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Question 101:
What is the primary benefit of using Nutanix Acropolis Dynamic Scheduling (ADS)?
A) To schedule virtual machine backups automatically
B) To balance virtual machine placement across nodes for optimal resource utilization
C) To schedule cluster maintenance windows
D) To automate software updates
Answer: B
Explanation:
Acropolis Dynamic Scheduling is an intelligent workload optimization feature that automatically balances virtual machine placement across cluster nodes to ensure optimal resource utilization and performance. ADS continuously monitors CPU, memory, and storage resources across all nodes in the cluster and makes intelligent decisions about where to place new virtual machines and whether to migrate existing ones to achieve better balance and performance.
The system analyzes resource consumption patterns and identifies situations where workload distribution is uneven, potentially causing performance degradation on some nodes while others remain underutilized. When ADS detects such imbalances, it automatically initiates live migrations of virtual machines to redistribute workloads more evenly. These migrations happen transparently without downtime or disruption to running applications, ensuring optimal cluster performance at all times.
Option A is incorrect because backup scheduling is handled by data protection features and policies, not by dynamic scheduling. Option C is wrong as maintenance window scheduling is a separate administrative function managed through Prism and not related to workload balancing. Option D refers to software update automation, which is managed through Prism’s lifecycle management features rather than dynamic scheduling.
ADS provides significant operational benefits by eliminating the need for manual workload balancing and preventing resource hotspots. It considers multiple factors when making placement decisions including CPU utilization, memory pressure, storage performance, and network bandwidth. Organizations benefit from consistent application performance and improved resource efficiency without requiring constant administrative oversight or manual intervention.
Question 102:
Which Nutanix feature allows administrators to set resource limits and reservations for virtual machines?
A) Quality of Service (QoS)
B) Data Protection
C) Network Segmentation
D) Disaster Recovery
Answer: A
Explanation:
Quality of Service is the Nutanix feature that enables administrators to set resource limits and reservations for virtual machines, ensuring predictable performance and preventing resource contention. QoS policies can be applied at the virtual machine or container level to control I/O operations, throttle throughput, and guarantee minimum performance levels. This capability is essential for multi-tenant environments or when running workloads with varying performance requirements on the same cluster.
Through QoS configuration, administrators can define maximum IOPS limits to prevent a single virtual machine from consuming excessive storage resources and impacting other workloads. Conversely, they can set minimum IOPS reservations to guarantee that critical applications always receive the storage performance they require. The system enforces these policies automatically, monitoring actual resource consumption and adjusting allocations in real-time to maintain compliance with defined QoS parameters.
Option B refers to Data Protection features like snapshots and replication, which are unrelated to resource limit management. Option C describes Network Segmentation capabilities used for security and traffic isolation rather than resource reservation. Option D mentions Disaster Recovery, which focuses on business continuity rather than performance management within a cluster.
QoS policies are particularly valuable in environments hosting both production and development workloads or when consolidating multiple applications with different service level requirements. By implementing appropriate QoS controls, organizations can maximize infrastructure utilization while ensuring that critical applications always receive necessary resources. The feature helps prevent noisy neighbor problems where one workload negatively impacts others through excessive resource consumption.
Question 103:
What protocol does Nutanix Files use to provide file services to Windows clients?
A) NFS
B) iSCSI
C) SMB
D) FTP
Answer: C
Explanation:
Nutanix Files uses the SMB protocol to provide file services to Windows clients, enabling seamless integration with Windows environments for file sharing and storage. SMB is the native file sharing protocol for Microsoft Windows and provides features like Active Directory integration, Windows ACL support, and compatibility with Windows-based applications that require shared file storage. Nutanix Files presents file shares using SMB that Windows clients can easily access and mount.
The implementation of SMB in Nutanix Files supports multiple protocol versions including SMB2 and SMB3, providing modern features like encryption, improved performance, and enhanced security. Users can access file shares using standard Windows networking features without requiring special client software or configuration. The system integrates with Active Directory for authentication and authorization, allowing administrators to leverage existing user accounts and security groups.
Option A refers to NFS, which is used primarily for Unix and Linux clients, though Nutanix Files does support NFS for multi-protocol environments. Option B describes iSCSI, which is a block storage protocol rather than a file sharing protocol. Option D mentions FTP, which is a basic file transfer protocol not typically used for enterprise file sharing or supported natively by Nutanix Files.
