Azure Public file share/Container

Question

is it possible to create a public share that anyone can get to via a UNC path (or any other way). Want to be able to put files (pdf/stl) into a storage and anyone given the creds can go to the path and retrieve. Security isn't an issue.

Answer 1

James Simon Welcome to Microsoft Q&A, thank you for posting your here!!

To access the Azure File share Publicly please follow below steps:

Step:1 Create Azure Storage account from Azure Portal

Reference Link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-create-file-share?tabs=azure-portal&WT.mc_id=AZ-MVP-5004796#create-a-storage-account

Step:2 Create Azure File share

Step:3 Now access the created Azure File share from your on-premises machine through UNC path.

Click on the Connect option from the newly created Azure File share.

Copy the Script in the Notepad and note the -Root and User and pass fields to use in the below steps.

$connectTestResult = Test-NetConnection -ComputerName archivecopytest.file.core.windows.net -Port 445
if ($connectTestResult.TcpTestSucceeded) {
    # Save the password so the drive will persist on reboot
    cmd.exe /C "cmdkey /add: "storageaccountname.file.core.windows.net" /user:`"localhost\storageaccountname`" /pass:`"accesskey"
    # Mount the drive
    New-PSDrive -Name Z -PSProvider FileSystem -Root "\\storageaccountname.file.core.windows.net\myfileshare" -Persist
} else {
    Write-Error -Message "Unable to reach the Azure storage account via port 445. Check to make sure your organization or ISP is not blocking port 445, or use Azure P2S VPN, Azure S2S VPN, or Express Route to tunnel SMB traffic over a different port."
}

You can directly access your Azure file share using the UNC path by entering the following into File Explorer. Be sure to replace storageaccountname with your storage account name and myfileshare with your file share name:

\\storageaccountname.file.core.windows.net\myfileshare

You'll be asked to sign in with your network credentials. Sign in with the Azure subscription under which you've created the storage account and file share. If you do not get prompted for credentials you can add the credentials using the following command:

cmdkey /add:StorageAccountName.file.core.windows.net /user:localhost\StorageAccountName /pass:StorageAccountKey

For Azure Government Cloud, simply change the servername to:

\\storageaccountname.file.core.usgovcloudapi.net\myfileshare

Reference Link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-use-files-windows#access-an-azure-file-share-via-its-unc-path

Important Note:

Ensure port 445 is open: The SMB protocol requires TCP port 445 to be open. Connections will fail if port 445 is blocked. You can check if your firewall or ISP is blocking port 445 by using the Test-NetConnection cmdlet. See Port 445 is blocked.

Hope this helps!
Kindly let us know if the above helps or you need further assistance on this issue.

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Answer 2

Hi, Devin

You can create an Azure File Share, on a Storage account.

See: Create an SMB Azure file share.