EMC D-VPX-DY-A-24 Dell VPLEX Deploy Achievement Exam Practice Test

The VPLEX VS6 improves internal cluster I/O over the VS2 by utilizing 40 Gbps InfiniBand Local COM connections. This enhancement significantly increases the internal bandwidth available for communication between directors within a VPLEX cluster.

InfiniBand Technology: InfiniBand is a high-speed networking technology that provides substantial bandwidth and low latency. By using 40 Gbps InfiniBand connections, the VS6 directors can communicate more data at faster rates compared to the older VS2 hardware1.

Increased I/O Performance: The increased bandwidth from the 40 Gbps InfiniBand connections allows for higher I/O performance, which is particularly beneficial for workloads that require fast data transfer rates and low response times1.

Scalability: The VS6’s improved internal cluster I/O capabilities also contribute to its scalability, supporting larger configurations and more volumes, which is essential for growing enterprise environments1.

Optimized for All-Flash Storage: The VS6 is optimized for all-flash storage, providing 2X IOPS at one-third the latency compared to the VS2, which is a direct result of the improved internal cluster I/O capabilities1.

Future-Ready Infrastructure: The adoption of 40 Gbps InfiniBand Local COM connections positions the VS6 as a future-ready infrastructure that can handle the increasing demands of modern data centers1.

In summary, the VPLEX VS6’s use of 40 Gbps InfiniBand Local COM connections is a key factor in its improved internal cluster I/O performance over the VS2, offering higher bandwidth and lower latency for demanding enterprise applications.

The command used to display available statistics for monitoring VPLEX is monitor stat-list. This command provides a list of all the statistics that can be monitored on the VPLEX system.

Command Usage: The monitor stat-list command is executed in the VPLEX CLI (Command Line Interface). When run, it will display a list of all the statistics that are available for monitoring1.

Monitoring Statistics: The statistics available for monitoring can include various performance metrics such as IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second), throughput, and latency. These metrics are crucial for assessing the health and performance of the VPLEX system1.

Custom Monitors: In addition to the default system monitors, custom monitors can be created to track specific data. The monitor stat-list command helps in identifying which statistics can be included in these custom monitors1.

Performance Analysis: By using the monitor stat-list command, administrators can determine which statistics are relevant for their performance analysis and can then create monitors to track those specific metrics1.

Documentation Reference: For more information on the usage of the monitor stat-list command and other monitoring commands, administrators should refer to the VPLEX CLI and Administration Guides for the code level the VPLEX is running1.

In summary, the monitor stat-list command is used to display the available statistics for monitoring VPLEX, providing administrators with the information needed to set up and manage performance monitoring on the system.

To add a RecoverPoint cluster to VPLEX, the essential requirement is the RecoverPoint cluster’s Management IP address. This IP address is used to manage and integrate the RecoverPoint cluster with the VPLEX system.

RecoverPoint Cluster Installation: The installation process for a RecoverPoint cluster involves preparing the physical and virtual RecoverPoint Appliances (RPAs) and connecting them using the Deployment Manager1.

Management IP Address: The Management IP address is crucial as it allows the VPLEX system to communicate with the RecoverPoint cluster for management and operational tasks1.

Integration Process: The integration of RecoverPoint with VPLEX includes configuring the RecoverPoint system within the VPLEX environment, which requires the Management IP address to establish a connection between the two systems1.

Configuration Steps: The steps to add a RecoverPoint cluster to VPLEX involve accessing the VPLEX Management Console, entering the RecoverPoint cluster’s Management IP address, and following the guided setup to complete the integration1.

Best Practices: It is recommended to follow the best practices and guidelines provided in the Dell VPLEX Deploy Achievement documents and the RecoverPoint deployment guides to ensure a successful integration of the RecoverPoint cluster with VPLEX1.

In summary, the verified answer for what is required to add a RecoverPoint cluster to VPLEX is the RecoverPoint cluster’s Management IP address. This address is used to manage the cluster and integrate it with the VPLEX system for enhanced data protection and disaster recovery capabilities.

To expand a RAID-C device that has been built from extents of unequal sizes, such as a 100 GB extent and a 30 GB extent, concatenation can be used. Concatenation allows for the addition of another extent to the existing RAID-C device, thereby increasing its overall size.

Understanding RAID-C: RAID-C is a type of RAID configuration used in VPLEX that allows for concatenation, which is the process of linking multiple storage extents to create a larger logical unit1.

Adding an Extent: To expand the RAID-C device, a new extent of the desired size can be added to the existing device. This new extent is concatenated to the end of the current extents, increasing the total capacity of the RAID-C device1.