Nutanix Files provides enterprise-grade file services with features including distributed architecture for high availability, automatic data tiering, snapshots, and replication. The SMB implementation supports advanced features like continuous availability for SQL Server workloads, VSS integration for application-consistent backups, and BranchCache for optimizing file access across WAN connections. Organizations can deploy Nutanix Files as a replacement for traditional Windows file servers.
Question 104:
Which Nutanix component provides automated disaster recovery capabilities?
A) Prism Pro
B) Leap
C) Calm
D) Flow
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nutanix Leap is the disaster recovery solution that provides automated failover and failback capabilities for Nutanix environments. Leap enables organizations to protect their applications and data by replicating virtual machines to secondary Nutanix clusters either on-premises or in the cloud. The solution offers network mapping, customizable recovery plans, and automated orchestration to minimize recovery time objectives and simplify disaster recovery operations.
Leap integrates seamlessly with the Nutanix platform and is managed through Prism Central, providing a unified interface for configuring protection policies, monitoring replication status, and executing recovery operations. Organizations can create detailed recovery plans that specify the order in which virtual machines should be started, network configurations for the recovery site, and scripts to execute during failover. The system performs regular testing of recovery plans without impacting production workloads.
Option A refers to Prism Pro, which provides infrastructure monitoring and analytics capabilities rather than disaster recovery. Option C describes Calm, the application orchestration and automation platform that manages application lifecycle but is not specifically a disaster recovery solution. Option D mentions Flow, which provides network microsegmentation for security rather than disaster recovery functionality.
The automated nature of Leap significantly reduces the complexity and risk associated with disaster recovery. Traditional DR solutions often require manual procedures that are error-prone and time-consuming during actual disaster scenarios. Leap eliminates these challenges through automated runbook execution, ensuring consistent and reliable recovery operations. Organizations can achieve recovery time objectives measured in minutes rather than hours while maintaining confidence in their DR capabilities.
Question 105:
What is the purpose of Nutanix Protection Domains?
A) To define security policies for network traffic
B) To group virtual machines for coordinated snapshot and replication
C) To allocate storage capacity to different departments
D) To configure hypervisor settings
Answer: B
Explanation:
Protection Domains in Nutanix are logical groupings of virtual machines that are protected together through coordinated snapshot and replication policies. This feature allows administrators to define consistent data protection strategies for related virtual machines, ensuring that multi-tier applications are protected as a unit rather than as individual components. Protection Domains ensure crash-consistent or application-consistent snapshots across all virtual machines in the group simultaneously.
When a Protection Domain is configured, administrators specify snapshot schedules, retention policies, and replication targets. The system automatically creates snapshots of all virtual machines in the domain according to the defined schedule and replicates these snapshots to remote sites if configured. This coordinated approach is essential for applications with interdependencies, as it ensures that all components are protected at the same point in time, maintaining consistency across the entire application stack.
Option A is incorrect because security policies for network traffic are managed through Nutanix Flow, not Protection Domains. Option C is wrong as storage capacity allocation is handled through container and storage policy configurations rather than Protection Domains. Option D refers to hypervisor configuration, which is managed separately from data protection features.
Protection Domains support both local and remote snapshots, providing flexibility in data protection strategies. Local snapshots enable rapid recovery from accidental deletion or corruption, while remote replication provides disaster recovery capabilities. Organizations can configure multiple Protection Domains with different policies to match varying recovery requirements for different application tiers. The feature simplifies compliance with backup and recovery SLAs by automating protection operations.
Question 106:
Which storage efficiency technology uses mathematical algorithms to protect data while reducing storage overhead compared to replication?
A) Deduplication
B) Compression
C) Erasure Coding
D) Thin Provisioning
Answer: C
Explanation:
Erasure Coding is a sophisticated storage efficiency technology that uses mathematical algorithms to protect data while requiring significantly less storage overhead compared to traditional replication methods. Instead of maintaining multiple complete copies of data, Erasure Coding breaks data into fragments, expands and encodes them with redundant data pieces, and distributes them across different nodes. The system can reconstruct the original data even if some fragments are lost due to node failures.
The storage efficiency advantage of Erasure Coding becomes particularly significant in larger clusters. For example, while Replication Factor 2 requires 100 percent storage overhead to maintain two complete copies, Erasure Coding can provide similar or better fault tolerance with only 33 to 50 percent overhead depending on the specific encoding scheme used. This substantial reduction in storage requirements translates directly to cost savings while maintaining high data availability.
