NCP-US-6.5 Exam Dumps - Nutanix Certified Professional (NCP) Questions and Answers

Nutanix Files, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), supports NFS shares for Linux clients. The administrator changed the user management authentication on the file server (e.g., updated Active Directory settings, modified user mappings, or changed authentication methods like Kerberos). This change has caused a "Permission denied" error for a user accessing an NFS share from a Linux client, indicating an authentication or permission issue.

Analysis of Options:

Option A (Change the permission for user): Incorrect. While incorrect permissions can cause a "Permission denied" error, the error here is likely due to the authentication change on the file server, not a share-level permission issue. Changing user permissions might be a workaround, but it does not address the root cause (authentication mismatch) and is less efficient than resolving the authentication issue directly.

Option B (Restart the nfs-utils service): Correct. The nfs-utils service on the Linux client manages NFS-related operations, including authentication and mounting. After the file server’s authentication settings are changed (e.g., new user mappings, Kerberos configuration), the client may still be using cached credentials or an outdated authentication state. Restarting the nfs-utils service (e.g., via systemctl restart nfs-utils) refreshes the client’s NFS configuration, re-authenticates with the file server, and resolves the "Permission denied" error efficiently.

Option C (Restart the client machine): Incorrect. Restarting the entire client machine would force a reconnection to the NFS share and might resolve the issue by clearing cached credentials, but it is not the most efficient solution. It causes unnecessary downtime for the user and other processes on the client, whereas restarting the nfs-utils service (option B) achieves the same result with less disruption.

Option D (Restart the RPC-GSSAPI service on the clients): Incorrect. The RPC-GSSAPI service (related to GSSAPI for Kerberos authentication) might be relevant if the file server is using Kerberos for NFS authentication. However, there is no standard rpc-gssapi service in Linux—GSSAPI is typically handled by rpc.gssd, a daemon within nfs-utils. Restarting rpc.gssd directly is less efficient than restarting the entire nfs-utils service (which includes rpc.gssd), and the question does not specify Kerberos as the authentication method, making this option less applicable.

Why Option B?

The "Permission denied" error after an authentication change on the file server suggests that the Linux client’s NFS configuration is out of sync with the new authentication settings. Restarting the nfs-utils service on the client refreshes the NFS client’s state, re-authenticates with the file server using the updated authentication settings, and resolves the error efficiently without requiring a full client restart or manual permission changes.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“If a user receives a ‘Permission denied’ error on an NFS share after changing user management authentication on the file server, the issue is often due to the Linux client using cached credentials or an outdated authentication state. To resolve this efficiently, restart the nfs-utils service on the client (e.g., systemctl restart nfs-utils) to refresh the NFS configuration and re-authenticate with the file server.”

The appropriate configuration to verify to allow successful Objects cluster deployment to this ESXi cluster is to ensure that vCenter in PE cluster is registered using FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) and that vCenter details in Objects UI are using FQDN. FQDN is a domain name that specifies the exact location of a host in the domain hierarchy. For example, esxi01.nutanix.com is an FQDN for an ESXi host. Using FQDN instead of IP addresses can avoid certificate validation errors when deploying Objects clusters to ESXi clusters. References: Nutanix Objects User Guide, page 9; Nutanix Objects Troubleshooting Guide, page 5

Nutanix File Analytics is a feature that provides insights into the usage and activity of file data stored on Nutanix Files. File Analytics consists of a File Analytics VM (FAVM) that runs on a Nutanix cluster and communicates with the File Server VMs (FSVMs) that host the file shares. The FAVM collects metadata and statistics from the FSVMs and displays them in a graphical user interface (GUI). The FAVM must be deployed on the same network as the FSVMs, which is the Client-side network. This network is used for communication between File Analytics and FSVMs, as well as for accessing the File Analytics UI from a web browser. The Client-side network must have DHCP enabled and must be routable from the external hosts that access the file shares and File Analytics UI. References: Nutanix Files Administration Guide, page 93; Nutanix File Analytics Deployment Guide

The administrator should resolve the compliance failure within Objects by modifying the existing bucket WORM (Write-Once Read-Many) policy from one year to three years. WORM is a feature that prevents anyone from modifying or deleting data in a bucket while the policy is active. WORM policies help comply with strict data retention regulations that mandate how long specific data must be stored. The administrator can extend the WORM retention period for a bucket at any time, but cannot reduce it or delete it. By extending the WORM policy from one year to three years, the administrator can ensure that data in the bucket is retained for the required duration and not deleted prematurely. References: Nutanix Objects User Guide, page 17; Nutanix Objects Solution Guide, page 9

Nutanix Objects, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), supports several policies for data retention and management:

WORM (Write Once, Read Many): Prevents objects from being modified or deleted for a specified period.

