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Question 61:
What is the primary purpose of Nutanix Prism Central?
A) To manage individual clusters only
B) To provide centralized management and monitoring across multiple Nutanix clusters
C) To replace Prism Element functionality
D) To manage only storage resources
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nutanix Prism Central is a centralized management and monitoring solution designed to manage multiple Nutanix clusters from a single interface. It provides administrators with a unified view of their entire Nutanix infrastructure, enabling them to monitor performance, manage resources, and implement policies across multiple clusters and locations. This centralized approach simplifies infrastructure management and reduces operational overhead.
Prism Central offers advanced features beyond basic cluster management, including multi-cluster operations, capacity planning, and automation capabilities. It provides comprehensive dashboards that display health metrics, performance statistics, and alerts across the entire environment. Administrators can quickly identify issues, optimize resource utilization, and plan for future capacity needs. The platform also supports role-based access control, allowing organizations to delegate management tasks while maintaining security.
Option A is incorrect because Prism Central is specifically designed to manage multiple clusters, not just individual ones. While it can manage a single cluster, its primary value lies in multi-cluster management. Option C is incorrect as Prism Central does not replace Prism Element but complements it. Prism Element continues to manage individual cluster operations while Prism Central provides the overarching management layer. Option D is incorrect because Prism Central manages comprehensive infrastructure resources including compute, storage, networking, and virtual machines, not just storage alone.
The distinction between Prism Element and Prism Central is important for Nutanix administrators. Prism Element runs on each cluster and handles local management tasks, while Prism Central provides the enterprise-wide view and advanced management capabilities needed for larger deployments.
Question 62:
Which Nutanix feature provides data protection through creating point-in-time copies of virtual machines?
A) Replication Factor
B) Snapshots
C) Erasure Coding
D) Deduplication
Answer: B
Explanation:
Snapshots in Nutanix are point-in-time copies of virtual machines that capture the complete state of a VM including its configuration, disk contents, and memory state at a specific moment. These snapshots provide a crucial data protection mechanism, allowing administrators to quickly recover VMs to previous states in case of data corruption, accidental deletion, or application failures. Nutanix implements snapshots using a redirect-on-write mechanism that is both space-efficient and performance-optimized.
When a snapshot is created, Nutanix marks the existing data blocks as immutable and any subsequent writes are redirected to new locations on the storage system. This approach minimizes the performance impact during snapshot creation and ensures that the snapshot process completes almost instantaneously. Snapshots can be scheduled automatically through protection policies or created manually as needed. Organizations often use snapshots before performing risky operations like software upgrades or configuration changes, providing a quick rollback option if issues arise.
Option A is incorrect because Replication Factor determines how many copies of data are maintained across the cluster for redundancy and high availability, not for creating point-in-time copies. Option C is incorrect as Erasure Coding is a space-efficient data protection method that uses mathematical algorithms to provide redundancy with less storage overhead than full replication. Option D is incorrect because Deduplication is a data reduction technique that eliminates duplicate copies of data blocks to save storage space, not a mechanism for creating recoverable copies.
Snapshots are integral to Nutanix data protection strategies and are often combined with replication to remote sites for comprehensive disaster recovery solutions.
Question 63:
What is the minimum number of nodes required to create a Nutanix cluster?
A) 1 node
B) 2 nodes
C) 3 nodes
D) 4 nodes
Answer: C
Explanation:
A Nutanix cluster requires a minimum of three nodes to operate in a production environment. This three-node minimum is essential for maintaining high availability and data redundancy through the distributed storage fabric. With three nodes, the cluster can tolerate the failure of one node while continuing to provide access to data and maintain cluster operations. The three-node configuration ensures that sufficient replicas of data exist across the cluster to meet the default Replication Factor of 2.