Option A refers to Deduplication, which eliminates redundant data blocks but does not provide data protection through mathematical encoding. Option B describes Compression, which reduces data size through encoding but does not create redundant protection information. Option D mentions Thin Provisioning, which optimizes capacity allocation but does not involve data protection mechanisms.
Nutanix implements Erasure Coding primarily for cold data that is accessed infrequently, as the encoding and decoding processes require more computational resources than simple replication. The system automatically identifies suitable data and converts it from replicated format to erasure-coded format in the background. This intelligent approach balances performance for hot data with storage efficiency for cold data, optimizing overall cluster economics.
Question 107:
What is the function of the Nutanix Cluster Lockdown feature?
A) To prevent unauthorized access by disabling unnecessary services
B) To lock virtual machines from being modified
C) To restrict network access to the cluster
D) To prevent storage modifications
Answer: A
Explanation:
Cluster Lockdown is a security hardening feature that prevents unauthorized access to Nutanix clusters by disabling unnecessary services and closing unused network ports. When enabled, this feature restricts access to only essential services required for normal cluster operations, significantly reducing the attack surface and improving overall security posture. Cluster Lockdown is particularly important for organizations with strict security requirements or compliance mandates.
The feature works by identifying and disabling services that are not required for cluster functionality, such as development tools, debugging interfaces, and administrative shells that might be exploited by attackers. It also enforces strict access controls, ensuring that only authenticated administrators can perform management operations through approved interfaces like Prism. The lockdown configuration can be customized to match organizational security policies while maintaining necessary operational capabilities.
Option B is incorrect because locking virtual machines from modification is a separate permission and role-based access control feature rather than cluster-level security hardening. Option C is wrong as network access restriction involves firewall rules and network segmentation rather than the Cluster Lockdown feature specifically. Option D refers to storage access controls, which are managed through different security mechanisms.
Implementing Cluster Lockdown is considered a security best practice for production Nutanix environments. The feature helps organizations meet compliance requirements such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and other regulatory frameworks that mandate security hardening. Once enabled, the system maintains the lockdown configuration across upgrades and changes, ensuring consistent security posture. Organizations can verify lockdown status through Prism and receive alerts if unauthorized modifications are detected.
Question 108:
Which Nutanix feature automatically identifies and resolves common infrastructure issues?
A) Prism Pro X-FIT
B) Data Protection
C) Shadow Clones
D) Network Visualization
Answer: A
Explanation:
Prism Pro X-FIT is an advanced analytics and automation feature that automatically identifies and resolves common infrastructure issues before they impact workloads or user experience. X-FIT uses machine learning algorithms to analyze infrastructure behavior, detect anomalies, and automatically implement remediation actions for known issues. This proactive approach reduces administrative burden and prevents problems from escalating into service disruptions.
The system continuously monitors thousands of metrics across the infrastructure including CPU utilization, memory pressure, storage performance, and network throughput. When X-FIT identifies patterns that indicate potential issues such as resource constraints, configuration problems, or performance degradation, it can automatically execute remediation playbooks. These automated responses might include rebalancing workloads, adjusting resource allocations, or triggering alerts for issues requiring human intervention.
Option B refers to Data Protection features that provide backup and recovery capabilities but do not automatically resolve infrastructure issues. Option C describes Shadow Clones, a performance optimization feature for VDI environments rather than an issue resolution system. Option D mentions Network Visualization capabilities that provide visibility into network traffic but do not perform automated remediation.
X-FIT represents a significant advancement toward self-healing infrastructure where systems can detect and correct problems autonomously. The feature learns from historical data and improves its detection and remediation capabilities over time. Organizations benefit from reduced mean time to resolution, fewer service disruptions, and lower operational overhead. The system maintains detailed logs of all automated actions for audit purposes and administrator review.
Question 109:
What type of snapshots does Nutanix support for data protection?
A) Only crash-consistent snapshots
B) Only application-consistent snapshots
C) Both crash-consistent and application-consistent snapshots
D) No snapshot support
Answer: C
Explanation:
Nutanix supports both crash-consistent and application-consistent snapshots to provide flexible data protection options for different workload types and recovery requirements. Crash-consistent snapshots capture the state of virtual machine disks at a specific point in time without coordination with applications or the guest operating system. These snapshots are fast and efficient but may require database recovery procedures when restored if transactions were in progress during snapshot creation.
