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NCS-Core practice questions

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Question 1Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

In a Nutanix cluster, which component is responsible for storing metadata about the desired state of the cluster and is replicated across Controller VMs?

  1. The Stargate service
  2. The Prism gateway
  3. The Zookeeper quorum
  4. The Cassandra distributed metadata store Correct answer.

Explanation

Cassandra is the distributed metadata store in a Nutanix cluster; it holds the desired-state configuration and is replicated across the Controller VMs so every node has a consistent view. Zookeeper handles leadership election and cluster membership coordination, not the configuration metadata itself.

Question 2Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which Nutanix component provides the distributed block storage layer that presents storage to the hypervisor on each node?

  1. The Acropolis hypervisor
  2. Prism Central
  3. Foundation
  4. The Controller VM running Stargate Correct answer.

Explanation

The Controller VM runs Stargate, which manages the local disks and serves I/O to the hypervisor, forming the distributed storage fabric. Prism Central is a management plane, Acropolis is the hypervisor, and Foundation is the imaging and deployment tool.

Question 3Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

What is the primary function of the Nutanix Distributed Storage Fabric (DSF)?

  1. It provides the REST API for cluster management
  2. It pools local disks across nodes into a single logical datastore Correct answer.
  3. It replicates virtual machines to a remote site
  4. It schedules VMs across hosts based on CPU load

Explanation

DSF aggregates the local disks of all nodes into a unified storage pool that any VM can consume regardless of which host it runs on. Replication to a remote site is handled by protection domains or replication features, not by DSF itself.

Question 4Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

A Nutanix cluster with three nodes loses one node entirely. Why does the cluster continue serving data without downtime?

  1. Because the cluster falls back to a single-node mode
  2. Because data has replicas on other nodes and the metadata layer redirects I/O Correct answer.
  3. Because the hypervisor caches all writes in memory
  4. Because Prism Central automatically restarts the failed node

Explanation

Nutanix uses replication factor to keep copies of data on multiple nodes, and the distributed metadata layer knows where each replica lives so I/O can be redirected to surviving copies. This is why a single node failure does not cause data unavailability.

Question 5Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which Nutanix management interface is designed to manage multiple clusters from a single pane of glass?

  1. Nutanix Foundation
  2. Prism Central Correct answer.
  3. The CVM command line
  4. Prism Element

Explanation

Prism Central is the multi-cluster management plane that can register and manage many Prism Element clusters. Prism Element manages a single cluster, and Foundation is a deployment tool.

Question 6Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

What does the term 'replication factor' describe in a Nutanix cluster?

  1. The number of network links between nodes
  2. The number of copies of each data extent maintained across nodes Correct answer.
  3. The number of clusters managed by Prism Central
  4. The number of snapshots retained per VM

Explanation

Replication factor specifies how many copies of each data extent the cluster keeps on separate nodes to survive failures. It is a durability setting, not a count of clusters, links, or snapshots.

Question 7Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which statement best describes the role of the Acropolis hypervisor (AHV) in a Nutanix deployment?

  1. It is a type-2 hypervisor installed on top of a general-purpose OS
  2. It is a storage controller that replaces the CVM
  3. It is a container runtime for Kubernetes workloads
  4. It is a native, KVM-based hypervisor integrated with the Nutanix platform Correct answer.

Explanation

AHV is Nutanix's native hypervisor built on KVM and tightly integrated with the platform's storage and management services. It is not a type-2 product and does not replace the Controller VM.

Question 8Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

What is the purpose of a Nutanix protection domain?

  1. To define a set of VMs and a schedule for local and remote snapshots Correct answer.
  2. To authenticate users against Active Directory
  3. To limit the CPU resources of a VM
  4. To assign VLANs to virtual machines

Explanation

A protection domain groups VMs and defines snapshot schedules plus optional remote replication for disaster recovery. It does not handle networking, CPU limits, or authentication.

Question 9Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

A VM's data is written to the Nutanix storage fabric. Which statement correctly describes the write path when a CVM receives the I/O?

  1. The write is sent directly to the hypervisor's memory cache and acknowledged
  2. The write is acknowledged only after all replicas in the cluster are written
  3. The write is held until a snapshot is taken
  4. The write is journaled locally and acknowledged, then replicated to remote nodes asynchronously Correct answer.

