Nutanix NCP-MCI v6.5 Practice Test Questions, Exam Dumps

Practice Exams:

View All

NCP-MCI v6.5 Nutanix Practice Test Questions and Exam Dumps

Question No 1:

After logging into Nutanix Prism Element, an administrator presses the letter A on the keyboard. What is the expected outcome of this input?

A. The Analysis page will launch.
B. The Alerts page will launch.
C. The About Nutanix page will launch.
D. The API Explorer page will launch.

Answer:

The correct answer is B. The Alerts page will launch.

Explanation:

Prism Element is the web-based user interface used to manage Nutanix clusters, providing administrators with powerful tools for monitoring and managing the health and performance of their systems. The interface includes a number of pages and features for handling various aspects of the infrastructure, from storage and compute resources to system health, alerts, and more.

One of the convenient features of the Nutanix Prism Element interface is its keyboard shortcuts, which can speed up navigation and improve administrative efficiency. These shortcuts are designed to quickly navigate to key pages, minimizing the time and effort it takes to perform tasks and access critical information.

Expected Outcome:

When an administrator presses the letter A after logging into Prism Element, the Alerts page is launched. The Alerts page is an important part of the Nutanix environment, where administrators can view notifications and alerts related to the health and performance of their cluster. This page helps the administrator keep track of any critical issues, warnings, or informational messages generated by the system.

Alerts: This page typically displays warnings, errors, and notifications from the system, such as issues with storage, hardware failures, performance bottlenecks, or configuration errors. The alerts can help administrators take timely action to resolve problems and ensure the smooth operation of the infrastructure.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. The Analysis page will launch: The Analysis page typically provides insights into the performance of the Nutanix cluster, including detailed analytics. However, pressing A does not trigger this page; it is the Alerts page that is launched by this keyboard shortcut.
C. The About Nutanix page will launch: The About Nutanix page provides information about the Nutanix version, cluster details, and other system-related metadata. However, it is not associated with pressing the letter A on the keyboard. This page is typically accessed through the UI's menu or by navigating to a specific section, not via a keyboard shortcut.
D. The API Explorer page will launch: The API Explorer page provides access to the Nutanix REST API, where administrators can interact with the system programmatically. However, the letter A on the keyboard is not mapped to this page. The API Explorer page is usually accessed through other navigation methods within the Prism Element UI.

Pressing the letter A after logging into Nutanix Prism Element is a keyboard shortcut that will take the administrator directly to the Alerts page, where they can view important notifications and alerts related to the cluster's health and performance. This feature is part of Nutanix's effort to make system administration faster and more intuitive.

Question No 2:

In your Nutanix cluster, the Update Source for Lifecycle Management (LCM) has been configured as shown in the exhibit (not provided here). However, inventory updates are failing consistently. What is the likely cause of this issue?

A. Port 80 is blocked by a firewall.
B. The administrator does not have a valid portal account.
C. The license assigned to the cluster has expired.
D. Port 443 is blocked by a firewall.

Answer:

The correct answer is D. Port 443 is blocked by a firewall.

Explanation:

Lifecycle Management (LCM) in Nutanix is a critical feature used to update and maintain the software and firmware of the Nutanix cluster. It ensures that the cluster's components are up-to-date and secure by automatically managing the lifecycle of various hardware and software components. In order for LCM to work properly, it needs to communicate with Nutanix’s update repositories, which are typically accessed over HTTPS (port 443).

When inventory updates are failing, it is often due to communication issues between the Nutanix cluster and the external update source. Here’s a breakdown of each possible cause:

Why Port 443 Is Crucial:

Port 443 is the standard port for HTTPS communication. When the LCM tool tries to fetch updates, it communicates over HTTPS to access external repositories and resources. If port 443 is blocked by a firewall, the cluster will not be able to reach the necessary external servers to download updates or inventory data, which will result in consistent failures for inventory updates.

