Pure Storage FAAA_004 Exam Dumps

The feature that allows for array upgrades without any degradation in performance is non-disruptive upgrades .

Why This Matters:

Non-Disruptive Upgrades:

Pure Storage FlashArray supports rolling upgrades, enabling software updates (e.g., Purity//FA) and hardware upgrades (e.g., controllers) without interrupting operations.

During a controller upgrade, the active/active architecture ensures that one controller continues handling I/O operations while the other is upgraded, maintaining consistent performance.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . ActiveCluster:

ActiveCluster provides synchronous replication for high availability but does not directly relate to non-disruptive upgrades.

C . Right-Size Guarantee:

The Right-Size Guarantee ensures customers receive the expected effective capacity based on their workload's data reduction profile. It is unrelated to upgrades or performance.

D . Protection groups:

Protection groups are used for replication and snapshot management but do not impact the ability to perform non-disruptive upgrades.

Key Points:

Non-Disruptive Upgrades: Ensure seamless updates without impacting performance or availability.

Active/Active Architecture: Enables continuous I/O processing during upgrades.

Customer Experience: Minimizes downtime and disruption during maintenance or upgrades.

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: 'Non-Disruptive Operations with FlashArray'

Pure Storage Whitepaper: 'Evergreen Architecture and Non-Disruptive Upgrades'

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: 'Performing Non-Disruptive Upgrades on FlashArray'

The customer is looking for a storage system that supports 20 TB of file shares , 800 TB of workloads , has a low cost per GB , and can utilize CloudSnap in the future. The best recommendation is FlashArray//C .

Why This Matters:

FlashArray//C:

FlashArray//C is designed for capacity-optimized workloads , making it ideal for use cases requiring large amounts of storage at a lower cost per GB compared to higher-performance arrays like FlashArray//X.

It supports QLC flash technology , which provides high density and cost efficiency for less performance-intensive workloads.

CloudSnap is fully supported on FlashArray//C, enabling snapshots to be offloaded to public cloud storage for disaster recovery or archival purposes.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . FlashArray//X:

FlashArray//X is optimized for high-performance workloads, such as databases and mission-critical applications. While it supports CloudSnap, it is more expensive and not the most cost-effective solution for large-scale capacity needs.

C . Cloud Block Store:

Cloud Block Store is a cloud-native block storage solution that runs in public clouds (e.g., AWS, Azure). It does not meet the requirement for on-premises storage with file shares and CloudSnap utilization.

D . FlashBlade//S:

FlashBlade//S is designed for file and object storage but is typically used for high-performance, unstructured data workloads. It is more expensive than FlashArray//C and not necessary for this use case.

Key Points:

FlashArray//C: Provides high-density storage at a low cost per GB, ideal for large-scale workloads.

CloudSnap Support: Enables offloading snapshots to the cloud for disaster recovery or archival purposes.

Cost Efficiency: Balances performance and cost, making it suitable for file shares and large datasets.

Pure Storage FlashArray//C Documentation: 'Use Cases for FlashArray//C'

Pure Storage Whitepaper: 'Optimizing Storage Costs with FlashArray//C'

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: 'Choosing the Right FlashArray Model for Your Workload'

SE should recommend adding the 10 TB test/dev workload to the array while advising the admin to monitor performance and capacity . This recommendation assumes that the array has sufficient resources (e.g., available capacity, performance headroom) to handle the additional workload without requiring immediate upgrades or changes.

Why This Matters:

Current Array Capacity and Performance:

Pure Storage FlashArray is designed to efficiently handle workloads with advanced data reduction techniques (deduplication, compression, etc.) and high-performance NVMe storage.

If the array has sufficient unused capacity and performance headroom, adding a 10 TB test/dev workload is feasible without requiring hardware upgrades.

Monitoring:

After adding the workload, it is critical to monitor both performance metrics (e.g., latency, IOPS, throughput) and capacity utilization to ensure the array continues to meet SLAs and does not exceed its limits.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . Upgrade the controller to an //X90R3 to handle the additional workload:

Upgrading the controller is unnecessary unless the current controller is nearing its performance limits. Test/dev workloads are typically less demanding than production workloads, so this step would likely be premature.

