Prepare to attach Azure NetApp Files to Azure VMware Solution

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Azure NetApp Files allows you to scale VMware-based storage-intensive workloads like SQL Server, general-purpose file servers, and others in Azure. When preparing to use Azure NetApp Files with Azure VMware Solution, there are three core configuration that you need to check: NetApp account, capacity pools, and volumes.

The following diagram shows the relationships of the Azure subscription, NetApp accounts, capacity pools, and volumes.

Diagram of storage hierarchy of Azure NetApp Files.

NetApp accounts

The NetApp account can be considered the highest level organizing principle of an Azure NetApp Files deployment. You can have up to 10 NetApp accounts in your Azure subscription.

Each NetApp account is tied to a region. When you attach your Azure NetApp Files account to Azure VMware Solution, you should use volumes under the NetApp account tied to the same region in which you deploy your Azure VMware Solution. For example, if you deploy your Azure VMware Solution in West Europe, your NetApp account should also be in West Europe.

Capacity pools

Azure NetApp Files volumes are contained in capacity pools. Each NetApp account supports up to 25 capacity pools.

With capacity pools, you set a quota size and a performance tier. Azure NetApp Files offers three performance tiers: Standard, Premium, and Ultra. Performance tiers and the sizes of volumes determine the throughput of your data. There are no requirements for what performance tier to use when attaching Azure NetApp Files to Azure VMware Solution, though Ultra is recommended.

Volumes

You can easily connect Azure NetApp Files to Azure VMware Solution. When creating an Azure NetApp Files volume, you have the option to select an “Azure VMware Solution” checkbox, which helps facilitate connection with Azure VMware Solution.

You must also delegate a subnet for your Azure NetApp Files volume. It's recommended you use a dedicated virtual network connected via ExpressRoute gateway.

When you delegate a subnet in Azure NetApp Files, it defaults to a /24 network mask, which provides for 251 available IP addresses. Subnet delegation should be Microsoft.NetApp/volumes.

When using Azure NetApp Files with Azure VMware Solution, it's recommended you use Standard rather than Basic network features.