VPLEX CLI Commands: The expansion is performed using VPLEX CLI commands. The specific command to add an extent to a RAID-C device would be similar to the storage-volume expand command, which instructs the system to include the new extent in the RAID-C device1.

Resizing Back-End Storage: If necessary, the back-end storage volumes (the physical storage on the array) that correspond to the extents may need to be resized to match the new configuration1.

Verification: After the expansion, it’s important to verify that the RAID-C device reflects the new size and that all extents are properly concatenated and functioning as expected1.

In summary, a RAID-C device built from extents of unequal sizes can be expanded by using concatenation to add another extent to the device. This method allows for flexibility in managing storage capacity within a VPLEX environment.

To identify the port indicated by the black arrow, we can refer to the standard VPLEX director port WWN breakdown provided by Dell:

Director Identification: Determine whether the director is A or B. Director B’s WWN is always +1 of Director A’s number1.

Port Numbering: VPLEX director port WWNs are broken down as follows: 0x5001442 [num][seed][IOmodule][port number], where the [port number] is one of {0,1,2,3}1.

Front-End Ports: For VS2 hardware, the front-end ports are typically numbered 0, and the back-end ports are numbered 11.

Exhibit Analysis: If the exhibit shows the standard layout of a VPLEX system and the black arrow points to the first port on Director B, it would be the front-end port 01.

Verification: To confirm the identification, one would typically refer to the official Dell EMC VPLEX documentation for hardware installation and setup, which would provide clear labeling of each port1.

In summary, based on the standard VPLEX port numbering and layout, the port indicated by the black arrow in the exhibit is likely Director B - front-end port 0, assuming that the exhibit follows the standard orientation and labeling conventions.

When performing batched data mobility jobs using the VPlexcli, a key consideration is that each batched mobility job plan can only contain one type of data mobility jB. This means that all the migrations within a single plan must be of the same type, such as all migrations being from one storage array to another or all being within the same array.

Creating a Mobility Job Plan: When creating a batched data mobility job plan using the VPlexcli, you initiate a plan that will contain a series of individual migration jobs1.

Job Type Consistency: Within this plan, all the jobs must be of the same type to ensure consistency and predictability in the execution of the jobs. This helps in managing resources and dependencies effectively1.

Execution of the Plan: Once the plan is created and initiated, the VPlexcli will execute each job in the order they were added to the plan. The system ensures that the resources required for each job are available and that the jobs do not conflict with each other1.

Monitoring and Completion: As the jobs are executed, their progress can be monitored through the VPlexcli. Upon completion of all jobs in the plan, the system will report the status and any issues encountered during the migrations1.

Best Practices: It is recommended to follow best practices for data mobility using VPlexcli as outlined in the Dell VPLEX Deploy Achievement documents. This includes planning migrations carefully, understanding the types of jobs that can be batched together, and ensuring that the system is properly configured for the migrations1.

In summary, when performing batched data mobility jobs using the VPlexcli, it is important to remember that only one type of data mobility job is allowed per plan. This consideration is crucial for the successful execution and management of batched data mobility jobs in a VPLEX environment.

To create a distributed device from specified local devices in a Dell VPLEX environment, the command used is ds dd create. This command is part of the VPLEX CLI and stands for “distributed storage - distributed device create”.

Identify Local Devices: Before creating a distributed device, you need to identify the local devices that will be part of the distributed device. These are typically volumes that are already provisioned and claimed by the VPLEX system1.

Use the ds dd create Command: Execute the ds dd create command in the VPLEX CLI, specifying the local devices that you want to include in the distributed device. The syntax for the command includes the names of the local devices and the name you want to assign to the distributed device1.

Command Execution: The command will initiate the creation of the distributed device, which involves pairing the specified local devices across the VPLEX clusters to create a single distributed volume that spans both clusters1.

Verification: After running the command, verify that the distributed device has been created successfully by using the ll /distributed-storage/distributed-devices/ command, which lists all the distributed devices in the system1.

Best Practices: It is important to follow the best practices for creating distributed devices as outlined in the Dell VPLEX Deploy Achievement documents. This includes ensuring that the local devices are properly configured and that the VPLEX clusters are in a healthy state before creating the distributed device1.

In summary, the ds dd create command is used to create a distributed device from specified local devices in a Dell VPLEX environment. This command is a fundamental part of managing distributed storage within VPLEX and is essential for achieving high availability and data mobility across clusters.

