Storage Sync & DFSR to Cloud

Question

1. Azure Storage Sync → Blob (Archive) We currently use Azure File Sync with on-premises servers for live project folders. We also maintain Azure Blob Storage for archiving completed projects.

Question: Is it possible to move or tier entire project folders directly from an Azure File Sync–enabled file share (on-premises) to Azure Blob Storage for archival purposes, without breaking sync or causing rehydration issues? What is the recommended Microsoft approach for this scenario?

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2. DFSR On-Prem → Cloud Equivalent We have an on-premises DFS Replication (DFSR) setup replicating file servers between India and US locations.

Question: Is there a cloud-native equivalent or supported architecture in Azure to replace or extend DFSR, such as:

Azure File Sync

Azure File Shares with multi-region access

Any other recommended Azure service

What is the best-practice architecture for cross-region file replication in Azure?

Answer 1

1. Moving or Tiering Project Folders to Azure Blob Storage: Currently, Azure File Sync does not support direct movement or tiering of entire project folders from an Azure File Sync-enabled file share to Azure Blob Storage. The recommended approach for archiving completed projects would be to manually move or copy the files from the Azure File Sync-enabled file share to Azure Blob Storage. This process should be done carefully to avoid breaking sync or causing rehydration issues. You may want to consider using Azure Data Factory or Azure Logic Apps to automate this process while ensuring that the sync remains intact.
2. Cloud-Native Equivalent for DFSR: Azure File Sync can be used as a cloud-native solution to replace DFSR for file synchronization. It allows you to sync files between on-premises servers and Azure file shares, providing a way to extend your file services to the cloud. Additionally, Azure File Shares with multi-region access can also be utilized for cross-region file replication. The best-practice architecture for cross-region file replication in Azure would involve using Azure File Sync in conjunction with Azure File Shares to ensure that your data is replicated efficiently across different geographical locations. This setup can provide high availability and disaster recovery capabilities for your file data.