- A
Create a blob container and mount it as a file system from both virtual machines.
Why wrong: Blob containers are object storage, not a shared file system in the same sense as a file share. They do not provide the typical mounting experience expected for Windows and Linux workloads in this scenario. This option does not meet the requirement for a standard shared folder.
- B
Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines.
Azure Files is the managed file service designed for shared file access. SMB is supported by Windows natively and can also be mounted from Linux using standard tools. This gives both VMs access to the same share without introducing a separate file server VM, which fits the requirement precisely.
- C
Use an Azure managed disk and attach it to both virtual machines.
Why wrong: A managed disk is not intended as a general shared file service for multiple VMs in this way. It is normally attached to one VM, and sharing it does not provide the same simple multi-platform file access model as Azure Files. This would create management and availability problems.
- D
Create an Azure Files share and force the Linux VM to use NFS while the Windows VM uses SMB.
Why wrong: Azure Files can support different protocols in some scenarios, but this split-protocol design is unnecessary here and is not the simplest common approach. The requirement is a standard shared protocol that both systems can mount consistently, which makes SMB the better choice for this workload.
AZ-104 Implement and Manage Storage Practice Question
This AZ-104 practice question tests your understanding of implement and manage storage. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A Windows VM and a Linux VM in Azure need to use the same shared folder for application artifacts. The team wants a managed file service instead of running a separate file server VM, and both operating systems must be able to mount the share using a standard protocol. Which solution should the administrator implement?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines.
Azure Files provides a fully managed file share that supports both SMB and NFS protocols. Since the question requires a managed file service accessible by both Windows and Linux VMs using a standard protocol, the correct solution is to create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both VMs. Windows natively supports SMB, and Linux can mount SMB shares using the CIFS-utils package, meeting the requirement without running a separate file server VM.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a blob container and mount it as a file system from both virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
Blob containers are object storage, not a shared file system in the same sense as a file share. They do not provide the typical mounting experience expected for Windows and Linux workloads in this scenario. This option does not meet the requirement for a standard shared folder.
When this WOULD be correct
If the requirement was to store large amounts of unstructured data (e.g., logs, backups) accessible from multiple VMs via REST API, and a managed file service was not needed, then mounting a blob container (using BlobFuse or similar) could be appropriate.
- ✓
Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines.
Why this is correct
Azure Files is the managed file service designed for shared file access. SMB is supported by Windows natively and can also be mounted from Linux using standard tools. This gives both VMs access to the same share without introducing a separate file server VM, which fits the requirement precisely.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use an Azure managed disk and attach it to both virtual machines.
Why it's wrong here
A managed disk is not intended as a general shared file service for multiple VMs in this way. It is normally attached to one VM, and sharing it does not provide the same simple multi-platform file access model as Azure Files. This would create management and availability problems.
When this WOULD be correct
An administrator needs to attach a high-performance, durable data disk to a single VM for database storage, where shared access is not required and maximum I/O performance is critical.
- ✗
Create an Azure Files share and force the Linux VM to use NFS while the Windows VM uses SMB.
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files can support different protocols in some scenarios, but this split-protocol design is unnecessary here and is not the simplest common approach. The requirement is a standard shared protocol that both systems can mount consistently, which makes SMB the better choice for this workload.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified that the Linux VM requires NFS protocol (e.g., for performance or compatibility reasons) and the Windows VM is not involved, or if separate shares were allowed, then creating an Azure Files share with NFS for Linux would be correct.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The AZ-104 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Azure Files is the managed file service designed for shared file access. SMB is supported by Windows natively and can also be mounted from Linux using standard tools. This gives both VMs access to the same share without introducing a separate file server VM, which fits the requirement precisely.
✗Create a blob container and mount it as a file system from both virtual machines.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure blob containers cannot be mounted as a file system using standard protocols like SMB or NFS; they are object storage accessed via HTTP/HTTPS, not a shared file system for concurrent VM access.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the requirement was to store large amounts of unstructured data (e.g., logs, backups) accessible from multiple VMs via REST API, and a managed file service was not needed, then mounting a blob container (using BlobFuse or similar) could be appropriate.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think blob storage can be mounted like a file share because of tools like BlobFuse, but they overlook that it's not a native file system protocol and does not support concurrent read/write locking required for shared folders.
✗Use an Azure managed disk and attach it to both virtual machines.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure managed disks cannot be attached to multiple VMs simultaneously; they support single-VM attachment only, so both VMs cannot access the same shared folder concurrently.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
An administrator needs to attach a high-performance, durable data disk to a single VM for database storage, where shared access is not required and maximum I/O performance is critical.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse managed disks with shared disks (which do support multi-attach but are limited to specific scenarios) or assume that any disk can be shared like a network file share.
✗Create an Azure Files share and force the Linux VM to use NFS while the Windows VM uses SMB.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Azure Files supports both SMB and NFS protocols, but a single share can only use one protocol. Forcing the Linux VM to use NFS while Windows uses SMB on the same share is not supported; both VMs must use the same protocol (SMB) for cross-platform access.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified that the Linux VM requires NFS protocol (e.g., for performance or compatibility reasons) and the Windows VM is not involved, or if separate shares were allowed, then creating an Azure Files share with NFS for Linux would be correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may know that Azure Files supports both SMB and NFS, and incorrectly assume they can mix protocols on the same share to accommodate different OS requirements, overlooking that a share is protocol-specific.
Analysis generated from the official AZ-104blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume Azure Files supports both SMB and NFS on the same share, but in reality each share is protocol-specific, and mixing protocols is not allowed, making Option D a common distractor.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Blob containers are object storage, not a shared file system in the same sense as a file share. They do not provide the typical mounting experience expected for Windows and Linux workloads in this scenario. This option does not meet the requirement for a standard shared folder.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Files supports two protocols: SMB (port 445) and NFS (port 2049), but each share is locked to one protocol at creation time. For cross-platform access, SMB is the standard choice because Windows and Linux both have built-in or easily installed SMB clients (e.g., mount.cifs on Linux). NFS is not natively supported on Windows without additional services like Windows Services for NFS, which adds complexity. Additionally, Azure Files uses Azure Storage Account keys or Azure AD for SMB authentication, while NFS relies on network-level security and does not support Azure AD integration.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-104 question test?
Implement and Manage Storage — This question tests Implement and Manage Storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both virtual machines. — Azure Files provides a fully managed file share that supports both SMB and NFS protocols. Since the question requires a managed file service accessible by both Windows and Linux VMs using a standard protocol, the correct solution is to create an Azure Files share and mount it over SMB from both VMs. Windows natively supports SMB, and Linux can mount SMB shares using the CIFS-utils package, meeting the requirement without running a separate file server VM.
What should I do if I get this AZ-104 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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