# 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 > Connect to a data source**\. See [Adding a connection to a project](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/create-conn.html)\.

**In a deployment space** : Click **Add to space > Connection**\. See [Adding connections to a deployment space](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/analyze-data/ml-space-add-assets.html)\.

**In the Platform assets catalog** : Click **New connection**\. See [Adding platform connections](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/platform-conn.html)\.

### Next step: Add data assets from the connection ###

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 *  See [Add data from a connection in a project](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/connected-data.html)\.

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## Where you can use this connection ##

You can use Microsoft Azure File Storage connections in the following workspaces and tools:

**Projects**

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 *  Decision Optimization
 *  SPSS Modeler
 *  Synthetic Data Generator

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**Catalogs**

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 *  Platform assets catalog

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## Azure File Storage setup ##

Set up storage and access keys on the Microsoft Azure portal\. For instructions see [Manage storage account access keys](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-account-keys-manage)\.  
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:

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 *  [Quickstart: Create and manage Azure Files share with Windows virtual machines](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-files-quick-create-use-windows)
 *  [Quickstart: Create and manage Azure file shares with the Azure portal](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-use-files-portal)
 *  [Quickstart: Create and manage an Azure file share with Azure PowerShell](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-use-files-powershell)
 *  [Quickstart: Create and manage Azure file shares using Azure CLI](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-use-files-cli)
 *  [Quickstart: Create and manage Azure file shares with Azure Storage Explorer](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-how-to-use-files-storage-explorer)

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## 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 ##

[Azure Files](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/storage/files/)

**Parent topic:**[Supported connections](https://dataplatform.cloud.ibm.com/docs/content/wsj/manage-data/conn_types.html)

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