ways to create an Azure file share. Azure DevOps does not have this capability.

In Azure file shares, you can nest shared directories.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure File Share supports the nesting of shared directories, allowing a hierarchical structure.

Azure file share supports both SMB (Server Message Block) and NFS (Network File System) protocols.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Yes, Azure file share does support both SMB and NFS protocol which makes it flexible for a multitude of applications.

What is the minimum size of an Azure file?

• 0 GB
• 1 GB
• 2 GB
• 3 GB

Answer: 0 GB

Explanation: The minimum size of an Azure file can be 0 GB, meaning it can be empty.

Can you take a snapshot of an Azure file share?

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure file share supports snapshots, which can be used for backup and restore purposes.

Azure File Sync can be used to centralize an organization’s file shares in Azure Files while keeping the flexibility and performance of an on-premises file server.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure File Sync helps to centralize file shares in Azure Files while maintaining the availability and performance of on-premises file servers.

You can’t lift and shift your on-premise applications to the cloud with Azure File share.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Azure File share enables you to lift and shift your on-premise applications to the cloud with little to no modifications.

Azure File Share can be used to replace or supplement on-premises file servers or NAS devices.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure File Share provides fully managed cloud file shares that can replace or supplement traditional on-premises file servers or NAS devices.

You can’t mount an Azure File share directly on your local machine.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Azure File share can be mounted directly on Windows, Linux, or macOS for convenient access.

In which storage accounts can you create a file share?

• General-purpose v2 accounts
• BlobStorage accounts
• General-purpose v1 accounts
• FileStorage accounts

Answer: General-purpose v2 accounts, General-purpose v1 accounts, FileStorage accounts

Explanation: Azure file share can be created in General-purpose v2 accounts, General-purpose v1, and FileStorage accounts. It is not available in BlobStorage accounts.

Which of the following, Azure Files supports for authentication?

• Azure Active Directory Domain Services (Azure AD DS) authentication
• Anonymous public read access
• Access key
• All of the above

Answer: All of the above

Explanation: Azure Files supports Azure AD DS authentication for SMB access, anonymous public read access for public data, and using an access key for access to file share.

Azure file shares can be accessed from anywhere via the REST API.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure file shares can indeed be accessed using a URL from anywhere via the REST API.

Azure file shares cannot integrate with Azure Backup.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Azure file shares can integrate with Azure Backup, providing a convenient way to backup your data.

All Azure file shares, regardless of their performance tier, support storing both NTFS DACLs and POSIX acls.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Only Azure File shares in the premium tier support storing both NTFS DACLs and POSIX acls. File shares in other performance tiers do not have this feature.

Interview Questions

What is the main requirement to create an Azure File share?

The main requirement to create an Azure File share is an Azure storage account.

What are the steps to create an Azure File Share?

The steps to create an Azure File Share includes: Create a storage account -> Go to the storage account -> Click on the File shares -> Click the Add file share -> Enter name and size -> click create.

How do you access Azure File share?

Azure File share can be accessed through Azure portal, Azure Storage Explorer, Windows computer, macOS, or Linux.

Can you access Azure File share if not connected to a network?

No, you cannot. Azure File share requires an active internet connection.

What protocol does Azure File Share use for providing access?

Azure File Share uses the SMB protocol.

How do you create an Azure File Share using PowerShell?

To create an Azure File Share using PowerShell, use the “New-AzStorageShare” command.

How many file shares can you create in a storage account?

You can create an unlimited number of file shares in a single storage account.

What is the maximum size of an Azure File share?

The maximum size of an Azure File share is 5 TB.

Can you transfer data between Azure File shares?

Yes, data can be transferred (copied or moved) between Azure File shares using either the AzCopy command-line utility or Azure Storage Explorer.

What are the storage tiers available for Azure file shares?

The storage tiers for Azure file shares are: Premium, Transaction Optimized, Hot, and Cool.

How to move an Azure file share to another storage account?

To move an Azure file share to another storage account, you can use Azure Storage Explorer or AzCopy.

Can you mount an Azure file share on Linux?

Yes, Azure file share can be mounted on Linux using the SMB 3.0 protocol.

What permissions are required to manage an Azure file share?

To manage an Azure file share, a user needs to have the ‘Storage File Data SMB Share Contributor’ role.

How do you see the activity logs for an Azure file share?

In the Azure portal, under the Monitor tab, you can access the activity logs for an Azure file share.

Can an Azure file share be accessed from Azure virtual machines and cloud services?

Yes, an Azure file share can be accessed from Azure virtual machines and cloud services by mounting the file share to the VM or cloud service.