For connecting the MMCS-A to the customer management network in a Dell VPLEX system, it is essential to use the correct port that is designated for management traffic. According to the Dell EMC VPLEX documentation1, each MMCS (Management Module Control Station) has two network connections that connect to the customer’s network. One of these is used for system monitoring and remote connectivity for Dell Technologies Customer Support, and the other is for use by the Network Address Translation (NAT) Gateway.

In the context of the VS6 VPLEX cluster, the management ports are located on MMCS-A and MMCS-B, and both must be configured and connected to the customer network. MMCS-A is the management port that will be accessed for all management and monitoring purposes1. Therefore, the cable that should be connected to the customer management network is the one associated with MMCS-A.

Based on the information provided in the search results and the description of the image, the correct cable to connect to the customer management network for MMCS-A is indicated by the letter B in the exhibit. This connection is crucial for enabling management and monitoring access to the VPLEX system.

A storage view in Dell VPLEX is a construct that defines the visibility and access control of storage resources for hosts connected to the VPLEX system. The characteristics of a storage view are crucial for ensuring proper access and management of storage resources.

Initiator Access: An initiator, which is typically a host bus adapter (HBA) on a server, can be part of multiple storage views. This allows a single server to access different storage resources that may be segregated for organizational, performance, or security reasons1.

VPLEX FE Ports: VPLEX Front-End (FE) ports can be included in multiple storage views. This design allows for flexibility in connecting multiple hosts to various storage resources through the same FE port1.

Initiator and FE Port Pairing: While an initiator can be in multiple storage views and a VPLEX FE port can be part of multiple storage views, each specific initiator and FE port pair can only be in one storage view. This restriction ensures that a unique path is maintained between a host and its storage resources, which is important for managing access and avoiding conflicts1.

Storage View Configuration: When configuring a storage view, it is essential to correctly map the initiators to the VPLEX FE ports and assign the appropriate virtual volumes. This setup defines which hosts can access which storage volumes through which paths1.

Best Practices: It is recommended to follow Dell’s best practices for VPLEX storage views to ensure optimal performance, security, and manageability. These practices include proper zoning, LUN masking, and storage view management as outlined in Dell VPLEX documentation1.

In summary, the verified characteristics of a storage view in a Dell VPLEX environment are that an initiator can be in multiple storage views, a VPLEX FE port can be in multiple storage views, but each initiator and FE port pair can only be in one storage view. This configuration ensures that storage resources are properly allocated and managed within the VPLEX system.

The maximum number of synchronous consistency groups supported by VPLEX is 256. This number is determined by the system’s capabilities and is designed to ensure optimal performance and manageability.

Consistency Groups: Consistency groups in VPLEX are used to group multiple virtual volumes together to ensure write-order fidelity, which is crucial for applications requiring transactional integrity12.

Synchronous Operations: Synchronous consistency groups are particularly important for environments where data must be kept consistent across geographically dispersed clusters in real-time12.

System Limitations: The limit of 256 synchronous consistency groups is set to balance the system’s performance with the need for data consistency. It ensures that the system can maintain the required performance levels while providing the data protection and availability features12.

Configuration and Management: Administrators must carefully plan and manage the consistency groups within the limits of the system to ensure that all critical data is protected and that the system operates efficiently12.

Documentation Reference: For detailed information on configuring and managing consistency groups, administrators should refer to the Dell VPLEX Deploy Achievement documents and best practice guides12.

In summary, the verified answer to the maximum number of synchronous consistency groups supported by VPLEX is 256. This limitation is part of the system design to ensure high availability and performance.

When provisioning LUNs from active/passive arrays to VPLEX, it is essential that each VPLEX director has at least two paths to both the active and passive controllers of each array. This requirement ensures high availability and redundancy for the storage volumes being managed by VPLEX1.

Active/Passive Arrays: Active/passive arrays have one controller actively serving I/O (active) and another on standby (passive). The VPLEX system must have paths to both controllers to maintain access to the LUNs in case the active controller fails1.

Path Redundancy: Having at least two paths to both controllers from each VPLEX director provides redundancy. If one path fails, the other can continue to serve I/O, preventing disruption to the host applications1.

VPLEX Configuration: In the VPLEX configuration, paths are zoned and masked to ensure that the VPLEX directors can access the LUNs on the storage arrays. Proper zoning and masking are critical for the paths to function correctly1.

Failover Capability: The dual-path configuration allows VPLEX to perform an automatic failover to the passive controller if the active controller becomes unavailable, ensuring continuous data availability1.

Best Practices: Following the path requirement as per Dell EMC’s best practices ensures that the VPLEX system can provide the expected level of service and data protection for the provisioned LUNs1.

In summary, the path requirement for each VPLEX director when connecting to active/passive arrays is to have at least two paths to both the active and passive controllers of each array, providing the necessary redundancy and failover capabilities.