Resolution: Ensure that port 443 is open for outbound traffic in your network firewall configuration to allow LCM to communicate with external update servers.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Port 80 is blocked by a firewall:
Port 80 is used for HTTP traffic, but LCM typically communicates using HTTPS (port 443), not HTTP. Blocking port 80 would affect other web-based services but is unlikely to impact LCM operations, as it uses secure connections over port 443 for updates.
B. The administrator does not have a valid portal account:
While administrator permissions and a valid portal account are necessary for some Nutanix management functions, they are not typically the cause of inventory failures in LCM. The failure in inventory updates is more likely related to communication issues with external servers rather than user account validity.
C. The license assigned to the cluster has expired:
An expired license could cause certain features of the Nutanix system to be unavailable, but it would not directly affect the LCM’s ability to fetch updates or manage the lifecycle of the system. License issues would typically result in functional limitations or warnings rather than outright failure in communication or updates.

The most likely cause of inventory failures in LCM is that port 443 is blocked by a firewall, preventing the Nutanix cluster from accessing the external update repositories. To resolve the issue, check your network firewall settings and ensure that port 443 is open for outbound communication. This will allow LCM to function properly and retrieve the necessary updates.

Question No 3:

An administrator has created a Nutanix managed network and assigned it a VLAN ID of 512. Several virtual machines (VMs) have been created and configured to use this VLAN. The administrator notices that the VMs can communicate successfully with other VMs on the same VLAN, but only if they reside on the same host. VMs on different hosts in the cluster are unable to communicate with each other. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

A. There is a firewall rule blocking VLAN512 traffic.
B. The VLAN was not created on the upstream switches.
C. The administrator did not create the VLAN on all hosts.
D. VLAN512 is a reserved VLAN ID and not usable for guest VMs.

Answer:

The correct answer is B. The VLAN was not created on the upstream switches.

Explanation:

In a Nutanix cluster, when a new managed network is created and assigned a specific VLAN ID, it is crucial to ensure that the entire network path, including physical switches, supports that VLAN. The issue described in this scenario involves communication between virtual machines (VMs) that reside on different hosts. The fact that communication is successful when the VMs are on the same host indicates that the local configuration is likely correct, but communication fails between hosts, pointing to a problem outside the local host configuration.

Why B. The VLAN was not created on the upstream switches is correct:

For VMs to communicate across hosts in a Nutanix cluster, the VLAN used by those VMs must be supported by the physical network infrastructure that connects the hosts. Specifically, the VLAN must be created and allowed on the upstream switches that connect the physical hosts in the cluster.

If the VLAN ID (in this case, VLAN 512) is not created or allowed on the upstream switches, communication between VMs on different hosts will fail, even though the VMs on the same host can communicate with each other. This is because the traffic from one host will not be correctly tagged or routed through the network infrastructure to reach the other host.
To resolve this, the administrator must ensure that VLAN 512 is properly configured and permitted on the upstream switches, allowing inter-host communication on that VLAN.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. There is a firewall rule blocking VLAN512 traffic: While a firewall rule could block traffic, this would likely affect communication between VMs on the same host as well as between different hosts. Since the VMs on the same host can communicate, it’s unlikely that a firewall rule is the cause of the issue. The problem is likely related to network configuration rather than security settings.
C. The administrator did not create the VLAN on all hosts: If the VLAN were not created on all hosts, communication between VMs on the same host would also fail, not just between VMs on different hosts. Since local communication works, the issue is more likely related to the physical network configuration rather than the Nutanix cluster configuration itself.
D. VLAN512 is a reserved VLAN ID and not usable for guest VMs: VLAN 512 is not a reserved VLAN ID in Nutanix or typical networking standards. It is valid and usable, so this option is incorrect. VLAN IDs in the range from 1 to 4095 are typically available for use, and there are no restrictions on VLAN 512 for guest VMs.

The most likely cause of the issue is that the VLAN was not created on the upstream switches. This is a common problem when VLANs are not correctly propagated through the physical network infrastructure, preventing VMs on different hosts from communicating with each other, even though they can communicate within the same host. The solution is to ensure that VLAN 512 is created and allowed on all upstream switches that connect the Nutanix hosts in the cluster.

Question No 4:

An administrator logs into the Nutanix Support Portal and notices a new version of the Lifecycle Management (LCM) Framework is available. To ensure that LCM provides the latest features, the administrator wishes to upgrade it. How can the LCM Framework be upgraded?

