1. Storage configuration and file management
Let's explore the storage options for configuration and file operations.
2. Storage redundancy
Storage redundancy refers to the practice of duplicating or replicating data across multiple locations or devices within a storage system.
Just as you value family photos, it's wise to have multiple copies stored on different devices to prevent potential loss.
Azure storage keeps several copies of your data to protect it from expected and unexpected events like hardware problems, power interruptions, and natural disasters.
This redundancy makes sure that your data is available even during failures.
3. Locally redundant storage (LRS)
Locally redundant storage replicates data three times in a single data center from the primary region, providing efficient cost but less protection.
The primary region is the region where the storage account was created.
In case of disasters like fire or flooding at the data center, all data copies may be lost.
4. Zone-redundant storage (ZRS)
For enhanced protection, the zone-redundant option replicates your storage data across three availability zones in the primary region.
Data remains accessible for both read and write operations even if one zone becomes unavailable, requiring no additional actions.
5. Geo-redundant storage (GRS)
For extra protection, you can choose to replicate your data to a secondary region.
When copied to a secondary region, data remains secure even when a catastrophic failure prevents recovery in the primary region.
Geo-redundant storage is like using locally redundant storage in two regions, with data having three copies in one data center for each region.
6. Geo-zone-redundant storage (GZRS)
Geo-zone-redundant storage offers the advantage of high availability and redundancy across zones and protection from regional outages.
Data is copied across three availability zones in the primary region and also replicated to the secondary region.
It's the optimal choice for achieving the best availability, excellent performance, and resilience for disaster recovery.
7. Redundancy hierarchy
Let's visually review once more the redundancy choices in Azure, from the least protective to the most secure.
8. Data migration options
Now that you understand the various storage choices in Azure, it's crucial to know how to bring your data and information into Azure.
Azure supports moving infrastructure, applications, and data in real-time with Azure Migrate, but also a more conventional option using Azure Data Box.
9. Azure Migrate
Azure Migrate is a service acting as a central hub to simplify the move from on-premises to the cloud.
It offers a variety of tools for assessing and migrating data, covering virtual machines, web applications, databases, and other data.
This is particularly helpful for companies looking to move their data in Azure cloud.
10. Azure Data Box
For companies with large volumes of data, especially databases, online migration may not be ideal.
In such cases, consider using Azure Data Box, a physical migration service.
Azure Data Box is a hardware device with numerous storage drives.
Azure sends the box to your location, you copy data onto it, and then send it back.
Once the process is complete, Azure ensures your data is restored in their data center and ready for further use.
11. File operations
In addition to large scale migrations, Azure also provides tools specifically designed for moving or interacting with individual files or small groups of files.
12. AzCopy
AzCopy is a command-line tool that facilitates file uploads, downloads and copying between storage accounts and local sources.
AzCopy can be configured to work with other cloud providers, being particularly helpful for file movement between clouds.
13. Azure Storage Explorer
Azure Storage Explorer is an application offering a graphical interface to handle files and blobs in Azure storage accounts.
It provides the same functionality as AzCopy, with the added convenience of a user-friendly interface.
14. Azure File Sync
Azure File Sync is a service that can synchronize files across different computers and Azure cloud.
It ensures that the most recent files are accessible from any location.
15. Let's practice!
Are you ready for some exercises to test your knowledge?