EMC recommends specific best practices for connecting VPLEX to back-end storage arrays to ensure high availability and optimal performance. One of these best practices is that each VPLEX director should have four active paths to every back-end array storage volume.

Multiple Paths: Having multiple active paths from each VPLEX director to the storage volumes ensures that there is no single point of failure. If one path fails, the other paths can continue to provide connectivity1.

Load Balancing: Multiple paths also allow for load balancing of I/O operations across the different paths, which can improve performance and reduce the risk of bottlenecks1.

Path Redundancy: Path redundancy is crucial for maintaining continuous availability, especially in environments where the VPLEX is used for mission-critical applications1.

Configuration: The configuration of the paths should be done in accordance with EMC’s best practices, which include proper zoning and masking in the SAN environment1.

Documentation: Detailed guidelines and best practices for VPLEX SAN connectivity, including back-end array connections, are available in EMC’s documentation, which provides comprehensive instructions for setting up and managing these connections1.

In summary, EMC’s best practice for connecting VPLEX to back-end arrays is to ensure that each VPLEX director has four active paths to every back-end array storage volume. This setup provides the necessary redundancy and performance for a robust and reliable storage environment.

=========================

In the context of performance monitoring, particularly for systems like Dell VPLEX, histograms are used to track latencies and display statistical data such as median, mode, percentiles, minimums, and maximums. The term “buckets” is often used to describe the segments within a histogram that categorize the latency data into ranges. Each bucket represents a range of latencies, and the number of events (or I/O operations) that fall into each latency range is counted and displayed.

Histograms in Monitoring: Histograms provide a visual representation of how data is distributed across different ranges of values, which is particularly useful for understanding the performance characteristics of a system like VPLEX.

Buckets Explained: Buckets within a histogram divide the entire range of collected data into discrete intervals. For latency tracking, these buckets might represent latency ranges such as 0-1 ms, 1-2 ms, etc.

Latency Tracking: By collecting latency data in buckets, administrators can quickly identify the distribution of latencies over time, pinpointing whether most I/O operations are fast, slow, or somewhere in between.

Minimums and Maximums: Histograms make it easy to see the minimum and maximum latencies experienced by the system, as well as the frequency of latencies within each bucket range.

Performance Analysis: This method of collecting and analyzing performance statistics is crucial for performance tuning and capacity planning, as it helps administrators understand the behavior of their storage systems under different workloads.

In summary, “buckets” are the correct answer when referring to the segments within a histogram that are used to collect and categorize latency data for performance monitoring purposes in systems like Dell VPLEX.

For a database administrator who needs access to diagnostic files from the VPLEX system but does not have shell access, the recommended method is to use Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) to copy the files. SCP is a secure file transfer protocol that allows files to be copied over a network.

Access the Management Server: First, the administrator must access the VPLEX management server for the cluster from which they need to collect the logs1.

SSH to the Director: Using SSH, the administrator logs in as root to the director from which the logs need to be collected1.

Navigate to Log Directory: Change the directory to /var/log on the director to access the log files1.

Create a Tarball of Logs: Use the tar command to create a compressed archive (tarball) of the log files1.

Copy the Tarball Using SCP: Use SCP to copy the tarball to the management server’s /tmp directory. The administrator will be prompted for the service account password before the file can be transferred1.

Access the Files: Once the files are on the management server, the database administrator can download them from the /tmp directory using SCP from their workstation1.

This process allows the database administrator to obtain the necessary diagnostic files without having direct shell access to the VPLEX system.

Questions no: High I/O volume type during WAN COM failure

Verified Answer:B. Logging volume

Step by Step Comprehensive Detailed Explanation with References:During a WAN COM failure in a VPLEX Metro environment, logging volumes are subjected to high levels of I/O. This is because the logging volumes are used to store write logs that ensure data integrity and consistency across distributed volumes. These logs play a critical role during recovery processes, especially when there is a communication failure between clusters.

Role of Logging Volumes: Logging volumes in VPLEX are designed to capture write operations that cannot be immediately mirrored across the clusters due to network issues or WAN COM failures1.

WAN COM Failure: When a WAN COM failure occurs, the VPLEX system continues to write to the local logging volumes to ensure no data loss. Once the WAN COM link is restored, the logs are used to synchronize the data across the clusters1.

High I/O Levels: The high levels of I/O on the logging volumes during a WAN COM failure are due to the accumulation of write operations that need to be logged until the link is restored and the data can be synchronized1.

Recovery Process: After the WAN COM link is restored, the VPLEX system uses the data in the logging volumes to rebuild and synchronize the distributed volumes, ensuring data consistency and integrity1.

