Configuring Azure Files and Azure Blob storage – Understanding and Managing Storage

Configuring Azure Files and Azure Blob storage

In the following section, we will work through an example of how we can create file shares and blob storage on a storage account.

Creating an Azure file share

In the following exercise, we will create a file share named test and demonstrate connectivity to this on a Windows system. Proceed as follows:

1. On our EXPLORER screen in Azure Storage Explorer, right-click File Shares and click Create File Share, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Figure 6.26 – Using Storage Explorer: Create File Share

2. A folder icon will be propagated at the bottom of File Shares; you can type in the name test, as illustrated in the following screenshot, and press the Enter button on your keyboard:

Figure 6.27 – Creating a file share

Top Tip

Creating a file share on Azure will prompt for a quota size. A quota is a limit on the amount of storage that can be consumed. You should always configure this.

3. You now have your folder in File Shares. We will upload something to this folder now. Click the Upload button and click Upload Files…, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Figure 6.28 – Upload Files… option

4. Select a file by clicking the ellipsis icon (…) and click Upload, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Figure 6.29 – Upload Files: Upload button

5. You will see a success message indicating the file is uploaded successfully. You will now navigate to the Azure portal and select your storage account. Click the

File shares option on the left menu and clicktest, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Figure 6.30 – Using Storage Explorer: Viewing file share

6. Notice the file you uploaded through Azure Storage Explorer; this is another method to navigate files. Click on the menu option highlighted on the top-screen breadcrumb navigation to go back to the storage account blade, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Figure 6.31 – File share: Viewing files

7. Now that you have learned how to create a file share and upload data to it using Storage Explorer, let’s move on to connect an SMB share to a Windows machine. On the far right of the test folder, you can click the ellipsis icon (…) and click Connect, as illustrated in the following screenshot:

Figure 6.32 – Connecting to Azure File shares

8. Select a Drive letter value and copy the code in the gray box below the Authentication method option, as indicated in the following screenshot. Paste this into PowerShell and press Enter. Note that this is for the Windows operating system:

Figure 6.33 – File share: choosing drive letter

9. Notice the success message and the new drive mapping—in the following example, Z:

Figure 6.34 – File share: mapping in PowerShell

Notice in the preceding screenshot that there is a -Persist switch used in the command, and this will persist storage to your operating system, meaning that storage is accessible after reboot.

10. Navigate to the Z:\ drive, and notice here that we are now connected and seeing our uploaded file:

Figure 6.35 – File share: viewing files in PowerShell

11. Proceed back to Azure Storage Explorer, right-click on the share, and click Delete, as illustrated in the following screenshot. Click Yes on the following prompt, and your folder is now deleted:

Figure 6.36 – Deleting a file share

You have now learned how to create an Azure file share, map a share, upload and download data, and delete a share.

Top Tip

You may want to mark your file shares as persistent, meaning that after a restart, they will still be there. To achieve this, add the -persist switch to your New-PSDrive command, as illustrated in Figure 6.34 as part of Step 9.