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santosh150's avatar
santosh150
Copper Contributor
Apr 22, 2024

Windows File Server migration

Hi All,   We are migrating windows file shares to azure file. and we have requirement : for user it will smooth transition e.g they will acccess same folder path even after migration to azure files...
  • juhua's avatar
    Apr 22, 2024
    Hi, Santosh, involves careful planning and execution!
    I think some key factors and steps to consider ensuring a seamless migration experience:
    1. Preparation and Assessment
    Evaluate Current Environment: Assess the size, permissions, and types of data on your current file shares. Tools like the Storage Migration Service can help in assessing the environment.
    Plan for Azure File Shares: Decide on the performance tier based on your needs (Premium, Standard, etc.). Also, estimate the cost based on the size and access patterns.
    2. Integration with Active Directory (AD) Domain Services
    Care of the Azure AD DS Authentication and DNS Configuration etc.
    4. Implement File Sync and DFS
    Set up Azure File Sync to sync your on-premises file server with Azure File share. This will replicate data and can also be used to tier cold data to Azure while keeping frequently accessed data on-premises.
    Use Distributed File System (DFS) Namespaces to maintain the same folder paths for users. DFS can abstract the file share's physical location, allowing you to change the backend without affecting user access paths.

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