Can File server be synched twice using Azure Storage Sync service?

Question

I have a File server which is registered with Azure Storage sync service. Right now, only few of the folders in the D drive are getting synched. Now instead of only few folder, I want whole D rive to get synched. Cloud tiering is already enabled for few folders. If I create a new sync group and add D drive to it. What happens to the existing tiered data on the folder?
Note: The folders in D drive have TBs of data.

Answer 1

When you create a new sync group and add the entire D drive to it, the existing sync configuration and tiered data within the previously synced folders should remain intact. Here’s what generally happens:

1. Existing Tiered Data: The tiered data within the folders already synced by the current sync group will stay as is. The new sync group will not affect the data already tiered; it will only start managing the data in the new scope (i.e., the entire D drive).
2. New Sync Group: The new sync group will handle the synchronization for the entire D drive. This means any folders or files within the D drive that weren't previously part of the existing sync group will now be included in the new sync group’s synchronization and tiering processes.
3. Data Management: Azure File Sync will continue to manage and optimize the data based on the new sync group’s policies. This includes handling cloud tiering for files and folders within the new scope as defined by the new sync group’s configuration.
4. No Duplication: The data on the D drive won't be duplicated. Instead, the sync service will integrate the entire D drive into its existing tiering and synchronization logic.

In summary, creating a new sync group and adding the entire D drive to it will extend the synchronization scope without disrupting the existing tiered data. Just make sure to verify the settings to ensure that the new sync group is configured to meet your needs

Answer 2

Yes, the quota functionality will still work even if data in a folder is tiered using Azure File Sync with a sync group.

Here's how it works:

Quota Enforcement: Quotas are enforced by the file server’s operating system. They apply to the folder’s total data size, including both locally stored and tiered data.

Tiering Impact: When data is tiered, it means that some of the data is moved to cloud storage, while a placeholder remains on the local server. The quota system will still monitor the total size of the folder, including the space used by both the local data and the placeholders.

Quota Limits: If a folder has a quota limit of 10GB, it cannot exceed this limit in terms of the total space it occupies on the file server. Even if some data is tiered to the cloud, the quota will still prevent the folder from growing beyond 10GB, considering both the local and placeholder data.

So, your quota settings will remain effective, managing the total space used by the folder and ensuring that it does not exceed the set limit.