The requirement for three nodes relates to how Nutanix implements data protection and quorum mechanisms. When data is written to the cluster with a Replication Factor of 2, the system maintains two copies of each data block on different nodes. With three nodes, even if one node fails, both copies of the data remain accessible on the surviving nodes. Additionally, cluster quorum and metadata services require three nodes to function properly and handle split-brain scenarios where network partitions might occur.
Option A is incorrect because a single-node cluster, while technically possible for testing or development environments, does not provide the redundancy and high availability features expected in production deployments. Option B is incorrect as two nodes are insufficient to maintain proper quorum and data availability during a node failure. With only two nodes and RF2, a single node failure would leave only one copy of data accessible. Option D is incorrect because while four or more nodes provide additional capacity and resilience, they are not the minimum requirement for cluster formation.
Understanding minimum cluster requirements is crucial for planning Nutanix deployments and ensuring appropriate levels of redundancy and availability for production workloads.
Question 64:
Which protocol does Nutanix use for communication between Controller VMs in a cluster?
A) HTTP
B) SSH
C) Internal cluster communication protocol
D) FTP
Answer: C
Explanation:
Nutanix Controller VMs communicate with each other using an internal cluster communication protocol that is optimized for low latency and high throughput. This proprietary protocol enables the distributed storage fabric to function efficiently, coordinating operations like data replication, metadata management, and cluster-wide state synchronization. The communication happens over the internal storage network and is designed to minimize overhead while ensuring reliable delivery of critical cluster information.
The internal protocol handles various types of inter-CVM communication including data path operations, metadata lookups, cluster health monitoring, and coordination of distributed transactions. When a hypervisor issues an IO request to its local Controller VM, that CVM may need to communicate with other CVMs to locate data, coordinate writes to multiple replicas, or perform load balancing operations. The protocol is engineered to support the massive scale and performance requirements of enterprise storage systems while maintaining consistency across the distributed environment.
Option A is incorrect because while HTTP may be used for API communications and user interface access to Prism, it is not the primary protocol for inter-CVM communication in the data path. Option B is incorrect as SSH is used for administrative access and management tasks but not for routine cluster communication between CVMs. Option D is incorrect because FTP is a file transfer protocol not used for cluster operations or real-time data path communication.
The efficiency of inter-CVM communication is crucial to overall cluster performance, as it directly impacts IO latency and throughput. Nutanix has optimized this communication layer to minimize the overhead of distributed storage operations.
Question 65:
What does the term “locality” refer to in Nutanix architecture?
A) Physical location of the datacenter
B) Reading data from local storage on the same node where the VM resides
C) Network latency between nodes
D) Storage capacity on individual nodes
Answer: B
Explanation:
Data locality in Nutanix refers to the architectural principle where virtual machines preferentially read data from the local storage devices on the same physical node where the VM is running. This design maximizes performance by avoiding network hops for read operations, as data is accessed directly from local SSDs or HDDs through the Controller VM running on the same host. When a VM reads data that resides locally, the IO path is shortest and fastest, providing optimal performance.
Nutanix implements intelligent data placement algorithms that strive to maintain locality for active data. When a VM is created or migrated to a new host, the system gradually migrates frequently accessed data to local storage on that host through a process called data localization. For write operations, Nutanix writes data locally first and then replicates it to another node for redundancy. This approach ensures that subsequent read operations can benefit from locality while maintaining data protection through replication.
Option A is incorrect because locality in Nutanix terminology does not refer to geographic location but rather to the placement of data relative to the computing resources accessing it. Option C is incorrect as network latency is a consequence of poor locality rather than the definition of locality itself. When data is not local, network latency becomes a factor, but locality specifically describes the data placement strategy. Option D is incorrect because storage capacity refers to the total available storage space and is not directly related to the concept of data locality.
Understanding and maintaining data locality is critical for achieving optimal performance in Nutanix environments, particularly for latency-sensitive workloads and applications with high IOPS requirements.
Question 66:
Which Nutanix feature allows for capacity planning and resource optimization across multiple clusters?