Application-consistent snapshots coordinate with the guest operating system and applications to ensure that all data is flushed to disk and transactions are completed before the snapshot is taken. For Windows virtual machines, this is accomplished through VSS integration, while Linux systems use similar quiescing mechanisms. Application-consistent snapshots provide clean recovery points where applications can start immediately without crash recovery, making them ideal for databases and other stateful applications.
Option A is incorrect because Nutanix supports more than just crash-consistent snapshots. Option B is wrong as the system also supports crash-consistent snapshots in addition to application-consistent ones. Option D is obviously incorrect as snapshot capability is a fundamental data protection feature of the Nutanix platform.
The choice between crash-consistent and application-consistent snapshots depends on the specific workload and recovery requirements. Application-consistent snapshots require guest tools or agents to be installed and may take slightly longer to complete, but provide superior data integrity for critical applications. Organizations typically use application-consistent snapshots for production databases and stateful applications while using crash-consistent snapshots for stateless workloads or when guest integration is not feasible.
Question 110:
Which component in Nutanix architecture is responsible for handling VM console access?
A) Stargate
B) Prism
C) CVM
D) Hypervisor
Answer: B
Explanation:
Prism is the component responsible for handling virtual machine console access in Nutanix environments, providing administrators with web-based access to VM consoles without requiring separate management tools. Through the Prism interface, users can open console sessions to virtual machines directly in their web browser, enabling troubleshooting, configuration, and monitoring activities. This integrated console access simplifies management by eliminating the need to switch between different tools for infrastructure management and VM interaction.
The console access feature in Prism supports both graphical console sessions for desktop operating systems and text-based console access for servers. Administrators can interact with virtual machines just as they would with physical console access, including during boot processes, BIOS configuration, and operating system installation. The web-based nature of this access means administrators can manage virtual machines from any device with a modern browser without installing thick client applications.
Option A refers to Stargate, which handles storage I/O operations rather than console access. Option C describes the CVM, which provides storage services but does not directly handle console access to guest virtual machines. Option D mentions the Hypervisor, which hosts the virtual machines but console access is exposed through the Prism management layer.
The integration of console access into Prism enhances operational efficiency by providing a single interface for all management activities. Administrators can quickly access VM consoles when investigating issues, performing maintenance, or validating configurations. The feature includes security controls such as role-based access restrictions to ensure only authorized users can access specific virtual machine consoles. This consolidation of management functions is a key advantage of the Nutanix platform.
Question 111:
What is the purpose of Nutanix Guest Tools?
A) To provide enhanced graphics performance
B) To enable communication between VMs and CVMs for optimization features
C) To install third-party applications
D) To configure network settings
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nutanix Guest Tools are lightweight agents installed inside virtual machines that enable communication between the guest operating system and the Nutanix Controller VMs to support various optimization and management features. These tools facilitate capabilities such as application-consistent snapshots, self-service file restore, and improved data locality optimization. The guest tools act as a bridge between the application layer and the Nutanix infrastructure layer.
The most important function of Nutanix Guest Tools is enabling VSS integration for application-consistent snapshots on Windows virtual machines. When a snapshot is initiated, the guest tools coordinate with VSS to quiesce applications and flush data to disk before the snapshot is taken. This coordination ensures that snapshots capture a clean application state that can be reliably restored without corruption or data loss. Similar functionality exists for Linux guests using appropriate quiescing mechanisms.
Option A is incorrect because graphics performance enhancement is typically handled by hypervisor tools or GPU passthrough rather than Nutanix Guest Tools. Option C is wrong as the guest tools are not designed for third-party application installation. Option D refers to network configuration, which is managed through standard operating system tools or hypervisor integration rather than Nutanix Guest Tools.
Installing Nutanix Guest Tools is considered a best practice for production virtual machines, particularly those running databases, email servers, or other applications where data consistency is critical. The tools are lightweight and have minimal performance impact while providing significant benefits in terms of data protection and recovery capabilities. Organizations should include guest tools installation as part of their virtual machine deployment and configuration standards.
Question 112:
Which Nutanix feature provides the ability to create custom automation workflows?
A) Prism Central
B) Calm
C) Flow
D) Files
Answer: B
Explanation:
Nutanix Calm is the application orchestration and automation platform that provides the ability to create custom automation workflows for application lifecycle management and infrastructure operations. Calm allows administrators and developers to define blueprints that describe application architectures, dependencies, and automated actions for deployment, scaling, updating, and decommissioning. These blueprints serve as templates for repeatable and consistent application provisioning.
