Create an Azure File Share and mount drive (and persists) on Windows and Centos

Pre-requisite: Azure Storage Account.

Steps:

1.       Create a file share either in portal.azure.com or through PS (you can’t create AFS in ARM template yet)

PS C:\Users\xyz> $storageContext=New-AzureStorageContext -StorageAccountName saaccount -StorageAccountKey yourkey

PS C:\Users\xyz> $storageContext |  New-AzureStorageShare -Name yourshare

2.       Test that file share exists

a.       Via PS

PS C:\Users\xyz> $storageContext |  Get-AzureStorageShare

b.       Via Azure File Explorer

3.       Mount the share

cmdkey /add:yoursaacount.file.core.windows.net /user:yoursaacount /pass:yoursakey

net use z: \\yoursaacount.file.core.windows.net\yourshare

4.       Test the share in windows

PS C:\Users\xyz> net use

Also, test in the File Explorer

a.       Reboot the machine

b.       Retest for the persistence

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/storage-dotnet-how-to-use-files/ (for details)

cmds on Centos:

mkdir /mnt/yourshare

sudo mount -t cifs //yourstorageaccountname.file.core.windows.net/yourshare /mnt/yourshare -o vers=3.0,user=yourstorageaccountname,password=yoursakey,dir_mode=0777,file_mode=0777

df -h /mnt/yourshare/

cd /mnt/yourshare/

Persist in /etc/fstab

//yourstorageaccountname.file.core.windows.net/yourshare  /mnt/yourshare   cifs  _netdev,username=yourstorageaccountname,password=yoursakey,dir_mode=0755,file_mode=0755,uid=500,gid=500 0 0

Troubleshooting tips:

·         Unable to connect (System error 53):

o   Ensure that outbound 425 port for TCP (for smb) is open

o   Ensure that you launched cmd as an administrator

o   Ensure that cmdkey has persisted

   cmdkey /list

o   Last resort troubleshoot with WireShark like tool

·         Unable to persists (share prompts for password after reboot of the box)

net use y: \\yoursaacount.file.core.windows.net\yourshare /u:yoursaacount yoursakey /P:Yes -- if you have use, then try cmdKey instead.

·         In linux mnt fails

 e.g.

systemd: Mounting /mnt/yourshare...

kernel: Key type dns_resolver registered

kernel: Key type cifs.spnego registered

kernel: Key type cifs.idmap registered

kernel: CIFS VFS: cifs_mount failed w/return code = -112

mount: mount error(112): Host is down

Ensure that the host is able to reach the file server. You might want to add an entry in /etc/hosts.