A) Prism Element
B) Acropolis
C) Prism Central with X-Play
D) Nutanix Files
Answer: C
Explanation:
Prism Central with X-Play provides comprehensive capacity planning and resource optimization capabilities across multiple Nutanix clusters. This platform collects performance metrics, resource utilization data, and growth trends from all managed clusters to provide administrators with insights into current usage patterns and future capacity needs. The capacity planning features include what-if scenario modeling, runway analysis that predicts when resources will be exhausted, and recommendations for optimizing resource allocation.
X-Play enhances these capabilities by adding automation and orchestration features that can automatically respond to capacity issues or optimization opportunities. Administrators can create playbooks that trigger actions based on specific conditions, such as automatically rightsizing VMs when overprovisioning is detected or sending alerts when capacity thresholds are approached. The combination of Prism Central’s analytics and X-Play’s automation creates a powerful platform for proactive infrastructure management.
Option A is incorrect because Prism Element manages individual clusters and provides local monitoring and management capabilities but lacks the multi-cluster capacity planning features found in Prism Central. Option B is incorrect as Acropolis is the hypervisor and distributed storage platform that forms the foundation of Nutanix infrastructure, not a capacity planning tool. Option D is incorrect because Nutanix Files is a software-defined file storage solution designed for unstructured data storage and does not provide capacity planning capabilities.
Effective capacity planning helps organizations avoid overprovisioning infrastructure resources while ensuring adequate capacity exists to support business needs and growth. The predictive analytics in Prism Central enable data-driven decisions about infrastructure investments and resource allocation.
Question 67:
What is the purpose of the Nutanix Distributed Storage Fabric?
A) To provide networking services only
B) To aggregate local storage from all nodes into a unified storage pool
C) To manage hypervisor updates
D) To configure virtual machine templates
Answer: B
Explanation:
The Nutanix Distributed Storage Fabric is a core architectural component that aggregates local storage resources from all nodes in a cluster into a single, unified storage pool. This software-defined storage layer abstracts the underlying physical storage devices including SSDs and HDDs, presenting them as a shared resource accessible to all virtual machines in the cluster. The distributed nature ensures that storage capacity and performance scale linearly as nodes are added to the cluster.
This architecture eliminates the need for traditional external storage arrays and SANs by leveraging the storage capacity and performance of commodity server hardware. The Distributed Storage Fabric implements advanced features like data replication, compression, deduplication, and erasure coding across the cluster. It intelligently places data across nodes to optimize performance while ensuring redundancy and availability. The fabric also handles data rebalancing automatically when nodes are added or removed, maintaining optimal distribution without administrator intervention.
Option A is incorrect because while networking is important for cluster operations, the Distributed Storage Fabric specifically handles storage aggregation and management, not networking services which are handled by other components. Option C is incorrect as hypervisor updates are managed through lifecycle management tools in Prism, not by the storage fabric. Option D is incorrect because VM template configuration is an administrative task performed through the management interface and is not a function of the storage fabric.
Understanding the Distributed Storage Fabric is fundamental to grasping how Nutanix delivers enterprise storage capabilities using hyperconverged infrastructure. It represents a paradigm shift from centralized storage to distributed, software-defined storage architectures.
Question 68:
Which Nutanix component is responsible for managing virtual machine lifecycle operations?
A) Stargate
B) Acropolis Dynamic Scheduler
C) Acropolis Master
D) Curator
Answer: C
Explanation:
The Acropolis Master is the component responsible for managing virtual machine lifecycle operations in Nutanix environments. This service handles tasks such as VM creation, deletion, power operations, cloning, and migration. The Acropolis Master acts as the control plane for compute resources, coordinating with hypervisors to execute VM management operations and maintaining consistency across the cluster.
