Azure File Share and File Sync guide (Beginners Edition) Option to have a file server on premise for caching or access the storage from your local desktop (Windows 10) #azure #fileserver

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Contents
Deploy Azure File Sync.......................................................................................................................................... 2
Create an Azure file share..................................................................................................................................2
Create a storage account............................................................................................................................... 3
Prepare Windows Server to use withAzure File Sync.............................................................................................. 6
Deploy the Storage Sync Service........................................................................................................................ 8
Install the Azure File Sync agent......................................................................................................................... 9
Register Windows Server with Storage Sync Service............................................................................................ 9
Create a sync group and a cloud endpoint........................................................................................................ 11
Create a server endpoint................................................................................................................................. 12
How to backup the Azure File Server.................................................................................................................... 14

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Deploy Azure File Sync
Use Azure File Synctocentralize yourorganization'sfile sharesinAzure Files,while keepingthe flexibility,
performance,andcompatibilityof anon-premisesfileserver.Azure FileSynctransformsWindowsServerintoa
quickcache of your Azure file share.Youcanuse anyprotocol that's available onWindowsServertoaccessyour
data locally,includingSMB,NFS,andFTPS.You can have as many cachesas youneedacrossthe world.
Create an Azure file share
Prerequisites
Install Azure PowerShell
Powershell command: Install-Module -NameAz-AllowClobber
Install Azure CLI:https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/install-azure-cli-windows?view=azure-cli-latest
Powershell command: Invoke-WebRequest-Uri https://aka.ms/installazurecliwindows -OutFile .AzureCLI.msi;Start-
Processmsiexec.exe -Wait-ArgumentList'/IAzureCLI.msi /quiet';rm.AzureCLI.msi

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Create a storage account
Loginto Azure Portal
https://portal.azure.com/#home
Create a new storage account
Notes:
PremiumStorage storesdataon the latesttechnologySolidState Drives(SSDs)whereasStandardStorage stores
data on Hard DiskDrives(HDDs).PremiumStorage isspecificallydesignedforAzure Virtual Machine workloads
requiringconsistenthighperformance andlowlatency.
Replication:Althoughthisislabeledreplication,thisfieldactuallymeansredundancy;thisisthe desiredredundancy
level:locallyredundancy(LRS),zone redundancy(ZRS),geo-redundancy(GRS),andgeo-zone-redundancy.Thisdrop-
downlistalsocontainsread-accessgeo-redundancy(RA-GRS) andread-accessgeo-zone redundancy(RA-GZRS),
whichdo notapplyto Azure file shares;anyfile share createdinastorage account withthese selectedwill actually
be eithergeo-redundantorgeo-zone-redundant,respectively.Dependingonyourregionorselectedstorage account
type,some redundancyoptionsmaynotbe allowed.

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Nowthe File Share available inmyAzure resources
In the file share listing,you shouldsee anyfilesharesyouhave previouslycreatedinthisstorage account;anempty
table if no file shareshave beencreatedyet.Select +File share to create a new file share.
The newfile share blade shouldappearonthe screen.Complete the fieldsinthe new file share bladetocreate a file
share:
 Name:the name of the file share tobe created.
 Quota: The quotaof the file share forstandardfile shares;the provisionedsize of the file share forpremium
file shares.

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Prepare Windows Server to use with Azure File Sync
On-PremiseVirtual Machine Specification:
OS: WindowsServer2019 Standard
Memory6GB, 1vCPU, Hypervisor:Hyper-V
Prepare WindowsServerto use with Azure File Sync
For eachserverthat youintendtouse withAzure File Sync,includingeachservernode inaFailoverCluster,
disable InternetExplorerEnhancedSecurityConfiguration.Thisis requiredonlyforinitial serverregistration.You
can re-enable itafterthe serverhasbeenregistered.
 Portal
 PowerShell
Note
You can skipthisstepif you're deployingAzure File SynconWindowsServerCore.
1. OpenServerManager.
2. ClickLocal Server:
3. On the Propertiessubpane,selectthe linkfor IEEnhanced Security Configuration.