Versioning: Retains multiple versions of an object, with a policy to expire non-current versions after a specified time.

Lifecycle Policy: Deletes objects (or versions) after a specified time (e.g., “Expire current objects after X years”).

The bucket in question has:

A WORM policy of one year (objects cannot be modified/deleted for one year).

A versioning policy of one year (non-current versions are deleted after one year).

A lifecycle policy of three years (current objects are deleted after three years).

The compliance failure indicates that data expected to be retained for three years was deleted prematurely, meaning some data was deleted before the three-year mark.

Analysis of Policies and Issue:

The lifecycle policy of three years means the current version of an object is deleted after three years, which aligns with the retention requirement.

The WORM policy of one year ensures that objects cannot be deleted or modified for one year, after which they can be deleted (unless protected by another policy).

The versioning policy of one year means that non-current versions of an object are deleted after one year. Since versioning is enabled, every time an object is updated, a new version is created, and the previous version becomes a non-current version. With a versioning policy of one year, these non-current versions are deleted after one year, which is likely causing the compliance failure—data (past versions) that should be retained for three years is being deleted after only one year.

Analysis of Options:

Option A (Modify the existing bucket versioning policy from one year to three years): Correct. The versioning policy determines how long non-current versions are retained. Since the compliance requirement is to retain data for three years, and the lifecycle policy already ensures the current version is kept for three years, the versioning policy should be updated to retain non-current versions for three years as well. This prevents premature deletion of past versions, resolving the compliance failure.

Option B (Modify the existing bucket WORM policy from one year to three years): Incorrect. The WORM policy prevents deletion or modification of objects for the specified period (one year). Extending it to three years would prevent manual deletion for a longer period, but it does not address the issue of non-current versions being deleted by the versioning policy after one year. The lifecycle and versioning policies are the primary mechanisms for automatic deletion, and WORM does not override them once the WORM period expires.

Option C (Create a tiering policy to store deleted data on cold storage for three years): Incorrect. Tiering policies in Nutanix Objects move data to cold storage (e.g., AWS S3, Azure Blob) for cost optimization, but they do not apply to deleted data. Once data is deleted (e.g., by the versioning policy), it cannot be tiered. This option does not address the root cause of premature deletion.

Why Option A?

The compliance failure is due to non-current versions being deleted after one year (per the versioning policy), while the requirement is to retain all data for three years. By extending the versioning policy to three years, non-current versions will be retained for the full three-year period, aligning with the lifecycle policy for the current version and resolving the compliance issue.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Objects Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“When versioning is enabled, the versioning policy determines how long non-current versions of an object are retained before deletion. For example, a versioning policy of one year will delete non-current versions after one year. To meet compliance requirements, ensure that the versioning policy aligns with the desired retention period for all versions of an object, in conjunction with the lifecycle policy for current objects.”

Nutanix Files, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), uses File Server Virtual Machines (FSVMs) to manage file services. A four-node FSVM deployment means four FSVMs are deployed, typically one per node in a four-node cluster. Nutanix Files requires two networks for FSVMs:

Client Network: Used for client-facing communication (e.g., SMB, NFS access).

Storage Network: Used for internal communication with the Nutanix cluster’s storage pool.

Each FSVM requires one IP address on each network, as established in Question 1.

Analysis of Options:

Option A (Four available IP addresses on the Client network): Correct. In a four-node FSVM deployment, each FSVM requires one IP address on the Client network for client communication (e.g., SMB, NFS). With four FSVMs, this means four IP addresses are needed on the Client network, one for each FSVM.

Option B (Four available IP addresses on the Storage network): Correct. Each FSVM also requires one IP address on the Storage network for internal communication with the Nutanix cluster’s storage pool. For four FSVMs, this means four IP addresses are needed on the Storage network, one for each FSVM.

Option C (Five available IP addresses on the Storage network): Incorrect. Only four IP addresses are needed on the Storage network for a four-node FSVM deployment—one per FSVM. A fifth IP address is not required, as there is no additional entity (e.g., a virtual IP) needed for the Storage network in this context.

Option D (Five available IP addresses on the Client network): Incorrect. Similarly, only four IP addresses are needed on the Client network for the four FSVMs. A fifth IP address might be needed in other scenarios (e.g., a virtual IP for load balancing in some configurations), but for a standard four-node FSVM deployment, four IPs suffice, as established in Question 1.

Selected Requirements:

A: Four IP addresses on the Client network are required, one for each of the four FSVMs.

B: Four IP addresses on the Storage network are required, one for each of the four FSVMs.