When an administrator performs VM operations through Prism or API calls, these requests are processed by the Acropolis Master which translates them into appropriate actions on the underlying hypervisor. The master service ensures that VM operations are executed reliably and that VM metadata is properly maintained in the cluster configuration. It also manages high availability features for VMs, monitoring VM health and automatically restarting VMs on healthy hosts if a node failure occurs.
Option A is incorrect because Stargate is the component responsible for managing IO operations and data access in the distributed storage fabric, not VM lifecycle management. Option B is incorrect as Acropolis Dynamic Scheduler handles initial VM placement and resource balancing decisions but does not directly manage VM lifecycle operations. Option D is incorrect because Curator is responsible for background storage optimization tasks like compression, erasure coding, and data cleanup rather than VM management.
The separation of concerns in Nutanix architecture, where different components handle storage, scheduling, and VM management, provides modularity and scalability. Understanding which component handles specific functions helps troubleshoot issues and optimize infrastructure operations.
Question 69:
What is the function of the Curator service in Nutanix?
A) Managing user authentication
B) Performing background storage optimization tasks
C) Handling network configuration
D) Managing VM snapshots only
Answer: B
Explanation:
The Curator service in Nutanix is responsible for performing background storage optimization and data management tasks that enhance storage efficiency and maintain system health. Curator operates continuously in the background, executing operations like compression, deduplication, erasure coding, and garbage collection during periods of low cluster activity. These operations improve storage utilization without impacting foreground workload performance.
Curator manages the MapReduce framework that distributes optimization tasks across all Controller VMs in the cluster, ensuring efficient parallel processing of large-scale operations. When compression is enabled, Curator identifies data blocks that can benefit from compression and processes them during maintenance windows. It also handles data cleanup operations, removing orphaned snapshots, consolidating data extents, and reclaiming space from deleted VMs. The service schedules these tasks intelligently to avoid resource contention with production workloads.
Option A is incorrect because user authentication is managed by different security services integrated with external identity providers like Active Directory, not by Curator. Option C is incorrect as network configuration is handled through Prism and network management components, not by the Curator service. Option D is incorrect because while Curator does participate in snapshot management, particularly cleanup and space reclamation, it handles many other storage optimization tasks beyond just snapshots.
Understanding Curator’s role is important for managing storage efficiency in Nutanix clusters. Administrators can monitor Curator tasks through Prism and adjust compression, deduplication, and erasure coding policies to optimize for either capacity or performance based on workload requirements.
Question 70:
Which storage optimization technique reduces storage capacity usage by eliminating redundant data blocks?
A) Compression
B) Deduplication
C) Erasure Coding
D) Thin Provisioning
Answer: B
Explanation:
Deduplication is a storage optimization technique that reduces storage capacity usage by identifying and eliminating redundant copies of data blocks within the storage system. When deduplication is enabled, Nutanix examines data blocks and maintains only one physical copy of identical blocks, with multiple references pointing to that single copy. This technique is particularly effective in environments with significant data redundancy such as VDI deployments where many virtual desktops share common operating system and application files.
Nutanix implements deduplication at the extent level using fingerprinting algorithms that create unique hash values for each data block. When new data is written, the system compares its fingerprint against existing fingerprints. If a match is found, instead of writing the duplicate data, the system creates a reference to the existing block. Deduplication can operate in real-time or as a post-process operation handled by the Curator service, depending on configuration. The space savings from deduplication vary by workload but can reach significant percentages in environments with high data similarity.
Option A is incorrect because compression reduces data size by encoding information more efficiently but does not eliminate duplicate blocks. Both techniques can be used together for maximum space savings. Option C is incorrect as Erasure Coding provides data protection and reduces storage overhead compared to full replication but does not eliminate redundant data across different datasets. Option D is incorrect because Thin Provisioning allows VMs to consume only the storage they actually use rather than their full allocated size, but this does not address redundant data blocks.
Deduplication is one of several storage efficiency features in Nutanix that help organizations maximize capacity utilization and reduce storage costs while maintaining performance for production workloads.