B . Add more DirectFlash NVMe modules to the expansion shelf to handle the additional capacity:

Adding more NVMe modules is only necessary if the array is running out of physical capacity. If the array already has sufficient capacity, this step is not required.

C . Upgrade the 22 TB DirectFlash NVMe modules to a higher capacity to handle the additional workload:

Upgrading the NVMe modules to higher-capacity ones is a significant investment and is only justified if the array is consistently running out of capacity. For a 10 TB workload, this step is likely excessive.

Key Points:

Feasibility of Adding Workload: The array can likely handle the additional 10 TB workload without immediate upgrades.

Monitoring: Continuous monitoring ensures that performance and capacity remain within acceptable limits.

Cost Efficiency: Avoiding unnecessary upgrades or changes helps optimize costs while meeting the customer's needs.

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: 'Capacity Planning and Workload Sizing'

Pure Storage Whitepaper: 'Best Practices for Managing Test/Dev Workloads'

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: 'Adding Workloads to FlashArray Without Disruption'

Exhibit controllers of a Pure Storage FlashArray , specifically labeled as CT1 (top) and CT2 (bottom). This labeling is consistent with Pure Storage's naming convention for its controllers.

Why This Matters:

Controller Identification:

Pure Storage FlashArray controllers are typically labeled as CT1 and CT2 to distinguish between the two controllers in an active/active architecture.

Both controllers work together to provide high availability and redundancy, ensuring seamless operation even if one controller is offline for maintenance or upgrades.

Active/Active Architecture:

In an active/active design, both controllers share the workload equally. If one controller is taken offline, the other seamlessly handles all I/O operations without impacting performance or availability.

Why Not the Other Options?

B . Top: Primary, Bottom: Secondary:

Pure Storage does not use 'Primary' and 'Secondary' labels for its controllers. Instead, it uses specific identifiers like CT1 and CT2 to refer to the controllers.

C . Top: CTO, Bottom: CT1:

The label 'CTO' is not a valid designation for FlashArray controllers. Pure Storage consistently uses CT1 and CT2 to identify the controllers.

Key Points:

Controller Labels: Pure Storage FlashArray controllers are labeled as CT1 and CT2.

Active/Active Design: Both controllers operate simultaneously to ensure high availability and performance.

Redundancy: The dual-controller architecture provides fault tolerance and minimizes downtime during maintenance or failures.

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: 'Understanding FlashArray Controller Architecture'

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: 'Identifying FlashArray Controllers'

Pure Storage Whitepaper: 'Active/Active Controller Design for High Availability'

The healthcare customer already has a FlashArray//X50 with 35 usable TB free and anticipates storing 15 TB of medical imaging data . Since the system load is currently 35% , they can enable FA File on the array as-is to support the new workload.

Why This Matters:

FA File:

FA File Services enables file-based storage (NFS and SMB) on FlashArray, allowing the array to handle both block and file workloads simultaneously.

With 35 TB of free capacity and only 15 TB required for medical imaging, there is sufficient space to accommodate the new workload.

The current system load of 35% indicates that the array has ample headroom to handle the additional workload without requiring upgrades.

Why Not the Other Options?

A . They must first upgrade the controllers to a //X70 and enable FA File:

Upgrading to a //X70 is unnecessary given the available capacity and low system load. The current //X50 is capable of supporting the workload.

C . Medical imaging always belongs on a FlashBlade:

While FlashBlade is ideal for large-scale, high-performance unstructured data workloads, it is not mandatory for this use case. FA File on FlashArray//X50 is sufficient for 15 TB of medical imaging data.

D . They should purchase a FlashArray//C and enable FA File:

Purchasing a new array is unnecessary given the available resources on the existing FlashArray//X50.

Key Points:

FA File: Enables file-based storage on FlashArray without requiring additional hardware.

Capacity and Load: The array has sufficient free space and performance headroom to handle the new workload.

Cost Efficiency: Avoids unnecessary upgrades or purchases, optimizing costs while meeting requirements.

Pure Storage FlashArray Documentation: 'FA File Services Overview'

Pure Storage Whitepaper: 'Consolidating Workloads on FlashArray'

Pure Storage Knowledge Base: 'Supporting Multiple Workloads with FlashArray'