Why These Requirements?

Each FSVM in a Nutanix Files deployment requires one IP address on the Client network for client access and one on the Storage network for internal storage communication. For a four-node FSVM deployment, this translates to exactly four IP addresses on each network, matching the number of FSVMs.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Deployment Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“A Nutanix Files deployment with four FSVMs requires four available IP addresses on the Client network for client communication (SMB/NFS) and four available IP addresses on the Storage network for internal communication with the Nutanix cluster’s storage pool.”

Anti-affinity rules ensure FSVMs are distributed across hosts for HA, but during a one-click hypervisor upgrade, these rules can prevent FSVMs from being migrated to other hosts when a host enters maintenance mode. Disabling the anti-affinity rules temporarily allows the upgrade to proceed by permitting FSVMs to reside on the same host during the migration process, ensuring a smooth and non-disruptive upgrade.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“When performing a one-click hypervisor upgrade on ESXi hosts hosting Nutanix Files, temporarily disable the anti-affinity rules for FSVMs. This allows FSVMs to be migrated to other hosts during the upgrade process without violating placement constraints, ensuring a non-disruptive upgrade. Re-enable the anti-affinity rules after the upgrade is complete.”

Nutanix Files, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), provides file sharing services via protocols like SMB and NFS. In environments where users access SMB shares, network interruptions can cause sessions to disconnect, requiring users to manually reconnect. Nutanix Files offers a feature to mitigate this issue for SMB shares.

Analysis of Options:

Option A (Durable File Handles): Correct. Durable File Handles is an SMB feature in Nutanix Files that allows client sessions to automatically reconnect after temporary network interruptions. When enabled, it ensures that file handles remain valid during brief disconnects, allowing the client to resume the session without manual intervention.

Option B (Multi-Protocol Shares): Incorrect. Multi-Protocol Shares allow a share to be accessed via both SMB and NFS, but this feature does not address session reconnection during network issues.

Option C (Connected Shares): Incorrect. “Connected Shares” is not a feature in Nutanix Files. This appears to be a made-up term and does not apply to session reconnection.

Option D (Workload Optimization): Incorrect. Workload Optimization in Nutanix Files involves adjusting the number of FSVMs or resources for performance (as noted in Question 13), but it does not address session reconnection for network issues.

Why Durable File Handles?

Durable File Handles is an SMB 2.1+ feature supported by Nutanix Files. It ensures that file handles persist during network disruptions, allowing clients to auto-reconnect without losing their session state, which directly addresses the users’ complaint.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“Durable File Handles is an SMB feature that allows clients to automatically reconnect to a share after temporary network interruptions. When enabled on a Nutanix Files share, it ensures that file handles remain valid, preventing users from having to manually reconnect during brief network outages.”

Nutanix Files, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), allows administrators to manage file shares through the Files Console, which is accessible via Prism Central. A share in Nutanix Files can have a maximum capacity (quota) defined to limit its storage usage. To increase this capacity, the administrator must modify the share’s settings.

Analysis of Options:

Option A (Select the Settings tab, Click Change): Incorrect. The Settings tab in the Files Console is used for general file server settings (e.g., AD integration, global configurations), not for modifying individual share properties like capacity.

Option B (Select the Shares tab, Click Modify): Correct. To increase the maximum capacity of a share, the administrator should navigate to the Shares tab in the Files Console, select the share, and click Modify (or Edit, depending on the version). This opens a dialog where the share’s quota (maximum capacity) can be adjusted.

Option C (Select the Settings tab, Click Rename): Incorrect. Renaming a share under the Settings tab does not affect its capacity. The Settings tab is not the correct location for share-specific changes like capacity adjustments.

Option D (Select the Shares tab, Click Update): Incorrect. While the Shares tab is the correct location, “Update” is not a standard action in the Files Console for modifying share properties. The correct action is “Modify” or “Edit,” as in option B.

Why Option B?

The Shares tab in the Files Console is where administrators manage individual shares, including their properties like maximum capacity (quota). The Modify (or Edit) action allows the administrator to adjust the share’s quota, increasing its maximum capacity as requested.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“To modify the maximum capacity (quota) of a share, navigate to the Shares tab in the Files Console. Select the share you want to modify, and click Modify. In the dialog, adjust the quota settings to increase the maximum capacity as needed, then save the changes.”

The organization uses a Nutanix Files cluster, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), for back office data, with most data classified as Cold Data (infrequently accessed). They want to free up space on the Files cluster for future growth or newer data. They have added a new node with more storage to the cluster and are already using the Public Cloud for other storage needs. The goal is to migrate Cold Data to free up space while considering the best approach.