Question 71:
What is the primary benefit of using Nutanix AHV as a hypervisor?
A) Requires separate licensing fees
B) Integrated tightly with Nutanix infrastructure with no separate licensing costs
C) Only supports Windows virtual machines
D) Cannot be managed through Prism
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nutanix AHV is a native hypervisor that is integrated directly into the Nutanix stack and included without separate licensing fees. This tight integration provides seamless management through Prism, eliminating the complexity and cost associated with third-party hypervisor licensing. AHV is built on proven open-source technologies including KVM and delivers enterprise-grade virtualization capabilities while reducing total cost of ownership.
The integration between AHV and the Nutanix platform enables unique optimizations that enhance performance and simplify operations. Since Nutanix develops both the hypervisor and the underlying infrastructure, updates and patches are coordinated through a single lifecycle management process. This eliminates compatibility concerns and reduces the operational burden on IT teams. AHV supports advanced features like live migration, high availability, and microsegmentation while providing a familiar management experience through Prism.
Option A is incorrect because AHV specifically does not require separate licensing fees, which is one of its primary advantages over commercial hypervisors. Option C is incorrect as AHV supports multiple operating systems including various Linux distributions, Windows, and other platforms, providing broad guest OS compatibility. Option D is incorrect because AHV is fully manageable through Prism Element and Prism Central, with comprehensive management capabilities including VM provisioning, monitoring, and lifecycle operations.
Choosing AHV can significantly reduce virtualization costs while maintaining enterprise functionality. Organizations migrating from other hypervisors can take advantage of Nutanix Move to simplify the transition while gaining the benefits of integrated hypervisor and infrastructure management.
Question 72:
Which Nutanix service handles all IO operations between the hypervisor and storage?
A) Prism
B) Stargate
C) Chronos
D) Medusa
Answer: B
Explanation:
Stargate is the primary service in the Nutanix architecture responsible for handling all IO operations between the hypervisor and the distributed storage fabric. When virtual machines issue read or write requests, these requests are intercepted by the hypervisor and directed to the local Controller VM where the Stargate service processes them. Stargate manages data placement, retrieval, replication, and caching while ensuring optimal performance and data protection.
The Stargate service implements the data path for all storage operations, coordinating with other services to locate data, manage replicas, and optimize IO patterns. For read operations, Stargate first checks local SSDs for cached data, then local HDDs, and finally retrieves data from remote nodes if necessary. For write operations, Stargate writes data to local storage and coordinates replication to other nodes based on the configured Replication Factor. The service also interfaces with Medusa for metadata operations and implements intelligent caching algorithms to maximize performance.
Option A is incorrect because Prism is the management interface for Nutanix clusters and does not handle IO operations. Option C is incorrect as Chronos is responsible for snapshot and replication scheduling and management, not real-time IO processing. Option D is incorrect because while Medusa manages metadata for the distributed storage system, it does not directly handle IO operations which are Stargate’s responsibility.
Understanding Stargate’s role is crucial for performance troubleshooting and optimization. Monitoring Stargate performance metrics through Prism helps identify IO bottlenecks and opportunities for optimization through caching, compression, or other techniques.
Question 73:
What does RF2 mean in Nutanix terminology?
A) Random Factor of 2
B) Replication Factor of 2, maintaining two copies of data
C) Recovery Factor of 2
D) Redundancy Fraction of 2
Answer: B
Explanation:
RF2 stands for Replication Factor 2, which means Nutanix maintains two complete copies of data across different nodes in the cluster. This provides protection against a single node failure by ensuring that if one node becomes unavailable, a complete copy of the data remains accessible on another node. RF2 is the default and most common configuration for Nutanix clusters as it balances data protection with storage efficiency.
When data is written with RF2, Nutanix writes the data to local storage on the node where the VM resides and simultaneously replicates it to storage on a different node in the cluster. This write replication happens synchronously to ensure data consistency. The system intelligently selects replica locations to distribute load evenly and maintain redundancy across fault domains. With RF2, a cluster can tolerate the failure of one node while continuing to serve data and maintain full data availability for all workloads.
