Serve static files from Azure blob container in ASP.NET Core MVC

Question

I store static files (js, css and images etc) for web application in an Azure Blob container and want to use those files in application with app.UseStaticFiles. Is this possible?

Previously I used PhysicalFileProvider to map folder path, but now I want to map one Azure Blob container.

app.UseStaticFiles(new StaticFileOptions()
                       {
                           FileProvider = new PhysicalFileProvider("c:/folder"),
                           RequestPath = new PathString("/cdn"),
                           ServeUnknownFileTypes = true
                       });

Answer 1

Please check the below references:

• Providing the files in asp.net mvc via Azure Blob Storage may be achieved by using the NuGet package Strathweb.AspNetCore.AzureBlobFileProvider
• Check if you can place your static content in public containers with read access.

public class Startup { public Startup(IConfiguration configuration) { Configuration = configuration; }

    public IConfiguration Configuration { get; }

    public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
    {
        var blobOptions = new AzureBlobOptions
        {
           ConnectionString = "{CONNECTION STRING}",
           DocumentContainer = "{BLOB CONTAINER NAME}"
        }
        
        var azureBlobFileProvider = new AzureBlobFileProvider(blobOptions);
        services.AddSingleton(azureBlobFileProvider);
    }

    public void Configure(IApplicationBuilder app, IHostingEnvironment env)
    {
        var blobFileProvider = app.ApplicationServices.GetRequiredService<AzureBlobFileProvider>();
        app.UseStaticFiles(new StaticFileOptions()
        {
            FileProvider = blobFileProvider,
            RequestPath = "/files"
        });

        app.UseDirectoryBrowser(new DirectoryBrowserOptions
        {
            FileProvider = blobFileProvider,
            RequestPath = "/files"
        });
    }
}

Reference: GitHub -Strathweb.AspNetCore.AzureBlobFileProvider

See from Azure .NET Core Web App and Where to Locate Static Files - CodeProject

You could also use a combination of the options, using the local static files via the PhysicalFileProvider on Development, and trying to then switch to Blob storage in production .

Example:

//  static files under wwwroot handled normally
app.UseStaticFiles();

// The path in the url we will manage
var staticFilesPath =
    Configuration.GetSection("StaticFilesPath").Value;

if (env.IsDevelopment())
{
    // The local/network folder containing static files we are mapping to
    var staticFilesFolder =
        Configuration.GetSection("StaticFilesFolder").Value;
    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(staticFilesFolder))
    {
        app.UseStaticFiles(new StaticFileOptions
        {
            FileProvider = new PhysicalFileProvider(staticFilesFolder),
            RequestPath = staticFilesPath
        });
    }
}
else
{
    //  map to blob storage for the path
    var blobFileProvider =
        app.ApplicationServices.GetRequiredService<AzureBlobFileProvider>();
    if (blobFileProvider != null)
    {
        app.UseStaticFiles(new StaticFileOptions()
        {
            FileProvider = blobFileProvider,
            RequestPath = staticFilesPath
        });
    }
}

Please refer Azure .NET Core Web App and Where to Locate Static Files – CodeHelper.Net