The workflow automation capabilities in Calm extend beyond simple scripting to include sophisticated orchestration logic with conditional branching, error handling, and integration with external systems through APIs. Users can create workflows that span multiple systems including Nutanix infrastructure, public clouds, and external services. The platform supports various scripting languages and configuration management tools, providing flexibility in how automation is implemented and maintained.
Option A refers to Prism Central, which is the management interface and includes some automation capabilities but is not specifically the workflow and orchestration platform. Option C describes Flow, which provides network security and microsegmentation rather than workflow automation. Option D mentions Files, the file services solution that does not include workflow automation capabilities.
Calm enables organizations to implement self-service IT models where application owners can deploy complex multi-tier applications through simple web interfaces without deep infrastructure knowledge. The automation reduces deployment times from days or weeks to minutes while ensuring consistency and eliminating manual configuration errors. Organizations use Calm to standardize application deployments, enforce compliance policies, and reduce operational costs through automation.
Question 113:
What is the recommended minimum network bandwidth for the Nutanix storage network?
A) 1 Gbps
B) 10 Gbps
C) 100 Mbps
D) 40 Gbps
Answer: B
Explanation:
The recommended minimum network bandwidth for the Nutanix storage network is 10 Gbps to ensure adequate throughput for data replication, inter-CVM communication, and storage I/O operations. The storage network, also known as the backend network, carries significant traffic including replication of write operations between nodes, data migration for rebalancing, and remote read operations when data locality cannot be maintained. Insufficient bandwidth on this network can create bottlenecks that impact overall cluster performance.
A 10 Gbps storage network provides sufficient capacity for most production environments to handle normal operations plus additional overhead for rebalancing, rebuilding, and other maintenance activities. During events like node failures or additions, the storage network experiences increased traffic as data is re-replicated or redistributed. The 10 Gbps recommendation ensures the cluster can handle these events without severely impacting production workloads.
Option A suggests 1 Gbps, which is insufficient for production Nutanix clusters and would create significant performance bottlenecks, particularly during replication and rebalancing operations. Option C proposes 100 Mbps, which is far too low for any serious storage traffic and would render the cluster unusable. Option D mentions 40 Gbps, which while beneficial for very large or high-performance clusters, exceeds the minimum recommendation.
Organizations deploying performance-intensive workloads or very large clusters should consider 25 Gbps or higher bandwidth for the storage network. The network infrastructure should also provide low latency and be properly configured with appropriate MTU settings, typically using jumbo frames for optimal performance. Network redundancy through link aggregation or redundant paths is strongly recommended to prevent single points of failure.
Question 114:
Which Nutanix feature allows for network traffic microsegmentation and security policy enforcement?
A) Prism Central
B) Calm
C) Flow
D) Leap
Answer: C
Explanation:
Nutanix Flow is the network security solution that provides microsegmentation capabilities and policy-based security enforcement for virtual machine traffic within Nutanix environments. Flow enables administrators to define fine-grained security policies that control which virtual machines can communicate with each other, effectively creating security boundaries without requiring physical network changes. This software-defined approach to network security simplifies policy management and improves security posture.
Flow implements security policies at the virtual network interface level, inspecting and filtering traffic based on administrator-defined rules. Policies can be based on application tiers, environment categories, or custom groupings of virtual machines. The system provides visualization of traffic flows, helping administrators understand communication patterns and identify potential security risks. Flow automatically enforces policies even as virtual machines are created, moved, or deleted, maintaining consistent security.
Option A refers to Prism Central, which is the management platform but not specifically a network security microsegmentation solution. Option B describes Calm, the application orchestration platform that does not provide network security features. Option D mentions Leap, the disaster recovery solution that is unrelated to network traffic control and security.
Microsegmentation through Flow addresses the limitations of traditional perimeter-based security by implementing a zero-trust model where internal traffic is controlled and monitored. This approach significantly reduces the attack surface and limits lateral movement of threats within the network. Organizations can implement least-privilege access principles, ensuring that applications only communicate with authorized services. Flow simplifies compliance with regulatory requirements that mandate network segmentation.
Question 115:
What is the purpose of the Nutanix Sizer tool?