Option A is incorrect because Random Factor is not a Nutanix term and does not relate to data protection. Option C is incorrect as Recovery Factor is not standard Nutanix terminology for describing data redundancy. Option D is incorrect because Redundancy Fraction is not the term used by Nutanix to describe data replication levels.
Understanding Replication Factor is essential for capacity planning and availability requirements. While RF2 provides protection against single node failures, organizations with higher availability requirements can configure RF3, which maintains three copies of data and can tolerate two simultaneous node failures. The choice between RF2 and RF3 involves trade-offs between storage capacity consumption and resilience.
Question 74:
Which Nutanix feature automatically balances workloads across cluster resources?
A) Manual VM placement
B) Acropolis Dynamic Scheduler
C) Prism Element
D) Data-at-Rest Encryption
Answer: B
Explanation:
Acropolis Dynamic Scheduler (ADS) is the intelligent workload balancing feature that automatically optimizes VM placement and resource utilization across the Nutanix cluster. ADS continuously monitors cluster resources including CPU, memory, and storage performance, making intelligent decisions about where to place new VMs and whether to migrate existing VMs to achieve better balance. This automation reduces administrative overhead while ensuring optimal resource utilization and application performance.
When a new VM is powered on, ADS evaluates the current state of all hosts in the cluster and selects the optimal location based on available resources, current workload patterns, and affinity or anti-affinity rules. For running VMs, ADS detects resource imbalances or hotspots and can automatically migrate VMs to less loaded hosts during configurable time windows. The scheduler considers multiple factors including CPU utilization, memory pressure, storage performance, and network connectivity when making placement decisions.
Option A is incorrect because manual VM placement requires administrators to explicitly choose host locations, which is the opposite of automatic balancing. Option C is incorrect as Prism Element is the management interface for individual clusters and provides monitoring capabilities but is not the component that performs automatic workload balancing. Option D is incorrect because Data-at-Rest Encryption is a security feature that protects stored data and has no role in workload balancing or resource optimization.
ADS improves application performance by preventing resource contention and ensures efficient utilization of cluster capacity. Administrators can configure ADS behavior through policies in Prism, setting parameters like aggressiveness of migrations and maintenance windows when migrations are permitted.
Question 75:
What is the purpose of Nutanix Shadow Clones?
A) To create VM backups
B) To optimize read performance for multiple VMs accessing the same data
C) To replicate data to remote sites
D) To compress storage data
Answer: B
Explanation:
Shadow Clones is an intelligent caching optimization feature in Nutanix designed to improve read performance when multiple virtual machines access the same data blocks. This feature is particularly beneficial in VDI environments where many virtual desktops share common operating system images and applications. When Shadow Clones detects that multiple VMs on the same host are reading identical data, it creates local cached copies of that data, reducing network traffic and improving response times.
The Shadow Clones mechanism works by monitoring read patterns and identifying frequently accessed shared data. When the system determines that creating a local copy would be beneficial, it places the data in the local cache tier on each host where VMs need access. Subsequent reads from VMs on that host are served from the local cache rather than requiring network access to remote nodes. This optimization significantly reduces latency for read operations and decreases network bandwidth consumption within the cluster.
Option A is incorrect because VM backups are created using snapshots and replication features, not Shadow Clones. Option C is incorrect as data replication to remote sites is handled by disaster recovery features and protection domains, not by the Shadow Clones caching mechanism. Option D is incorrect because data compression is performed by the Curator service as a separate storage optimization technique unrelated to read caching.
Shadow Clones operates transparently without requiring administrator configuration, automatically activating when beneficial read patterns are detected. This automation ensures optimal performance for shared data scenarios while requiring no manual tuning or intervention from administrators.
