FlashArray-Implementation-Specialist Exam Dumps - Pure Storage FAIS Questions and Answers

To determine whether a specific FlashArray configuration, such as the FlashArray//X50R3, supports or is currently equipped to handle SAS Flash Modules, the command purehw list --type drive --all is the correct diagnostic tool. While the FlashArray//X series is architected as a 100% NVMe platform using DirectFlash Modules (DFMs) in the base chassis, it retains the capability to support legacy SAS Flash Modules (SSDs) through the attachment of external SAS expansion shelves.

The purehw list --type drive --all command provides a comprehensive enumeration of the physical drive hardware components recognized by the system. Unlike the puredrive list command, which focuses on the logical status, capacity, and admission state of the drives, the purehw command with the --type drive flag exposes the hardware-level details, including the interface protocol (SAS vs. NVMe) and the physical location of the drive bays.

By running this command, an Implementation Engineer can verify if the array is communicating with any SAS-based drive hardware. If SAS modules or SAS-compatible drive bays in an external shelf are listed, support is confirmed. Conversely, option A is syntactically incorrect for this purpose, and option B (purehw list --type controller) focuses on the compute node specifications rather than the storage media interfaces. Therefore, listing the drive hardware components is the definitive method to validate the presence and support of SAS Flash media within the specific array configuration during a capacity consolidation.

The FlashArray//XL platform features a split-chassis design with a unique PCIe bus layout compared to the standard //X series. To maintain optimal performance and redundancy, the backend connectivity for DirectFlash Shelves (DFS) must be balanced across the specific PCIe root complexes managed by the dual CPUs.

For a configuration involving multiple shelves (specifically targeting the logical shelf identifiers SH8 and SH9, which often correspond to the first pair of backend loops in an //XL deployment), the validated configuration is to usePCIe Slot 0andPCIe Slot 6. These slots are architecturally designated for the backend NVMe-oF (RoCE) fabric cards.

Using Slot 0 (typically located on the far left) and Slot 6 (located on the right side of the chassis) ensures that the I/O load is distributed across the internal midplane and CPUs correctly. Placing cards in incorrect slots (like Slot 1 or 7, which might be reserved for host I/O or inter-controller links) can result in shelf detection failures or performance bottlenecks where one CPU is overloaded with backend traffic while the other is idle.

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The correct pre-implementation step is tomake space in the rack where the chassis is located.

Cabling Standards:DirectFlash Shelves (DFS) connect to the FlashArray via RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) using QSFP28 cables. The standard cabling kits provided by Pure Storage typically include short-range Passive DACs (e.g., 1m to 3m) or short Active Optical Cables (AOCs).

Distance Constraint:A distance of6 metersbetween racks usually exceeds the length of standard included cables and introduces complexity regarding cable management, signal integrity, and "span" policies. While custom long-range optical cables exist, they are not standard stock and relying on ordering a non-standard "7m" cable (Option B) is a risk.

Best Practice:Pure Storage installation guides explicitly recommend installing expansion shelves in thesame rackand contiguous to the controller chassis whenever possible. This ensures optimal airflow, ease of serviceability, and adherence to standard cabling schematics. Moving the entire controller chassis (Option C) is a disruptive and heavy-lift operation, whereas clearing 3U of space (Option A) is the standard facility preparation task required for a successful deployment.

If a Pure Storage Technical Support Engineer (TSE) is unavailable to immediately perform the remote health checks upon the completion of the physical installation, the correct procedure is toverify that Remote Assist (RA) is enabled and update the support casewith this information.

Standard operating procedure dictates that the Implementation Engineer must not close the install case until the array has been health-checked and verified by Support. Closing the case (Option B) would signal that the work is complete when the critical validation step is missing, potentially leaving the customer with an unverified system. Emailing the account team (Option A) is helpful for visibility but does not advance the technical workflow required to close the loop.

By confirming RA is open (using purearray remoteassist) and documenting the active session port in the case notes, the Implementation Engineer enables the Support team to perform the health checks asynchronously as soon as a TSE becomes available. This ensures the "handshake" between the onsite engineer and the remote support team is maintained without delaying the engineer's departure from the site, while guaranteeing the array will be validated before final sign-off.

To view the currently configured Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers on a FlashArray, the correct command ispurearray list --ntpserver.

Command Hierarchy:While NTP is a networking function, in the Purity CLI object model, time synchronization is considered a global array attribute rather than a specific interface setting. Therefore, it falls under the purearray command namespace.

Usage:Running purearray list --ntpserver returns a list of the IP addresses or FQDNs of the time servers the array is currently using to sync its system clock.

