Moving data: AzCopy, Storage Explorer, File Sync, Migrate

Sooner or later, data has to get into Azure. AZ-900 covers tools for moving files, and services for migrating whole workloads.

Moving files

AzCopy

AzCopy is a command-line utility for copying blobs and files to, from, or between storage accounts. It is fast and scriptable, which makes it ideal for automation.

azcopy copy "C:\reports" "https://myaccount.blob.core.windows.net/reports?<SAS-token>" --recursive

AzCopy can also sync a folder with a storage location, but only in one direction: from the source you name to the destination. It never merges changes both ways.

Azure Storage Explorer

Azure Storage Explorer is a free desktop app with a graphical interface (Windows, macOS, Linux) for managing files and blobs in your storage accounts. It uses AzCopy behind the scenes, so you get the same transfers with drag and drop.

Azure File Sync

Azure File Sync centralises file shares in Azure Files while keeping the speed and compatibility of a local Windows file server. It turns your Windows Server into a fast local cache of the Azure file share:

• keeps files synchronised in both directions,
• cloud tiering keeps frequently used files on the local server and moves rarely used ones to Azure,
• you can have many servers syncing with the same share around the world.

Migrating workloads

Azure Migrate

Azure Migrate is a central hub for migrating to Azure. It helps you discover, assess and migrate on-premises servers, databases, web apps and virtual desktops, and tracks progress in one place. Its integrated tools include:

• Discovery and assessment: find on-premises servers and check whether they're ready for Azure, with suggested sizes and estimated monthly costs.
• Migration and modernisation: move VMware, Hyper-V and physical servers into Azure VMs.
• Azure Database Migration Service: move databases to Azure SQL and other Azure data services.
• Web app migration: move .NET and Java web apps to App Service.
• Azure Data Box: for data too big to send over the network (below).

Azure Migrate can also build a business case: an estimate of what your current servers cost on-premises compared with running them in Azure. It is the tool Microsoft now points to for that comparison.

Azure Data Box

Azure Data Box is a physical device Microsoft ships to you for moving very large amounts of data when the network is too slow, too expensive or unavailable. Microsoft suggests it for more than about 40 TB with little or no connectivity. You copy the data onto it, ship it back, and Microsoft uploads it into your storage account. It works in reverse for exporting data from Azure too.

• The data on the device is encrypted (AES 256-bit), the case is rugged and tamper-evident, and after upload the disks are wiped to NIST standards.
• The current devices hold about 120 TB or 525 TB of usable data each. You may still read about the older 80 TB Data Box, which is being phased out, and Data Box Heavy, which has been retired.

Use Data Box for one-time bulk migrations, an initial bulk transfer followed by network updates, periodic uploads from sites with poor connectivity, or exporting data for disaster recovery.