Best Practices: EMC best practices recommend monitoring the health and performance of logging volumes, especially during WAN COM failures, to ensure they can handle the increased I/O load and maintain system performance1.

In summary, logging volumes experience high levels of I/O only during a WAN COM failure as they are responsible for capturing and storing write operations until the communication between clusters can be re-established and data synchronization can occur.

In a VPLEX system, zoning a host initiator to a Director-A port requires identifying the front-end ports, which are used for host connectivity. Based on the standard VPLEX director port configuration:

Director Identification: Determine which unit is Director-A. In a VPLEX system, directors are typically labeled as A or B, and each has a set of front-end and back-end ports1.

Front-End Port Selection: The front-end ports on Director-A are used for connecting to host initiators. These ports are typically numbered starting with 01.

Zoning Process: Zoning involves configuring the SAN fabric to allow communication between the host’s HBA (Host Bus Adapter) and the VPLEX front-end port. This is done using the SAN switch management interface1.

Port Identification in Exhibit: Based on the exhibit provided, if the black arrow points to the first port on Director-A, it would be the front-end port 0, which can be zoned to a host initiator1.

Verification: To confirm the correct port for zoning, one would typically refer to the official Dell EMC VPLEX documentation for hardware installation and setup, which would provide clear labeling of each port1.

In summary, based on the standard VPLEX port configuration, the Director-A port that can be zoned to a host initiator is the front-end port 0, which is indicated by the letter D in the exhibit provided.

In a VPLEX Metro environment without a Cluster Witness, consistency groups (CGs) are used to manage distributed virtual volumes with detach rules that determine the behavior during a cluster failure.

CG1 with Cluster-1 as Winner: For App1, the distributed virtual volumes are added to CG1, which has a detach rule set with cluster-1 as the winner. This means that if cluster-2 fails, I/O for CG1 will continue to be serviced at cluster-1 after it automatically attaches the volumes that were distributed across both clusters1.

CG2 with Cluster-2 as Winner: For App2, the distributed virtual volumes are added to CG2, which has a detach rule set with cluster-2 as the winner. In the event of a cluster-2 failure, I/O for CG2 will be serviced after the volumes are detached from cluster-2, allowing cluster-1 to take over and service the I/O1.

Extended Cluster-2 Failure: If cluster-2 fails for an extended period, the VPLEX Metro will follow the detach rules set for each consistency group. CG1 will have its I/O serviced at cluster-1, and CG2 will also have its I/O serviced at cluster-1 after detaching from the failed cluster-21.

No Cluster Witness: Without a Cluster Witness, the VPLEX Metro relies on the detach rules defined in the consistency groups to determine how to handle I/O in the event of a cluster failure1.

Operational Continuity: The goal is to maintain operational continuity for both applications. By servicing I/O for both CG1 and CG2 at cluster-1, VPLEX ensures that both applications remain operational despite the failure of cluster-21.

In summary, if cluster-2 fails for an extended period in a VPLEX Metro setup without a Cluster Witness, I/O for CG1 will be serviced at cluster-1, and I/O for CG2 will also be serviced at cluster-1 after detaching from cluster-2, as per the detach rules set for each consistency group.

When configuring a VPLEX Metro cluster, especially for a company planning to create distributed volumes with a large amount of storage like 200 TB, it is essential to adhere to EMC best practices for the size of logging volumes.

Purpose of Logging Volumes: Logging volumes in VPLEX are used to store write logs that ensure data integrity and consistency across distributed volumes. These logs play a critical role during recovery processes1.

Size Considerations: The size of the logging volumes should be proportional to the amount of active data being written to ensure that all write operations are captured in the logs. For 200 TB of distributed storage, a minimum size of 10 GB for each logging volume is recommended to handle the logging requirements1.

Configuration: The logging volumes should be configured on each cluster to provide redundancy and high availability. This means that both clusters in a VPLEX Metro configuration should have logging volumes of at least the minimum recommended size1.

Best Practices: EMC best practices suggest that the logging volume should be sized appropriately to support the operational workload and to ensure that there is sufficient space to capture all write operations without any loss of data1.

Verification and Monitoring: After setting up the logging volumes, it is important to monitor their utilization to ensure they are functioning correctly and to adjust their size if necessary based on the actual workload1.

In summary, consistent with EMC best practices, the minimum size for logging volumes at each cluster in a VPLEX Metro cluster being installed for creating distributed volumes with 200 TB of storage should be 10 GB. This size ensures that the logging volumes can adequately support the write logging requirements for the amount of storage being used.

=========================