Invalid Options:

purenetwork list (Option B) displays IP interface configurations (IPs, subnets, gateways) but does not list service-level pointers like NTP.

puredns list (Option A) is strictly for DNS nameservers and suffix configurations.

Importance:Verifying NTP is critical for log timestamp accuracy, ActiveCluster mediation, and Kerberos authentication.

Standard enterprise data center power distribution units (PDUs) typically use C13 or C19 outlets. The FlashArray//X series power supplies utilize C14 inlets (the male connector on the chassis side). Therefore, the standard accessory kit included with a FlashArray//X ships withC13 to C14power cables.

The C13 connector plugs into the array's power supply (matching the C14 inlet), and the C14 connector on the other end is designed to plug into a standard rack PDU (which typically has C13 outlets). This is the industry-standard "jumper cord" for rack-mounted server and storage hardware.

It is important for the Implementation Engineer to verify this during the pre-install phase. If the customer's facility uses non-standard PDUs (like those with C19 outlets or wall-style plugs), the standard kit cables will not fit, and the engineer must ensure the correct cables were ordered separately or provided by the customer. However, for the exam and standard BOM validation, the correct answer is the ubiquitous C13 to C14 cable type.

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This scenario describes a physical layer mismatch between the FlashArray optics and the customer's switch infrastructure.

ThePER(planning document) specified10 Gb/s, so the Implementation Engineer likely installed10 Gb SFP+ transceiversinto the array.

TheSAN Switchis operating at40 Gb/s(likely using QSFP+ ports).

You cannot simply "force negotiate" a 10Gb SFP+ optic to run at 40Gb/s, nor can you plug a 10Gb SFP+ directly into a 40Gb QSFP+ port without specific breakout cables or QSA adapters that match the signaling. The physical transceivers themselves are incompatible with the link speed required by the switch.

To resolve this, the Implementation Engineer mustreplace the transceivers with the appropriate type.

If the switch is 40Gb native, the array needs 40Gb (QSFP+) optics (if supported on that slot).

Alternatively, if the customer intends to use 10Gb, they must provide 10Gb ports on their switch side.

Given the prompt implies the SANis40Gb, the 10Gb optics in the array are the incorrect hardware for that link.

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The FlashArray//XR4 utilizes onboard 100GbE RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) ports for connecting to the first loop of DirectFlash Shelves, removing the need for dedicated PCIe add-in cards for the base configuration. The port mapping for these onboard backend ports differs from previous generations.

On the //XR4 controller chassis, the specific Ethernet interfaces designated for thefirst DirectFlash Shelf loopare typically the high-numbered onboard ports. In this specific exam context and hardware revision,ETH 18 and ETH 19are identified as the correct primary backend connectivity ports .

Implementation Engineers must connect the QSFP28 cables from the "uplink" ports on the first shelf (IOM0 and IOM1) toETH18 and ETH19on the controllers (CT0 and CT1) respectively. Using incorrect ports (like ETH0/1, which are management) would result in the shelf not being detected by the storage fabric.

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For a Non-Disruptive Upgrade (NDU) from aFlashArray//Xto aFlashArray//XL, the upgrade kit typically contains4 QSFP cables, 2 Mellanox cards, and 20 DFMD blanks (or modules).

2 Mellanox Cards:The FlashArray//X (source) likely requires the installation of 100GbE RoCE adapters (Mellanox) into its controllers to establish the high-speed replication link with the new FlashArray//XL (which has 100GbE native). One card is installed per //X controller.

4 QSFP Cables:To ensure a redundant, high-bandwidth connection between the two arrays during the data migration phase, 2 cables are used per controller pair (CT0-to-CT0 and CT1-to-CT1), totaling 4 cables.

20 DFMDs (Blanks/Fillers):The FlashArray//X typically holds 20 DirectFlash Modules. The FlashArray//XL chassis has 40 slots. When the 20 data drives are physically moved from the //X to the //XL, the //XL will still have 20 empty slots. These must be filled with DirectFlash blanking modules (DFMD blanks) to maintain proper chassis airflow and thermal pressure. Thus, the kit includes these 20 fillers.

Data evacuation is a background process used to move data off specific physical media (like a shelf or data pack) so it can be removed safely. Purity is designed to handle dynamic changes to evacuation requests efficiently.

If an evacuation is already running and additional hardware needs to be evacuated, the Implementation Engineer does not need to stop the current job or wait for it to finish. The correct procedure is toissue a new evacuation commandspecifying the additional packs or shelves. Purity will intelligently update the existing background job to include the new targets, queuing the data movement logic to ensure all specified hardware is cleared. This "add-to-flight" capability saves time and administrative overhead compared to cancelling and restarting the entire workflow.

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