A) To monitor cluster performance in real-time
B) To size and configure Nutanix solutions based on workload requirements
C) To compress data automatically
D) To manage virtual machine snapshots
Answer: B
Explanation:
The Nutanix Sizer is a web-based configuration and sizing tool designed to help partners, customers, and sales engineers properly size Nutanix solutions based on specific workload requirements and constraints. The tool accepts inputs such as the number of virtual machines, resource requirements per VM, desired performance characteristics, and data protection needs. It then recommends appropriate hardware configurations including node models, quantities, and specific component specifications to meet those requirements.
Sizer performs complex calculations considering factors like CPU, memory, storage capacity, storage performance, network bandwidth, and data protection overhead. The tool accounts for Nutanix-specific considerations such as Controller VM resource requirements, replication overhead, and various storage efficiency ratios. It provides multiple configuration options with different price points and performance characteristics, allowing users to make informed decisions based on their priorities.
Option A is incorrect because real-time performance monitoring is handled by Prism and Prism Pro, not by the Sizer tool. Option C is wrong as data compression is an automated feature within the Nutanix platform rather than a function of the sizing tool. Option D refers to snapshot management, which is a data protection feature managed through Prism.
The Sizer tool is essential for ensuring that Nutanix deployments are properly configured from the start, avoiding under-provisioning that leads to performance issues or over-provisioning that wastes budget. The tool is regularly updated with new hardware platforms, software features, and sizing algorithms based on field data and best practices. Organizations planning Nutanix deployments should work with certified professionals who can effectively use Sizer to design optimal solutions.
Question 116:
Which protocol is used for communication between Prism and the Controller VMs?
A) SNMP
B) REST API
C) FTP
D) Telnet
Answer: B
Explanation:
REST API is the protocol used for communication between Prism and the Controller VMs in Nutanix architecture. Prism, whether Prism Element or Prism Central, issues commands and retrieves information from Controller VMs through RESTful API calls over HTTPS. This modern API-based architecture provides a clean separation between the management interface and the underlying infrastructure services while enabling programmatic access and integration with external systems.
The REST API provides comprehensive coverage of Nutanix functionality, allowing Prism to perform all management operations including cluster configuration, virtual machine management, storage operations, and monitoring. The API is also available for direct use by administrators and developers, enabling automation, integration with orchestration tools, and development of custom management applications. All API communications are encrypted and authenticated to ensure security.
Option A refers to SNMP, which is a monitoring protocol that can be used to collect metrics from Nutanix clusters but is not the primary communication mechanism between Prism and CVMs. Option C mentions FTP, a file transfer protocol that is not used for infrastructure management communications. Option D describes Telnet, an insecure remote access protocol that is not used in modern Nutanix architectures.
The API-first design philosophy of Nutanix ensures that any operation available through the Prism GUI can also be performed programmatically through the API. This approach enables infrastructure-as-code practices, integration with CI/CD pipelines, and development of custom automation scripts. The API is well-documented with comprehensive reference guides, making it accessible to developers and administrators implementing automation.
Question 117:
What happens when a Nutanix node fails in a cluster?
A) All virtual machines on the cluster stop functioning
B) Virtual machines on the failed node are automatically restarted on surviving nodes
C) The entire cluster must be rebuilt
D) Data is permanently lost
Answer: B
Explanation:
When a Nutanix node fails in a cluster, the high availability mechanisms automatically detect the failure and restart the virtual machines that were running on the failed node onto surviving nodes in the cluster. This automated failover typically completes within minutes, minimizing downtime for affected workloads. The cluster continues operating normally with slightly reduced capacity, as the remaining nodes absorb the workloads from the failed node.
Data availability is maintained during node failures because Nutanix uses a replication factor that ensures multiple copies of data exist on different nodes. With Replication Factor 2, which is standard for most deployments, data remains accessible even when one node fails because a complete copy exists on at least one other node. The cluster can continue serving all data and accepting new writes while operating in a degraded state.
Option A is incorrect because only the virtual machines on the failed node are affected, not all VMs across the cluster. Option C is wrong as the cluster does not need to be rebuilt and continues operating with the remaining nodes. Option D is clearly incorrect because data protection through replication ensures no data loss occurs from a single node failure.
After a node failure, the cluster automatically begins rebuilding data redundancy in the background to restore the full replication factor. This process distributes the work of re-replicating data across all surviving nodes, minimizing the impact on production workloads. Administrators receive alerts about the node failure and can schedule maintenance to address the issue while the cluster continues operating.