Explanation

Nutanix uses a write path where the CVM writes the data to a local write journal (oplog) and acknowledges the I/O, then the data is replicated to other nodes and destaged to disk. This local journaling is what keeps latency low while maintaining redundancy.

Question 10Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which Nutanix feature allows a VM to continue running on a surviving node when its host fails, without manual intervention?

  1. Protection domain replication
  2. Storage tiering
  3. HA reservation and VM restart by the cluster Correct answer.
  4. Prism Central reporting

Explanation

High availability reserves capacity so that VMs on a failed host can be restarted automatically on surviving nodes. Protection domains replicate data for recovery, but automatic VM restart is an HA function.

Question 11Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

What is the primary difference between a Nutanix storage container and a datastore as seen by the hypervisor?

  1. A container is a VM disk, while a datastore is a snapshot
  2. A container is a network segment, while a datastore is a VLAN
  3. A container is a logical policy boundary in DSF that is presented as a datastore to the hypervisor Correct answer.
  4. A container is a physical disk, while a datastore is a RAID group

Explanation

A storage container defines policies such as replication factor and compression, and it is presented to the hypervisor as a datastore. Containers are logical constructs in DSF, not physical disks or network segments.

Question 12Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which Nutanix service runs on each Controller VM and is responsible for cluster health monitoring and alert generation?

  1. Stargate
  2. Foundation
  3. Cassandra
  4. The health and alerting framework within the CVM Correct answer.

Explanation

Each CVM runs health-check and alerting services that monitor component status and raise alerts through Prism. Cassandra stores metadata, Stargate handles I/O, and Foundation is a deployment tool.

Question 13Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

An administrator wants a VM's data to be recoverable at a remote site after a site failure. Which Nutanix capability should be configured?

  1. Async replication of a protection domain to a remote cluster Correct answer.
  2. A local snapshot schedule only
  3. A VLAN on the remote cluster
  4. Erasure coding on the local container

Explanation

Async replication of a protection domain sends snapshots to a remote cluster so data can be recovered after a site loss. Local snapshots alone do not protect against losing the entire site.

Question 14Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

What does Nutanix Erasure Coding (EC-X) primarily achieve?

  1. It encrypts data at rest across all nodes
  2. It compresses network traffic between clusters
  3. It reduces storage capacity overhead by using parity instead of full replicas Correct answer.
  4. It increases the replication factor automatically

Explanation

Erasure coding stores data with parity chunks rather than multiple full copies, reducing capacity overhead compared with replication. It is a space-efficiency feature and does not encrypt data or change replication factor.

Question 15Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

A cluster has replication factor 3. How many node failures can it typically tolerate while still serving all data?

  1. Zero
  2. Two Correct answer.
  3. One
  4. Three

Explanation

With three copies of each extent on separate nodes, the cluster can lose two nodes and still have one copy available. Losing all three copies would make the data unavailable.

Question 16Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which statement accurately describes how Nutanix handles data locality?

  1. The CVM on the VM's host can serve reads from local extents when possible, reducing network hops Correct answer.
  2. All reads always go to the node that owns the data, regardless of where the VM runs
  3. Locality is disabled when replication factor is greater than one
  4. Data is pinned permanently to the node where it was first written

Explanation

Nutanix seeks to serve I/O locally when a copy of the data exists on the same host, which reduces network traffic and latency. If no local copy exists, the request is forwarded to a node that holds a replica.

Question 17Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which Nutanix component is responsible for electing a leader among Controller VMs to coordinate cluster-wide decisions?

  1. The Acropolis scheduler
  2. Stargate
  3. Prism Element
  4. Zookeeper Correct answer.

Explanation

Zookeeper provides distributed coordination, including leader election, so cluster-wide decisions have a single coordinator. Stargate handles I/O, Prism Element is the management UI, and the scheduler places VMs.

Question 18Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

An administrator wants to separate management traffic from VM data traffic on a Nutanix cluster. Which configuration supports this?

  1. Increase the replication factor to three
  2. Create a protection domain for management VMs
  3. Enable erasure coding on the container
  4. Assign separate VLANs and uplinks to the management and data networks Correct answer.

Explanation

Nutanix supports multiple networks, so management and data traffic can be placed on separate VLANs and physical uplinks for isolation and performance. Storage policies and protection domains do not separate network traffic.