A. Upload the latest LCM Framework bundle via Upgrade Software in Prism.
B. Upload the latest LCM Framework as an image in the Image Configuration in Prism.
C. Upgrade AOS.
D. Perform an LCM inventory.

Answer:

The correct answer is A. Upload the latest LCM Framework bundle via Upgrade Software in Prism.

Explanation:

In Nutanix, Lifecycle Management (LCM) is a crucial feature that helps administrators maintain and upgrade the Nutanix environment, including software versions, firmware, and hardware. LCM ensures that all components within the cluster are up-to-date and running with the latest patches and updates. If a new version of the LCM Framework is released, upgrading it is necessary to take advantage of new features and improvements.

Why A. Upload the latest LCM Framework bundle via Upgrade Software in Prism is correct:

The LCM Framework can be upgraded via the Upgrade Software feature in Prism, the management interface for Nutanix clusters. When a new version of LCM is available, you can download the update bundle from the Nutanix Support Portal and upload it to Prism through the Upgrade Software section.

Upgrade Software allows administrators to upload the software bundle (including the LCM framework) and perform upgrades across the cluster.
This method ensures that LCM will be upgraded to the latest version, enabling the cluster to benefit from the latest features, bug fixes, and enhancements provided in the update.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Upload the latest LCM Framework as an image in the Image Configuration in Prism: The Image Configuration section in Prism is used to manage operating system images and software versions, particularly for virtual machines. This is not the correct method for upgrading the LCM framework, as LCM upgrades are handled through the Upgrade Software section, not the image configuration.
C. Upgrade AOS: While upgrading Acropolis Operating System (AOS) is important for keeping the cluster software up-to-date, it is not directly related to upgrading the LCM Framework. LCM is a separate component from AOS and can be upgraded independently. Upgrading AOS will not necessarily upgrade the LCM Framework to the latest version.
D. Perform an LCM inventory: Running an LCM inventory collects information about the current state of software and hardware in the cluster but does not upgrade the LCM Framework. This command is useful for reviewing the current status and identifying any pending updates but does not perform the actual upgrade process.

To upgrade the LCM Framework to the latest version, the correct process is to upload the framework bundle via the Upgrade Software section in Prism. This method allows administrators to ensure that LCM is running the latest features and improvements. By following this method, the administrator can ensure that the cluster is up-to-date and performing optimally.

Question No 5:

In the context of a Nutanix cluster, what does the term Network Segmentation refer to?

A. Isolating management traffic from storage replication traffic.
B. Physically separating management traffic from guest VM traffic.
C. Isolating intra-cluster traffic from guest VM traffic.
D. A distributed firewall for securing VM-to-VM traffic.

Answer:

The correct answer is C. Isolating intra-cluster traffic from guest VM traffic.

Explanation:

Network Segmentation is a strategy used in Nutanix clusters (and other enterprise environments) to separate and isolate different types of network traffic, ensuring better security, performance, and manageability. In the case of Nutanix clusters, network segmentation specifically refers to isolating certain types of communication, such as intra-cluster traffic (traffic that occurs between the nodes in the cluster) from guest VM traffic (the traffic used by virtual machines).

Why C. Isolating intra-cluster traffic from guest VM traffic is correct:

In a Nutanix environment, network segmentation typically means separating different types of traffic to ensure that the communication between the various Nutanix nodes in the cluster does not interfere with the network traffic used by virtual machines (VMs) running on top of the cluster.

Intra-cluster traffic includes communication between Nutanix nodes for purposes like data replication, distributed storage, and synchronization. This traffic is crucial for maintaining the health and performance of the cluster.
Guest VM traffic, on the other hand, is the traffic used by virtual machines running on the cluster. This includes communication between VMs and between VMs and external networks.

By isolating these two types of traffic, the network resources are optimized, and there is less chance that issues with VM traffic (such as high traffic volumes) could impact the internal communication necessary for cluster health and management.