Question 76:
Which component stores metadata information about the distributed storage system?
A) Stargate
B) Medusa
C) Cassandra
D) Zookeeper
Answer: B
Explanation:
Medusa is the distributed metadata service in Nutanix architecture responsible for storing and managing metadata information about the distributed storage system. This metadata includes information about data location, extent mappings, VM configurations, snapshots, and other critical system information. Medusa provides fast, consistent access to metadata across all nodes in the cluster, enabling efficient data operations and system management.
The service implements a distributed database that replicates metadata across multiple nodes to ensure availability and durability. When storage operations occur, Stargate queries Medusa to determine data locations and update metadata accordingly. Medusa uses Cassandra as its underlying database technology to provide scalability, fault tolerance, and high performance for metadata operations. The distributed nature of Medusa ensures that metadata operations do not become a bottleneck and that the system can scale to support large numbers of VMs and data objects.
Option A is incorrect because while Stargate handles data path operations, it relies on Medusa for metadata lookups rather than storing metadata itself. Option C is partially correct in that Cassandra is the underlying database technology used by Medusa, but in Nutanix terminology, Medusa is the correct answer as it is the service layer that manages metadata. Option D is incorrect because Zookeeper is used for cluster configuration management and leader election, not for storing storage system metadata.
Understanding the role of metadata services is important for grasping how distributed storage systems maintain consistency and performance at scale. Medusa’s efficient metadata operations enable Nutanix to deliver fast IO performance even as clusters grow to hundreds of nodes.
Question 77:
What is the recommended approach for sizing Nutanix Controller VM resources?
A) Allocate maximum possible resources
B) Use default configurations appropriate for workload profile
C) Minimize resources to maximum storage capacity
D) Match hypervisor host resources exactly
Answer: B
Explanation:
The recommended approach for sizing Nutanix Controller VM resources is to use the default configurations that Nutanix provides, which are optimized for different workload profiles and cluster sizes. These defaults have been tested and validated to provide appropriate performance while leaving sufficient resources for user VMs. Nutanix provides different CVM configurations based on factors like node type, expected workload characteristics, and cluster scale.
Controller VMs require adequate CPU and memory resources to handle storage operations, data services, and management functions efficiently. The default configurations allocate sufficient resources for typical enterprise workloads while avoiding over-provisioning that would waste capacity. For specialized workloads like VDI with very high IOPS requirements or extremely large clusters, Nutanix may recommend adjusted CVM configurations. However, these adjustments should be made based on official guidelines rather than arbitrary decisions.
Option A is incorrect because allocating maximum resources to CVMs would leave insufficient capacity for user workloads and is unnecessary since CVMs are designed to operate efficiently with moderate resource allocations. Option C is incorrect as minimizing CVM resources to maximize user workload capacity can severely impact storage performance and cluster stability, creating bottlenecks that affect all VMs. Option D is incorrect because CVM resource requirements do not directly correspond to total host resources and attempting to match them exactly does not align with proper sizing methodology.
Proper CVM sizing ensures that the storage infrastructure can deliver consistent performance without consuming excessive node resources. Administrators should consult Nutanix best practices documentation and work with Nutanix support when considering any modifications to default CVM configurations.
Question 78:
Which Nutanix feature provides application-consistent snapshots for supported applications?
A) Basic VM snapshots
B) Volume Groups
C) Application-Consistent Snapshots with VSS
D) Files Services
Answer: C
Explanation:
Application-Consistent Snapshots using VSS (Volume Shadow Copy Service) is the Nutanix feature that provides application-aware snapshots ensuring data consistency for supported applications like Microsoft SQL Server and Exchange. Unlike crash-consistent snapshots that capture VM state at a point in time, application-consistent snapshots coordinate with the guest operating system and applications to ensure that pending transactions are completed and buffers are flushed before the snapshot is taken.
