Azure file sync - 5tb - hybrid cache solution

25420722 0 Reputation points
2023-05-12T16:22:31.8666667+00:00

WE are looking to implement a solution for a CAD focused client,

They require a local server for performance and we want to use azure file share as a secondary almost cold redundancy .

My question is - are we able to run windows server standard on the local machine , as there is a limit of 2tb for replication . or does this not technically apply as this server wont be replicating more just used as a file caching system for performance

Azure Files
Azure Files
An Azure service that offers file shares in the cloud.
1,162 questions
Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
12,126 questions

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. VasimTamboli 4,410 Reputation points
    2023-05-12T17:08:41.6+00:00

    Yes, you can use Windows Server Standard on the local machine as a caching system for Azure File Sync without being limited by the 2TB replication limit. The 2TB limit applies specifically to the data that is replicated to Azure using Azure File Sync.

    With Azure File Sync, you can create a synchronization relationship between your local file server and an Azure file share. The primary purpose of Azure File Sync is to synchronize files between the local file server and Azure, providing cloud-based redundancy and offloading of less frequently accessed files to the cloud.

    When using Azure File Sync, your local file server acts as a caching system for performance, allowing fast access to frequently used files. The local server will retain a copy of the most frequently accessed files while less frequently accessed files are stored in the Azure file share.

    The caching system on the local server allows the CAD-focused client to achieve better performance by having the data readily available on the local network while still benefiting from the cloud redundancy provided by Azure.

    Therefore, the 2TB replication limit does not technically apply to the local caching server because it is not replicating the entire dataset to Azure. Instead, it synchronizes and caches the most frequently used files while keeping less frequently accessed files in the Azure file share.

    Please note that when setting up Azure File Sync, you need to ensure that the capacity of your local server's storage is sufficient to accommodate the files that need to be cached. Additionally, consider the bandwidth and latency between your local server and Azure for optimal performance.

    0 comments
  2. Sumarigo-MSFT 43,641 Reputation points Microsoft Employee
    2023-05-16T06:38:22.9266667+00:00

    @25420722 Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Forum, Thank you for posting your query here!

    Yes, you can run Windows Server Standard on the local machine and use Azure File Share as a secondary cold redundancy. The 2TB limit for replication applies to Azure File Sync, which is a different service that allows you to cache several Azure file shares on an on-premises Windows Server or cloud VM Planning for an Azure File Sync deployment

    Since you are not using Azure File Sync, the 2TB limit does not apply to your scenario. However, keep in mind that the performance of the file caching system will depend on the network bandwidth and latency between the local server and Azure File Share. You can optimize the performance by using Azure ExpressRoute or VPN to establish a secure and dedicated connection between the local server and Azure , Refer to this article on Azure Files scalability and performance targets

    Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about Azure Files

    Please let us know if you have any further queries. I’m happy to assist you further.

    Please do not forget to "Accept the answer” and “up-vote” wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.

    0 comments