Microsoft Azure File Storage connection
To access your data in Microsoft Azure File Storage, create a connection asset for it.
Azure Files are Microsoft's cloud file system. They are managed file shares that are accessible via the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol or the Network File System (NFS) protocol.
Create a connection to Microsoft Azure File Storage
To create the connection asset, you need these connection details:
Connection string: Authentication is managed by the Azure portal access keys.
Choose the method for creating a connection based on where you are in the platform
- In a project
- Click Assets > New asset > Data access tools > Connection. See Adding a connection to a project.
- In a catalog
- Click Add to catalog > Connection. See Adding a connection asset to a catalog.
- In a deployment space
- Click Add to space > Connection. See Adding connections to a deployment space.
- In the Platform assets catalog
- Click New connection. See Adding platform connections.
Next step: Add data assets from the connection
Where you can use this connection
You can use Microsoft Azure File Storage connections in the following workspaces and tools:
Projects
- DataStage (DataStage service). See Connecting to a data source in DataStage.
- Decision Optimization (Watson Studio and Watson Machine Learning)
- SPSS Modeler (Watson Studio)
Catalogs
-
Platform assets catalog
-
Other catalogs (IBM Knowledge Catalog)
Note:Preview, profile, and masking are not certified for this connection in IBM Knowledge Catalog.
Azure File Storage setup
Set up storage and access keys on the Microsoft Azure portal. For instructions see Manage storage account access keys.
Example connection string, which you can find in the ApiKeys section of the container:
DefaultEndpointsProtocol=https;AccountName=sampleaccount;AccountKey=samplekey;EndpointSuffix=core.windows.net
Choose the method to create and manage your Azure Files:
- Quickstart: Create and manage Azure Files share with Windows virtual machines
- Quickstart: Create and manage Azure file shares with the Azure portal
- Quickstart: Create and manage an Azure file share with Azure PowerShell
- Quickstart: Create and manage Azure file shares using Azure CLI
- Quickstart: Create and manage Azure file shares with Azure Storage Explorer
Restriction
Microsoft Azure's maximum file size is 1 TB.
Supported file types
The Azure File Storage connection supports these file types: Avro, CSV, Delimited text, Excel, JSON, ORC, Parquet, SAS, SAV, SHP, and XML.
Known issue
During the upload, the data is appended in portions to a temporary blob and then converted into the file. Depending on the size of the streamed content, there might be a delay in creating the file. Wait until all the data is uploaded.
Learn more
Parent topic: Supported connections