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SPMT with source Azure File Share that is syncing from on Prem

mpls 155 Reputation points
2025-07-02T11:56:39.3633333+00:00

Greetings, we are migrating file shares off of an on prem server that has been protected by Azure File Sync for a while. The on prem server has had many of it's fairly active files Tiered to Azure storage because the on prem file server had been getting low on space at times.

My question is it supported and perhaps even a better idea to use the SharePoint Migration tool on a VM in Azure and use the Azure file share that is syncing from on prem as the source instead of using the on prem folders as a source. Again the on prem servers show many files as archived off to tiered storage with file attribute ALOM.

Azure Files
Azure Files
An Azure service that offers file shares in the cloud.
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  1. Alex Burlachenko 13,325 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-07-02T12:13:27.39+00:00

    Hi mpls.

    Awesome question this cloud sync dance can get tricky, any way...

    First off, big yes u can absolutely use SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) with your Azure File Share as the source, since your files are already tiered to Azure (thanks to that ALOM attribute), SPMT will see them directly in the cloud. No need to pull them back down to on-prem how cool is that?

    Microsoft-specific solution Fire up a VM in Azure (make sure it's same region as your file share!), install SPMT there, and point it to your Azure File Share path. You'll get way faster transfers since everything's already in the cloud neighborhood. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-files-planning.

    Check your Azure File Share throughput at https://portal.azure.com. Sometimes upgrading the performance tier gives you that extra oomph. This trick works for other cloud storage tools too!

    Before you dive in, take a peek at your Azure File Sync cloud tiering settings at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-cloud-tiering. Might want to tweak the policy so fewer files play hide-and-seek during migration.

    always do a test run first! SPMT's trial migration feature at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointmigration/how-to-use-the-sharepoint-migration-tool will save you from permission nightmares later ))

    Let us know how it goes

    Best regards,

    Alex

    and "yes" if you would follow me at Q&A - personaly thx.
P.S. If my answer help to you, please Accept my answer

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