Analysis of Options:

Option A (Set up another cluster and replicate the data with Protection Domain): Incorrect. Setting up another cluster and using a Protection Domain to replicate data is a disaster recovery (DR) strategy, not a solution for migrating Cold Data to free up space. Protection Domains are used to protect and replicate VMs or Volume Groups, not Files shares directly, and this approach would not address the goal of freeing up space on the existing Files cluster—it would simply create a copy on another cluster.

Option B (Enable Smart Tiering in Files within the Files Console): Correct. Nutanix Files supports Smart Tiering, a feature that allows data to be tiered to external storage, such as the Public Cloud (e.g., AWS S3, Azure Blob), based on access patterns. Cold Data (infrequently accessed) can be automatically tiered to the cloud, freeing up space on the Files cluster while keeping the data accessible through the same share. Since the organization is already using the Public Cloud, Smart Tiering aligns perfectly with their infrastructure and requirements.

Option C (Migrate cold data from Files to tape storage): Incorrect. Migrating data to tape storage is a manual and outdated process for archival. Nutanix Files does not have native integration with tape storage, and this approach would require significant manual effort, making it less efficient than Smart Tiering. Additionally, tape storage is not as easily accessible as cloud storage for future retrieval.

Option D (Back up the data using a third-party software and replicate to the cloud): Incorrect. While backing up data with third-party software and replicating it to the cloud is feasible, it is not the best approach for this scenario. This method would create a backup copy rather than freeing up space on the Files cluster, and it requires additional software and management overhead. Smart Tiering is a native feature that achieves the goal more efficiently by moving Cold Data to the cloud while keeping it accessible.

Why Option B?

Smart Tiering in Nutanix Files is designed for exactly this use case: moving Cold Data to a lower-cost storage tier (e.g., Public Cloud) to free up space on the primary cluster while maintaining seamless access to the data. Since the organization is already using the Public Cloud and has added a new node (which increases local capacity but doesn’t address Cold Data directly), Smart Tiering leverages their existing cloud infrastructure to offload Cold Data, freeing up space for future growth or newer data. This can be configured in the Files Console by enabling Smart Tiering and setting policies to tier Cold Data to the cloud.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“Smart Tiering in Nutanix Files allows administrators to tier Cold Data to external storage, such as AWS S3 or Azure Blob, to free up space on the primary Files cluster. This feature can be enabled in the Files Console, where policies can be configured to identify and tier infrequently accessed data while keeping it accessible through the same share.”

Nutanix Files, part of Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS), generates logs for file service operations, which can be forwarded to a syslog server for centralized logging and monitoring. The process to configure syslog forwarding for Nutanix Files involves interacting with the File Server Virtual Machines (FSVMs), as they handle the file services and generate the relevant logs.

Analysis of Options:

Option A (Configure the syslog in Prism Element): Incorrect. Prism Element manages cluster-level settings, such as storage and VM configurations, but it does not provide a direct interface to configure syslog forwarding for Nutanix Files. Syslog configuration for Files is specific to the FSVMs.

Option B (Configure the syslog in Files Console): Incorrect. The Files Console (accessible via Prism Central) is used for managing Files shares, FSVMs, and policies, but it does not have a built-in option to configure syslog forwarding. Syslog configuration requires direct interaction with the FSVMs.

Option C (Use the CLI in an FSVM): Correct. Nutanix Files logs are managed at the FSVM level, and syslog forwarding can be configured by logging into an FSVM and using the command-line interface (CLI) to set up the syslog server details. This is the standard method documented by Nutanix for enabling syslog forwarding for Files.

Option D (Use the CLI in a CVM): Incorrect. The Controller VM (CVM) manages the Nutanix cluster’s storage and services, but it does not handle Files-specific logging. Syslog configuration for Files must be done on the FSVMs, not the CVMs.

Configuration Process:

To configure syslog forwarding, the administrator would:

SSH into one of the FSVMs in the Files deployment.

Use the nutanix user account to access the FSVM CLI.

Run commands to configure the syslog server (e.g., modify the /etc/syslog.conf file or use Nutanix-specific commands to set the syslog server IP and port).

Restart the syslog service on the FSVM to apply the changes.This process ensures that Files logs are forwarded to the specified syslog server.

Exact Extract from Nutanix Documentation:

From the Nutanix Files Administration Guide (available on the Nutanix Portal):

“To forward Nutanix Files logs to a syslog server, you must configure syslog settings on each FSVM. Log in to an FSVM using SSH and the ‘nutanix’ user account. Use the CLI to update the syslog configuration by specifying the syslog server’s IP address and port. After configuration, restart the syslog service to apply the changes.”