Question 118:
Which Nutanix product provides centralized backup and disaster recovery management?
A) Mine
B) Flow
C) Calm
D) Files
Answer: A
Explanation:
Nutanix Mine is the centralized backup and disaster recovery management product that provides comprehensive data protection capabilities for Nutanix environments and other supported platforms. Mine offers features including backup scheduling, retention management, instant recovery, and disaster recovery orchestration. It integrates with Nutanix clusters and can also protect workloads running on other hypervisors or in public clouds, providing a unified data protection solution.
Mine simplifies backup operations by providing policy-based protection where administrators define backup schedules, retention policies, and recovery objectives. The system automatically executes backups according to these policies and manages the backup lifecycle including expiration and deletion of old backups. Mine supports various recovery scenarios from individual file recovery to full virtual machine restoration and disaster recovery failover.
Option B refers to Flow, which provides network microsegmentation and security rather than backup and disaster recovery. Option C describes Calm, the application orchestration platform that does not provide backup functionality. Option D mentions Files, the file services solution that offers file-level capabilities but is not a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery product.
The centralized management capabilities of Mine are particularly valuable for organizations with multiple Nutanix clusters or hybrid environments. Administrators can manage all backup and recovery operations from a single interface, ensuring consistent policies and simplifying compliance reporting. Mine also provides features like deduplication and compression to reduce backup storage requirements and bandwidth consumption.
Question 119:
What is the maximum number of nodes supported in a single Nutanix cluster?
A) 16
B) 32
C) 64
D) Variable based on configuration and platform
Answer: D
Explanation:
The maximum number of nodes supported in a single Nutanix cluster is variable and depends on factors including the specific platform, hypervisor, software version, and configuration. Nutanix continuously updates cluster scalability limits as the platform evolves and hardware capabilities improve. Organizations planning large deployments should consult current documentation and work with Nutanix representatives to understand limits applicable to their specific configuration.
Historically, Nutanix clusters have supported increasingly larger node counts as the platform matured. Earlier versions supported clusters of up to 32 or 64 nodes, while more recent releases have expanded these limits significantly. The actual practical limit for any specific deployment also depends on factors like the management overhead of very large clusters, network infrastructure capabilities, and specific workload characteristics.
Option A suggesting 16 nodes is too restrictive and does not reflect the capabilities of modern Nutanix platforms. Option B proposing 32 nodes and Option C suggesting 64 nodes represent specific limits that may have applied to certain configurations or older versions but do not represent a universal answer.
For environments requiring capacity beyond single cluster limits, Nutanix supports multi-cluster architectures managed through Prism Central. This approach allows organizations to scale beyond any single cluster limitations while maintaining centralized management and consistent operations across all clusters. Multi-cluster deployments also provide fault isolation and can support geographic distribution for disaster recovery purposes.
Question 120:
Which Nutanix feature automatically upgrades cluster software with minimal disruption?
A) Manual upgrade process
B) One-Click Upgrade
C) Rolling restart
D) Snapshot upgrade
Answer: B
Explanation:
One-Click Upgrade is the Nutanix feature that automates the process of upgrading cluster software including AOS, hypervisor, firmware, and other components with minimal disruption to running workloads. This feature simplifies the traditionally complex and risky upgrade process by automating all steps including pre-upgrade validation, sequential node upgrades, and post-upgrade verification. Administrators initiate the upgrade through Prism with a single click, and the system handles the entire process automatically.
The upgrade process follows a rolling upgrade methodology where nodes are upgraded sequentially rather than simultaneously. Before each node is upgraded, virtual machines are live-migrated to other nodes in the cluster, ensuring continuous workload availability. The system performs health checks at each stage to verify successful upgrades and can automatically rollback if issues are detected. This intelligent approach minimizes risk and eliminates extended maintenance windows.
Option A describes a manual upgrade process, which is possible but not the automated feature that Nutanix provides for simplified upgrades. Option C refers to rolling restart, which is a technique used during upgrades but not the name of the feature itself. Option D mentions snapshot upgrade, which is not a real Nutanix upgrade methodology.
One-Click Upgrade represents a significant operational advantage of the Nutanix platform by reducing the time, complexity, and risk associated with keeping infrastructure current. Traditional infrastructure upgrades often require extensive planning, maintenance windows, and carry significant risk of errors or compatibility issues. Nutanix automates these concerns, enabling organizations to stay current with the latest features and security patches without operational burden.