Question 19Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

What is the role of the Prism Element REST API in a Nutanix cluster?

  1. It is used only for firmware updates of physical disks
  2. It replaces the Controller VM for storage I/O
  3. It provides programmatic access to manage and monitor a single cluster Correct answer.
  4. It authenticates VMs to Active Directory

Explanation

The Prism Element API exposes REST endpoints for managing and monitoring a single cluster, enabling automation. It does not perform storage I/O, disk firmware updates, or VM directory authentication.

Question 20Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

A Nutanix cluster uses AHV. Which statement about VM high availability reservations is correct?

  1. Reservations disable live migration for protected VMs
  2. Reservations automatically replicate VM data to a remote site
  3. Reservations set the maximum CPU a VM may use
  4. Reservations guarantee that a failed host's VMs can be restarted on remaining hosts with reserved capacity Correct answer.

Explanation

HA reservations keep enough unused capacity on surviving hosts so VMs from a failed host can be restarted. They are about failover capacity, not remote replication, CPU caps, or disabling migration.

Question 21Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which statement best explains why Nutanix can present a single datastore that spans all nodes in a cluster?

  1. Because all VM disks are stored on a single designated storage node
  2. Because the hypervisor mirrors every write to every node synchronously
  3. Because the distributed storage fabric aggregates local disks and the metadata layer maps extents across nodes Correct answer.
  4. Because each node exposes its local disks through a shared SAS backplane

Explanation

DSF pools the local disks of every node, and distributed metadata tracks where each extent and replica resides, so the hypervisor sees one logical datastore. There is no single designated storage node, and writes are not mirrored to every node.

Question 22Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

An administrator observes that a VM's writes are being acknowledged before they reach the intended remote replica. Which Nutanix write-path behavior explains this?

  1. The remote replica is optional and never written
  2. The write is buffered until the next snapshot
  3. The hypervisor acknowledges writes without involving the CVM
  4. The local CVM journals the write and acknowledges it, then replication to other nodes completes asynchronously Correct answer.

Explanation

The write is first persisted to the local write journal (oplog) on the CVM and acknowledged, and replication to other nodes follows. This design lowers latency while still achieving redundancy shortly afterward.

Question 23Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

A three-node cluster has replication factor 3 and one node is down for maintenance. An administrator attempts to write new data. What is the most likely outcome?

  1. Writes succeed because the cluster can place replicas on the two remaining nodes and reconcile later Correct answer.
  2. Writes succeed only if erasure coding is enabled
  3. Writes are redirected to Prism Central for storage
  4. Writes fail because all three replicas cannot be placed

Explanation

Nutanix can continue serving writes when a node is unavailable by placing the available replicas on remaining nodes and restoring full redundancy when the node returns. Prism Central does not store VM data.

Question 24Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which statement correctly distinguishes Prism Central from Prism Element in a Nutanix environment?

  1. Prism Central manages storage I/O, while Prism Element manages networking
  2. Prism Element is a hypervisor, while Prism Central is a storage controller
  3. Prism Central replaces the Controller VM on each node
  4. Prism Element manages a single cluster, while Prism Central provides centralized management across multiple registered clusters Correct answer.

Explanation

Prism Element is the per-cluster management interface, while Prism Central is a separate management plane that registers and manages many clusters. Neither is a hypervisor or a replacement for the Controller VM.

Question 25Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

A Nutanix cluster must survive the loss of two nodes while maintaining data availability. Which configuration satisfies this requirement?

  1. Replication factor 2
  2. Replication factor 3 Correct answer.
  3. Erasure coding with no replicas
  4. Replication factor 1

Explanation

Three copies of each extent on separate nodes allow two nodes to fail while one copy remains available. Replication factor 2 tolerates only one failure, and factor 1 tolerates none.

Question 26Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

In a Nutanix cluster, which component runs as a VM on each node and serves I/O requests from the hypervisor to the distributed storage fabric?

  1. The genesis process
  2. The Acropolis scheduler
  3. The Controller VM (CVM) Correct answer.
  4. The Prism Central VM

Explanation

Each node hosts a Controller VM that owns the local disks and presents them into the cluster-wide storage fabric. Hypervisor I/O is forwarded to a CVM, which handles data placement, replication, and acknowledgement. This makes the CVM the data-path workhorse of the distributed storage layer.