This separation of traffic is achieved through the use of different VLANs (Virtual LANs) or network interfaces that are configured to handle distinct types of traffic. In this case, the intra-cluster communication and guest VM traffic are routed over different virtual networks to minimize interference.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Isolating management traffic from storage replication traffic:
While managing and isolating different types of traffic (such as management and storage replication) is important in a Nutanix environment, Network Segmentation in the context of the cluster typically refers to isolating intra-cluster traffic from VM traffic, not just management and replication traffic.
B. Physically separating management traffic from guest VM traffic:
This option describes physical separation, which might involve using different physical interfaces or separate physical networks for management traffic and guest VM traffic. While this could be a form of network segmentation, Nutanix typically implements logical (virtual) segmentation rather than purely physical separation to optimize resource usage.
D. A distributed firewall for securing VM-to-VM traffic:
A distributed firewall is a security feature that can control the flow of traffic between VMs, but this is not typically what is meant by Network Segmentation. Network segmentation refers more to the logical separation of traffic types rather than a security feature to protect traffic.

In Nutanix clusters, Network Segmentation refers to isolating intra-cluster traffic from guest VM traffic. This ensures that the internal operations of the Nutanix cluster, such as replication and management, do not interfere with the network traffic generated by guest VMs, thereby improving both performance and security. This isolation is typically achieved using different VLANs or network interfaces to handle different types of traffic within the same infrastructure.

Question No 6:

In the context of a Nutanix environment, which component can be associated with a storage policy?

A. Catalog
B. VM
C. Category
D. Subnet

Answer:

The correct answer is B. VM.

Explanation:

In Nutanix, storage policies are used to define how storage is allocated and managed for virtual machines (VMs) and their associated workloads. These policies enable administrators to control storage characteristics like performance, availability, and redundancy based on specific needs or workloads.

Why B. VM is correct:

In Nutanix, a storage policy is most commonly associated with a virtual machine (VM). Each VM in a Nutanix cluster can have a storage policy assigned to it that dictates the quality of service (QoS), replication factor, and other aspects of its storage configuration. The storage policy ensures that the storage needs of the VM are met according to the business requirements for that particular workload.

Some of the key components of a storage policy in Nutanix include:

Replica Factor (RF): Specifies the number of copies of the data (e.g., RF2, RF3).
QoS Settings: Define the performance requirements for the VM's storage.
Compression/Erasure Coding: Optimizes storage efficiency.

By associating a storage policy with a VM, administrators can ensure that storage characteristics, such as performance or availability, are tailored to the specific requirements of the application or workload running inside that VM.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Catalog:
A catalog in Nutanix refers to a collection of resources or templates (such as VM templates or images). Catalogs do not directly relate to the assignment of storage policies. Storage policies are specifically designed for managing the storage configuration of VMs, not resources in a catalog.
C. Category:
In Nutanix, a category is often used for grouping or tagging different entities within the cluster (such as VMs or storage resources) for easier management and reporting. However, categories are not directly associated with storage policies. Categories may help organize resources, but the actual policies are applied to VMs themselves, not to categories.
D. Subnet:
A subnet refers to a logical segment of a network. It is used for network addressing and segmentation but does not have a direct relationship with storage policies in Nutanix. Storage policies are applied to virtual machines and their storage resources, not to network subnets.

In a Nutanix environment, VMs are the components most commonly associated with storage policies. These policies define the performance, redundancy, and storage efficiency characteristics that apply specifically to the storage resources used by VMs. This approach allows administrators to ensure that storage configurations are optimized for the workloads running in each virtual machine, providing better control over both performance and availability.

Question No 7:

An administrator is looking to expand the Failure Domain level of a Nutanix cluster. Which two options are available for this expansion? (Choose two.)

A. Data Center
B. Node
C. Block
D. Rack

Answer:

The correct answers are B. Node and D. Rack.

Explanation:

In Nutanix clusters, the concept of a Failure Domain refers to the boundaries within which a failure can be isolated. Failure Domains are used to ensure that critical data is distributed across the cluster in a way that prevents a single point of failure from impacting the entire system. By expanding the Failure Domain level, an administrator can control the scope within which data is replicated, improving availability and resilience.

Why B. Node and D. Rack are correct:

Node (B):

Nodes represent individual physical servers within a Nutanix cluster. When a Failure Domain is set at the node level, it means that the failure isolation is limited to individual nodes. Data is distributed across multiple nodes in the cluster, and if one node fails, only the services running on that node are affected, ensuring that the failure does not impact the entire cluster.
By expanding the Failure Domain to the node level, the administrator ensures that the failure of a single node will not cause a catastrophic failure of the whole cluster, and replication is done across nodes to maintain redundancy.

