Setup Azure Blob Storage to use with HOTS in Archive Shuttle (4259157)

Overview
With the introduction of HOTS into Archive Shuttle it is necessary to create and use a Microsoft Azure Storage Account. This article explains how to create one of those in the Microsoft Azure Portal.
Details
The following are the steps which should be followed to create a Storage Account and ensure it is ready for using with HOTS in Archive Shuttle:
1. Login to the ‘Azure Portal’
2. On the left hand side of the portal, select the option to create a ‘New” resource:

3. Search for, and select ‘Storage Account’:

4. Choose ‘Create’ to start the process of creating the account.
5. In the ‘Create Storage Account’ wizard there are few options which need to be set:
– Give the Storage Account a name.
– Choose ‘General Purpose’ in the ‘Account Kind’ drop down list.
– Consider the replication options. Archive Shuttle and HOTS can work with the replication options available, except ZRS.
– Ensure the ‘Subscription’ is correct
– If other Storage Accounts already exist in the organization then a new group can be created, or the Storage Account can be added to an existing group.
– Choose the correct/closest ‘Location’ in the drop down list

6. The new account can be optionally pinned to the Azure Dashboard (for easy access) via a checkbox, and once the options above are set, click on ‘Create’ to create the account.
Note: It can take a few minutes before the new account is successfully created.
In order to use this Storage Account with HOTS / Archive Shuttle, the ‘Access Key’ needs to be configured in the Archive Shuttle Credentials Editor. The key can be copied to the clipboard, as follows:
1. Locate the Storage Account in the list of Azure Resources and select it:
2. Click on ‘Keys’ or ‘Access Keys’:

Note: This might be called ‘Access Keys’ in some Azure Portals and for new Storage Accounts.
3. Click on the ‘Copy’ button to the right of the ‘Primary Connection String’:

It is the connection key which will be used in the Credentials Editor for the Archive Shuttle modules to be able to communicate with the Azure Storage Account.
Note: If the entry to this area was by clicking on ‘Access Keys’, then to get the connection string, click on the three dots to the right of the ‘Access Key’, and choose ‘View Connection String’.

Copy and paste that Connection String to the clipboard.
To use the key in the Credentials Editor follow these steps:
1. Launch the Credentials Editor from a machine running the appropriate Export module (or Import Module). It is imported to ensure that you are logged in with the account that is configured to run the export (or import) module service.
2. Choose the ‘Azure Blob Storage’ tab:

3. Click on ‘Add’ and give the credentials a name, and paste in the Connection String which was obtained earlier:

4. Click on ‘Ok’ on the Credentials, and then click on ‘Save’.
5. Click on ‘Test Connection’ in order to validate that the Credentials configured are correct.
Note: Export and Import modules need to be configured with the Azure Storage Account Connection String.
Once a module begins to use the Storage Account a container will be created called ‘ArchiveShuttle’, and under there will be the familiar structure of folders and files. This is the same structure as used on the normal Archive Shuttle staging area.

The Container does not need to be created, it will be created by Archive Shuttle.
Note: Sometimes the copy process from the Azure Portal will add an extra semi-colon to the end of the connection string. If this happens when the credentials are tested from the Archive Shuttle module, it may result in an error saying:
Invalid account string
If this happens, remove the semi-colon from the end of the connection string, and test again.
Remove “EndpointSuffix” like below:
DefaultEndpointsProtocol=https;AccountName=accountname;AccountKey=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx==;EndpointSuffix=core.windows.net