Question 27Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

Which statement describes the relationship between a storage pool and a storage container in a Nutanix cluster?

  1. A storage container maps one-to-one to a physical disk, while a storage pool spans the disks on a single node.
  2. A storage pool is a logical segmentation of a container and inherits the container's deduplication settings.
  3. A storage container is a logical segmentation of a storage pool that carries its own policies such as replication factor. Correct answer.
  4. A storage pool is created inside a container and can only contain data from a single guest VM.

Explanation

A storage pool is the physical aggregation of disks across nodes managed by the CVMs. Storage containers are logical slices carved from that pool, and each container carries policy settings such as replication factor, compression, and deduplication. Multiple containers can therefore share one pool while applying different data policies.

Question 28Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

An administrator needs to run Prism Element management functions for several Nutanix clusters from one interface and also register a cluster with a higher-level management plane. Which deployment satisfies this requirement?

  1. Deploy Prism Central and register each Prism Element cluster to it. Correct answer.
  2. Enable Prism Element on every CVM and use the genesis leader for aggregation.
  3. Configure a single Prism Element to act as the management gateway for the others.
  4. Use the Acropolis hypervisor console to manage all clusters from one node.

Explanation

Prism Central is a separate management appliance that can oversee multiple Prism Element clusters once they are registered to it. It provides cross-cluster visibility, categories, and centralized services that a single Prism Element cannot offer. Prism Element remains the per-cluster management interface.

Question 29Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

A cluster uses replication factor 2 with a container that has Erasure Coding enabled. An administrator wants to understand how the two mechanisms relate for data stored in that container.

  1. Erasure Coding replaces RF 2 entirely, so the container no longer maintains any replica copies.
  2. Erasure Coding applies only to metadata, while RF 2 applies only to VM disk data in the container.
  3. RF 2 disables Erasure Coding automatically because the two policies cannot coexist in one container.
  4. Erasure Coding can reduce capacity overhead for cold data while RF 2 continues to govern replica placement for active writes. Correct answer.

Explanation

Replication factor defines how many copies of actively written data are maintained for availability. Erasure Coding is a capacity optimization applied to suitable, typically colder data to reduce overhead below full replication. The two policies are complementary within the same container rather than mutually exclusive.

Question 30Nutanix Platform Fundamentals and Architecture

During a planned maintenance window, a node is placed into maintenance mode in a cluster with replication factor 3. Which outcome should the administrator expect for data availability?

  1. All writes to containers with RF 3 fail immediately because one replica set is incomplete.
  2. The cluster re-replicates data as needed so that remaining replicas satisfy the RF 3 policy before the node is taken offline. Correct answer.
  3. The node's data is deleted and rebuilt from backups after the maintenance window ends.
  4. Reads are blocked cluster-wide until the node returns, but writes continue normally.

Explanation

Entering maintenance mode triggers the cluster to ensure remaining copies meet the configured replication policy, moving or rebuilding replicas as required. With RF 3 and one node down, two replicas remain available, so the cluster can restore compliance before the node leaves. This preserves availability and write capability during the window.

Question 31Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

During foundation deployment, which component must be configured first so that the Nutanix cluster can resolve its own external service addresses and controller VM names?

  1. The Prism Central instance registration
  2. The replication factor for the storage pool
  3. The DNS server entries and the cluster virtual IP address Correct answer.
  4. The VLAN tagging on the backplane switch

Explanation

Foundation requires valid DNS servers and a cluster virtual IP so that the CVMs and external clients can resolve names and reach Prism Element after imaging. Prism Central registration happens later, and storage policy is set after the cluster is created.

Question 32Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

An administrator is preparing to image four nodes with Foundation. Which statement describes the required network placement of the Foundation VM?

  1. It must reside on the same subnet as the backplane switch
  2. It must have L2 reachability to the target nodes' IPMI interfaces Correct answer.
  3. It must run on a CVM inside the target cluster
  4. It must be deployed as a Prism Central extension

Explanation

The Foundation VM discovers and images nodes over IPMI, so it needs layer-2 connectivity to the nodes' IPMI addresses. It runs on a separate host or VM, not on a CVM of the cluster being built.

Question 33Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

Which Nutanix feature allows a cluster to continue serving storage I/O if a single CVM becomes unavailable?

