Storage Sync Services

WHAT IS AZURE FILE SYNC SERVICE

Azure File Sync service is a service that help us to share files or data from on premises Windows server or cloud VM to Azure storage or vice versa.

Suppose, we have a on premises Windows Storage Server or Windows FTP Server and we all save or upload our files or document in a particular folder of this server, definitely who are belonging in a same network otherwise we cannot use this on premises server. Now we need to create a Storage Account in our Azure portal. After creating the Storage Account, we need to create a link between Azure storage and on premises server. 

Azure file shares can be used in two ways:

• Directly mounting these server less Azure file shares (SMB).
• Caching Azure file shares on-premises using Azure File Sync.

Advantages of Azure File Sync

• It help us to take a cloud backup
• Disaster recovery
• Easy and frequently access
• Multi-server access and sync
• Transition between on-premises and cloud
• Cost effective 
• Lift and shift

Configuration

• Create a Storage Account in your Azure portal
• Configure File Share in your Storage Account
• Create Azure File Sync
• Configure the Server Endpoints
• Create a Window 2012 Server on your local VM
• Create a folder and give it share permission
• Install Storage Sync Agent on Windows 2012 Server
• Create a Sync group
• Now Wrapping up

Create a sync group and a cloud endpoint

A sync group defines the sync topology for a set of files. Endpoints within a sync group are kept in sync with each other. A sync group must contain one cloud endpoint, which represents an Azure file share and one or more server endpoints. A server endpoint represents a path on registered server. A server can have server endpoints in multiple sync groups. You can create as many sync groups as you need to appropriately describe your desired sync topology.

A cloud endpoint is a pointer to an Azure file share. All server endpoints will sync with a cloud endpoint, making the cloud endpoint the hub. The storage account for the Azure file share must be located in the same region as the Storage Sync Service. The entirety of the Azure file share will be synced, with one exception: A special folder, comparable to the hidden “System Volume Information” folder on an NTFS volume, will be provisioned. This directory is called “SystemShareInformation”. It contains important sync metadata that will not sync to other endpoints. Do not use or delete it!

In the Azure portal, go to your Storage Sync Service, and then select + Sync group

• Sync group name: The name of the sync group to be created. This name must be unique within the Storage Sync Service, but can be any name that is logical for you.
  
• Subscription: The subscription where you deployed the Storage Sync Service in Deploy the Storage Sync Service.
  
• Storage account: If you Select storage account, another pane appears in which you can select the storage account that has the Azure file share that you want to sync with.
  
• Azure file share: The name of the Azure file share with which you want to sync.