The integration with VSS allows Nutanix to communicate with VSS-aware applications running inside Windows virtual machines. When an application-consistent snapshot is requested, the Nutanix Guest Tools trigger the VSS framework which notifies registered applications to prepare for the snapshot. Applications respond by completing in-flight transactions, writing cached data to disk, and entering a consistent state. Only after receiving confirmation that applications are ready does Nutanix create the snapshot, ensuring that the captured state can be reliably restored without data corruption.
Option A is incorrect because basic VM snapshots create crash-consistent copies that capture the VM state without coordinating with applications, which may result in incomplete transactions or inconsistent application state. Option B is incorrect as Volume Groups provide block storage services for external consumers but are not directly related to application-consistent snapshot capabilities. Option D is incorrect because Files Services provides file-based storage and does not specifically address application-consistent snapshots for VMs.
Application-consistent snapshots are essential for production databases and business-critical applications where data integrity is paramount. Using these snapshots ensures that restored VMs are in a clean, consistent state and can resume operations without requiring application recovery procedures.
Question 79:
What is the function of Nutanix Data Protection policies?
A) Configure network security only
B) Automate snapshot schedules and retention for VM protection
C) Manage user access permissions
D) Configure storage compression settings
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nutanix Data Protection policies automate the scheduling and management of snapshots and replication for virtual machine protection. These policies allow administrators to define backup schedules, retention periods, and replication targets for groups of VMs, ensuring consistent data protection without requiring manual intervention. By associating VMs with protection policies, organizations can implement standardized backup strategies that meet recovery point objectives and retention requirements.
Data Protection policies support flexible scheduling options including multiple snapshot frequencies within a single policy, such as hourly snapshots retained for a day combined with daily snapshots retained for weeks or months. Policies can also include replication to remote Nutanix clusters for disaster recovery purposes, automatically transferring snapshots to remote sites on defined schedules. The policy framework handles snapshot lifecycle management, automatically deleting expired snapshots based on retention rules to prevent unlimited storage growth.
Option A is incorrect because network security configuration is handled through separate security features like Flow microsegmentation and firewall rules, not through Data Protection policies. Option C is incorrect as user access permissions are managed through role-based access control in Prism and integration with directory services, separate from data protection functionality. Option D is incorrect because storage compression settings are configured at the storage container level or globally, not through Data Protection policies.
Implementing appropriate Data Protection policies is crucial for meeting business continuity and compliance requirements. Administrators should design policies that balance recovery point objectives with storage capacity consumption and replication bandwidth requirements.
Question 80:
Which tool is used to migrate VMs from other hypervisors to Nutanix AHV?
A) Prism Central only
B) Nutanix Move
C) Manual export and import process
D) Third-party backup solutions exclusively
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nutanix Move is the dedicated migration tool designed specifically for moving virtual machines from other hypervisors including VMware ESXi and Microsoft Hyper-V to Nutanix AHV. Move simplifies the migration process by automating the conversion of VM formats, transferring VM data, and handling the necessary configuration changes to make VMs compatible with the AHV environment. The tool supports both test migrations and production cutover scenarios with minimal downtime.
Move operates by deploying a lightweight VM on both the source and target environments that orchestrate the migration process. It can perform initial bulk data transfers while VMs continue running on the source platform, then execute a final incremental sync during a maintenance window to minimize downtime. The tool handles driver injection, removes source hypervisor tools, and installs Nutanix Guest Tools to ensure VMs operate properly after migration. Move also provides validation capabilities to verify successful migration before decommissioning source VMs.
Option A is incorrect because while Prism Central provides some migration capabilities through APIs and integration points, it is not the primary tool designed for cross-hypervisor VM migration. Option C is incorrect as manual export and import processes are complex, time-consuming, and error-prone compared to using Move which automates and streamlines the entire process. Option D is incorrect because while some third-party backup solutions might support cross-platform recovery, Nutanix Move is the recommended and most efficient tool specifically designed for AHV migration.