  1. Deduplication and compression
  2. NearSync replication
  3. Replication factor 2 or 3 with redundant CVMs Correct answer.
  4. Data-at-rest encryption

Explanation

With replication factor 2 or 3, data is written to multiple CVMs, so loss of one CVM does not interrupt I/O. Encryption, deduplication, and NearSync address confidentiality, efficiency, and disaster recovery rather than local CVM redundancy.

Question 34Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

After imaging a node, an administrator needs to create the cluster. Which interface is used to run the cluster creation wizard?

  1. The IPMI web console
  2. Prism Element on any imaged CVM Correct answer.
  3. The Foundation VM command line
  4. The AHV host serial console

Explanation

Once nodes are imaged, the Create Cluster workflow runs in Prism Element, reachable on an imaged CVM. IPMI and the serial console are used for low-level access, not cluster creation.

Question 35Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

Which account is used to log in to Prism Element immediately after a new cluster is created?

  1. The Prism Central service account
  2. A per-node root account
  3. The admin account with the password set during creation Correct answer.
  4. The domain administrator account

Explanation

Cluster creation sets the password for the built-in admin account, which is used for the first Prism Element login. Domain, root, and Prism Central accounts are not the initial cluster credentials.

Question 36Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

What is the purpose of the cluster virtual IP address configured during deployment?

  1. It serves as the iSCSI data portal address
  2. It is assigned to the first CVM's backplane interface
  3. It provides a floating management address for Prism Element Correct answer.
  4. It is the default gateway for the CVMs

Explanation

The cluster virtual IP is a floating address that follows the leader CVM, giving administrators a stable Prism Element endpoint. It is not a data path address, backplane address, or gateway.

Question 37Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

Which statement accurately describes the AHV backplane network?

  1. It is an internal network used for CVM-to-CVM and CVM-to-hypervisor communication Correct answer.
  2. It carries guest VM traffic between VLANs
  3. It provides internet access for the cluster
  4. It is the network used by Prism Central to manage the cluster

Explanation

The backplane is an internal, non-routable network dedicated to storage and cluster communication between CVMs and the hypervisor. Guest traffic and Prism Central management use separate front-end or management networks.

Question 38Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

An administrator wants to verify that a newly deployed node passed imaging. Which indicator in Foundation confirms successful imaging of that node?

  1. The node has been added to a protection domain
  2. The node has registered with Prism Central
  3. The node shows a green status and appears in the discovered nodes list with imaging complete Correct answer.
  4. The node's IPMI password has been rotated

Explanation

Foundation reports imaging progress per node, and a completed node shows a successful status in the discovered nodes list. Protection domains and Prism Central registration occur after the cluster is built.

Question 39Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

A cluster is being deployed with four nodes, and the administrator selects replication factor 2. What is the minimum number of nodes that can fail before data becomes unavailable?

  1. Zero
  2. Two
  3. One Correct answer.
  4. Three

Explanation

Replication factor 2 keeps two copies of data, so the cluster tolerates the loss of one node or CVM while remaining available. Losing a second copy would make the affected data unavailable.

Question 40Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

During cluster creation, the administrator must assign a VLAN for the backplane. What happens if the backplane VLAN is left untagged?

  1. The cluster will default to replication factor 3
  2. The CVMs will use the native VLAN for backplane traffic Correct answer.
  3. Cluster creation will fail immediately
  4. Prism Central registration will be blocked

Explanation

If no backplane VLAN is specified, backplane traffic uses the native untagged VLAN on the internal interfaces. Cluster creation does not fail solely for that reason, and replication factor is chosen independently.

Question 41Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

An administrator is deploying a cluster where the management network and the guest VM network must be separated. Which configuration achieves this?

  1. Disable the backplane and use the management network for storage
  2. Assign the cluster VIP to the guest network
  3. Enable NearSync replication on the management VLAN
  4. Place the CVM management interfaces and guest VMs on different VLANs and bridges Correct answer.

Explanation

Separating management from guest traffic is done by placing them on distinct VLANs and bridges so that traffic is isolated at layer 2. The backplane remains dedicated to storage, and the cluster VIP stays on the management network.

Question 42Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

Which condition must be met before a node can be discovered by the Foundation VM?