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4. In the InternetExplorer EnhancedSecurity Configuration dialogbox,
selectOff forAdministrators and Users:

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Deploy the Storage Sync Service
To deployaStorage Sync Service,goto the Azure portal,clickCreatea resourceand thensearchfor Azure File Sync.
In the searchresults,select Azure File Sync,andthenselect Create to openthe DeployStorage Sync tab.

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Install the Azure File Sync agent
The Azure File Syncagentis a downloadable package thatenablesWindowsServertobe syncedwithanAzure file
share.
You can downloadthe agentfromthe MicrosoftDownloadCenter.Whenthe downloadisfinished,double-clickthe
MSI package to start the Azure File Syncagentinstallation.
Register Windows Server with Storage Sync Service
The ServerRegistrationUIshouldopenautomaticallyafterinstallationof the Azure File Syncagent.If itdoesn't,you
can openit manuallyfromitsfile location:C:ProgramFilesAzureStorageSyncAgentServerRegistration.exe.When
the ServerRegistrationUIopens,select Sign-intobegin.
Fill inthe detailsfromthe previousexercise andclickregister

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Create a sync group and a cloud endpoint
A syncgroup definesthe synctopologyforasetof files.Endpointswithinasyncgroupare keptinsync witheach
other.A syncgroup mustcontainone cloudendpoint,whichrepresentsanAzure file share andone ormore server
endpoints. A serverendpointrepresentsapathon a registeredserver.A servercanhave serverendpointsin
multiple syncgroups.Youcan create as manysync groupsas you needtoappropriatelydescribe yourdesiredsync
topology

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Create a server endpoint
Go to sync group and add serverendpoint
In the Add serverendpointpane,enterthe followinginformationtocreate a serverendpoint:
 Registeredserver:The name of the serveror clusterwhere youwanttocreate the serverendpoint.Path:
The WindowsServerpathto be syncedas part of the syncgroup.
 CloudTiering:A switchto enable ordisable cloudtiering.Withcloudtiering,infrequentlyusedoraccessed
filescanbe tieredtoAzure Files.
 Volume Free Space: The amountof free space toreserve onthe volume onwhichthe serverendpointis
located.Forexample,if volume freespace issetto50% on a volume thathas a single serverendpoint,
roughlyhalf the amountof data is tieredtoAzure Files.Regardlessof whethercloudtieringisenabled,your
Azure file share alwayshasa complete copyof the datain the sync group.
To add the serverendpoint,select Create.Yourfilesare now keptinsyncacross yourAzure file share andWindows
Server.

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Afteraddingserverendpoint,the pathwill appearonthe local server(onpremise)
Testing
Copyfile the directory
Checkon the Azure Portal

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How to backup the Azure File Server
Enablingbackup
Reviewandcreate
Modifystorage replication
By default,vaultsuse geo-redundantstorage (GRS).
 If the vaultisyour primarybackupmechanism, we recommendthatyouuse GRS.
 You can use locallyredundantstorage (LRS) asa low-costoption.
To modifythe storage replicationtype:
1. In the newvault,select Propertiesunderthe Settingssection.
2. On the Propertiespage,underBackup Configuration,selectUpdate.

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3. Selectthe storage replicationtype,andselect Save.

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Nowproceedwithbackup
Selectthe storage
Selectthe file share tobackup

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Setyour backupPolicyasper yourrequirements(Daily,weekly, monthlyandyearly)
Thenenable backup
Backup configured

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Map the Azure File Share toMy Windows10 Desktop
Clickconnect

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Setthe drive letterandcopy
Run these PowerShell commandsfromanormal (notelevated) PowerShell terminal
Go to your desktopandopenwindowsPowerShell andrunthe command

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