Azure Files VS Azure NetApp Files
Hi,
Has anyone tested both as a replacement for on-prem file servers?
Any feedback? (Azure files/ Azure File Sync/Azure NetApp Files)
We run 7 servers on 3 continents, with 13TB of data.
Our on-prem Internet speeds:
A- 2GB (~200users)
B- 500GB(~30 users)
C- 140GB (~100users)
We are wondering if:
1- NetApp offers an on-prem "Sync" option as Azure Files does.
2- Which servie would better answer our needs as stated above.
Hi SamSONACA
the capacity is not a problem for both services.
Both services, Azure Fileshare (AFS) and NetApp Files (ANF), are suitable for your goals.
Azure offers with Azure File Sync a easy migration service, to move your On-Prem Fileshares to an Azure Fileshare - this also possible with NetApp Cloud Sync.
From my point of view Azure File Sync is a bit easier and more cost efficient.
The key difference between AFS and ANF is how they work.
Azure Files is a PaaS solution with a public endpoint and the AD integration is a bit tricky compared to NetApp Files.
NetApp Files only working inside a specified Azure VNET and has a better or easier AD integration.
For your data capacity, I think you can work with Azure Fileshare. Additionally use Private Link so that the Azure Fileshare gets a private IP and SMB authentication. For the migration use Azure File Sync to migrate the files from a local fileserver to Azure.
Perhaps the following article can help you gain some insight into how Azurefileshare can work as a file server replacement:
https://www.reimling.eu/2020/12/azure-files-enabled-ad-ds-smb-authentication-all-you-need-to-know/
Greetings
Gregor