  1. The node's IPMI must be reachable and the node must be powered on Correct answer.
  2. The node must have at least one guest VM defined
  3. The node must have a valid Nutanix license installed
  4. The node must already be a member of a Prism Central instance

Explanation

Foundation discovers nodes through their IPMI interfaces, so IPMI must be reachable and the hardware powered on. Licensing and Prism Central membership are not prerequisites for discovery.

Question 43Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

An administrator needs to reconfigure the CVM memory allocation on an existing cluster. Which action is appropriate?

  1. Reimage all nodes with Foundation
  2. Edit the backplane VLAN tag
  3. Use the Prism Element cluster settings to adjust CVM resources Correct answer.
  4. Change the cluster virtual IP address

Explanation

CVM resource allocation, including memory, is adjusted through the cluster configuration settings in Prism Element, which applies the change across CVMs. Reimaging is destructive and unrelated, while VLAN and VIP changes do not affect CVM memory.

Question 44Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

A cluster is being built with mixed node models. What should the administrator verify before proceeding?

  1. That all nodes support the same AOS version and are on the compatibility matrix Correct answer.
  2. That Prism Central is already registered
  3. That each node has a unique cluster VIP
  4. That the nodes are on different backplane VLANs

Explanation

Mixing hardware models requires confirming that every node supports the intended AOS release per the compatibility matrix. A cluster has one VIP, a shared backplane VLAN, and Prism Central registration occurs after creation.

Question 45Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

During Foundation imaging, an administrator notices one node repeatedly fails to image while others succeed. Which troubleshooting step is most appropriate first?

  1. Increase the replication factor on the cluster
  2. Re-register the cluster with Prism Central
  3. Verify IPMI connectivity and credentials for the failing node Correct answer.
  4. Change the guest VM VLAN

Explanation

A single node failing to image usually points to an IPMI reachability or credential problem specific to that node. Replication factor, Prism Central, and guest VLANs are unrelated to the imaging process.

Question 46Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

Which statement best explains why the cluster virtual IP is described as floating?

  1. It is reassigned to guest VMs during failover
  2. It changes automatically whenever a node is added
  3. It migrates between CVMs so Prism Element remains reachable if the leader changes Correct answer.
  4. It moves to the backplane during storage rebuilds

Explanation

The cluster VIP is hosted by the current leader CVM and moves with leadership, keeping the Prism Element endpoint stable. It is not tied to node additions, guest VMs, or backplane rebuild activity.

Question 47Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

An administrator wants the cluster to tolerate the loss of two nodes simultaneously. Which configuration meets this requirement?

  1. Replication factor 2 on a four-node cluster
  2. Replication factor 3 on a five-node cluster Correct answer.
  3. Replication factor 2 on a three-node cluster
  4. Replication factor 1 on a three-node cluster

Explanation

Replication factor 3 maintains three copies, allowing two simultaneous failures while remaining available; a five-node cluster provides enough fault domains to place them. RF2 tolerates only one failure regardless of node count.

Question 48Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

Which step must occur before Prism Central can manage a newly created Prism Element cluster?

  1. The replication factor must be set to 1
  2. The cluster must be registered with the Prism Central instance Correct answer.
  3. The cluster VIP must be moved to the backplane
  4. The cluster must be reimaged with Foundation

Explanation

Prism Central management requires registering the Prism Element cluster with the Prism Central instance. Reimaging, moving the VIP to the backplane, and reducing replication factor are not part of that workflow.

Question 49Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

A cluster is deployed with AHV. Which network is used by the CVMs to communicate with each other for storage I/O?

  1. The backplane network Correct answer.
  2. The management network
  3. The Prism Central network
  4. The guest VM network

Explanation

CVM-to-CVM storage communication, including data replication, travels over the dedicated backplane network. Management, guest, and Prism Central networks serve different purposes.

Question 50Cluster Deployment, Installation, and Configuration

An administrator is planning a cluster deployment and wants to ensure the cluster can be reached by name from administrator workstations. Which configuration is required?

  1. A static route on each CVM to the workstation subnet
  2. An iSCSI portal on the management VLAN
  3. A separate cluster VIP per CVM
  4. A DNS record resolving to the cluster virtual IP Correct answer.

Explanation

Name-based access requires a DNS record that resolves the cluster name to the cluster virtual IP. Per-CVM VIPs, iSCSI portals, and CVM static routes do not provide name resolution.