Logic apps standard uses azure storage account to store artifact files such as host.json, connection.js etc,. With Hybrid environment in picture, access of azure storage account always cannot be guarenteed. And in any scenario, we can never assume that access internet will be available so assuming access to azure will be a long shot. To tackle this problem, in hybrid logic apps, we are using the SMB protocol to store artifact files.
What is SMB protocol ?
The SMB protocol is a network file sharing protocol that allows applications on a computer to read and write to files. SMB also requests services from server programs in a computer network. The SMB protocol can be used on top of its TCP/IP protocol or other network protocols. Using the SMB protocol, an application (or the user of an application) can access files or other resources at a remote server. This protocol allows applications to read, create, and update files on the remote server. SMB can also communicate with any server program that is set up to receive an SMB client request.
How does SMB come in picture ?
Azure Hybrid Logic Apps are running on top of Azure Arc Clusters using Azure Connected environments, connecting your on-premise kubernetes solution to azure. Azure Connected environments have native support for creating storages using SMB protocol which Hybrid Logic Apps is using to connect to a remote storage solution provided by user to store their Logic Apps workflow related files. Therefore, if user is having a SMB server, one popular option is using Azure Storage account's file share, user will be able to use the file share to store the workflow related files.
Quick Start Examples
This section will demonstrate creating a SMB storage and using it as part of creating new Hybrid Logic App.
For this instance, and ease of tutorial I am using the Azure File Share as the SMB server. It's up to the user to create any SMB server be it locally using Window's network sharing tab to configure a folder as SMB server or use something like this tutorial's azure file share as the SMB server.
Step 1: Create a storage account on azure with file sharing capabilities. If you are new to Azure, basically just create a simple storage account without any special option enabled. File Share is available even in the most basic configuration (standard tier) of Azure Storage account.
Step 2: Navigate to the azure storage account and you should be able to see the File Share option in the navigation band on the left ribbon under Data Storage section.
Step 3: Use the create file share option to create a new file share. Refer the picture.
That's pretty much it! The file share should be ready to act as SMB server.
How to use this information while creating Hybrid Logic App ?
When creating a hybrid logic app, the storage section should look something like this.
The file share name would be of format <storageAccountName>.file.core.windows.net after replacing <storageAccountName> with your storage account name without the angular brackets.
File Share Path should be the name of file share you created to be used for SMB storage. In our example it would be sampledemofileshare.
Username should again be the storage account name.
Password should be the access key of your storage account.
Et voila!
This should be all you need to do to create a working SMB server using Azure File Share.
Stay tuned there is another blog coming soon for using Linux or Windows as SMB server and guidelines associated with them.
Microsoft