accessing Shared folders on an Azure VM from on-premise workstation

Question

Hello Team,

I have migrated an on-premise server 2016 to an Azure VM. The on-premise workstations are connected via point to site VPN to the Azure server. I have created some shared folders on the Azure VM not any other storage. But I am not able to access them. I can ping the server and the server can ping the workstations. But I am not able to access the shared folders. I am not sure if this is a permission issue or not. I appreciate your help.

Jamshid

Answer 1

It sounds like the issue might stem from either network security settings, firewall configurations, or permissions related to accessing shared folders over the VPN. Here are some steps to help troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Firewall Configuration: Ensure that the firewall on both the Azure VM and the on-premise workstations allows file-sharing traffic. Specifically, check that ports for SMB (ports 445 and 139) and NetBIOS (ports 137 and 138) are open on the Azure VM's firewall and in the Azure Network Security Group (NSG) associated with the VM.
2. Folder Sharing Permissions: Confirm that the shared folders on the Azure VM have been configured with the correct sharing and NTFS permissions. Ensure that the users or groups who need access are explicitly granted the required permissions (e.g., “Read” or “Full Control”) in both the sharing settings and in the security settings (NTFS permissions) of each shared folder.
3. DNS Resolution: Ensure the workstations can resolve the hostname of the Azure VM over the VPN connection. You may need to use the VM’s IP address to access the shared folders if DNS resolution is not configured correctly.

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hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Hi Jamshid Javidi,
As you said previously, everything is set up fine, but if you're having trouble accessing the shared folder still, you can try the following steps

To access a shared folder on your Azure VM from your local Windows machine, open the run dialog (press Win + R), then type \\<VM-IP>\<SharedFolderName> (for example, \\191.136.1.11\SharedFolder if you're using the private IP, or \\<Public-IP>\SharedFolder if you're accessing via the public IP). Press enter, and a prompt will appear asking for credentials. Enter the username and password of the VM or a specific shared folder user.

Alternatively, you can map the shared folder as a network drive: Open File Explorer, click on This PC in the left pane, then click Computer in the top ribbon and choose Map network drive. In the Folder field, enter the shared folder path (\\<VM-IP>\<SharedFolderName>), select a drive letter, and check the option to Reconnect at sign-in if desired. Finally, click Finish to complete the setup.

If you have already tried and are still facing issues, please feel free to share the error you are encountering. We will be happy to assist you further and help resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are here to support you always.

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