Rack (D):

A rack is a physical grouping of nodes, often within the same physical location, but potentially spread across different fault zones like power supplies or network switches. By expanding the Failure Domain to the rack level, you are ensuring that data is replicated across multiple racks.
This adds a higher level of fault tolerance because even if an entire rack fails (due to power loss, network issues, etc.), the cluster will still maintain redundancy through data replication to other racks.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Data Center (A):

While the data center is a larger logical grouping for physical infrastructure, it is not typically used to define a Failure Domain in Nutanix. Failure domains in Nutanix are more granular, focusing on individual nodes and racks. The data center level would be a broader, organizational concept rather than a mechanism for controlling failure isolation within the cluster.

C. Block (C):

A block in Nutanix refers to the storage layer of the cluster that is made up of the nodes and storage devices. It is not a level used for defining Failure Domains. Expanding the Failure Domain at the block level is not a common practice, as Failure Domains are usually concerned with isolation at the node and rack levels to optimize fault tolerance.

To expand the Failure Domain level of a Nutanix cluster, the two main options available are Node (B) and Rack (D). These levels provide control over how data is distributed across the infrastructure, ensuring redundancy and minimizing the impact of failures. By setting Failure Domains at these levels, an administrator can improve the cluster's fault tolerance and resilience, safeguarding data against hardware or power failures at the node or rack level.

Question No 8:

An administrator is tasked with configuring networking on an AHV cluster and needs to optimize for maximum single VM throughput. Which bond mode should the administrator select to achieve this goal?

A. Active-Active
B. Active-Active with MAC Pinning
C. Active-Backup
D. No Uplink Bond

Answer:

The correct answer is B. Active-Active with MAC Pinning.

Explanation:

In Nutanix AHV clusters, network bonding is used to combine multiple network interfaces (NICs) into a single logical interface. This can help improve redundancy, load balancing, and throughput. However, when the goal is to optimize the throughput for a single VM, especially when large amounts of network traffic are involved, it's important to select the appropriate bonding mode. Here's an explanation of the available bond modes:

Why B. Active-Active with MAC Pinning is correct:

Active-Active with MAC Pinning is the optimal bond mode for maximizing single VM throughput.

In Active-Active mode, both network interfaces are used simultaneously for sending and receiving traffic. This provides greater bandwidth as both interfaces are active.
MAC Pinning ensures that each virtual machine (VM) is tied to a specific physical NIC (based on its MAC address). This allows the VM to use the full capacity of a single NIC for its network traffic, reducing contention and maximizing throughput for that VM.
When a VM’s traffic is pinned to a specific NIC, it avoids load-balancing or traffic splitting across multiple NICs. As a result, all traffic for that VM goes through one interface, which ensures that the VM gets the maximum possible throughput from the selected NIC.

This bond mode is highly beneficial when a single VM needs to process a large volume of network traffic, as it allows the VM to make full use of the bandwidth of a single network interface while still providing redundancy.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Active-Active:

In Active-Active mode without MAC pinning, both NICs are active, and traffic is distributed between them. While this improves throughput by using both NICs, it doesn’t guarantee that any single VM will receive the maximum throughput from a single NIC. Traffic from multiple VMs may be load-balanced across both NICs, leading to potential inefficiencies for a VM that requires maximum throughput.

C. Active-Backup:

Active-Backup mode ensures that only one NIC is active at any time, with the other NIC acting as a backup. While this offers high redundancy, it does not optimize for throughput since only one NIC is used for traffic at any given time. This is not ideal for maximizing throughput for a single VM.

D. No Uplink Bond:

Choosing No Uplink Bond means no network bonding is configured, and the VM will only use a single network interface for communication. While this could theoretically be used to isolate traffic to one interface, it does not optimize throughput because it does not leverage the potential benefits of bonding multiple NICs together for increased bandwidth and redundancy.

For maximum single VM throughput, the ideal choice is Active-Active with MAC Pinning (Option B). This configuration ensures that the VM’s network traffic is pinned to a single, active NIC, enabling it to utilize the full bandwidth of that NIC while still benefiting from the redundancy provided by the active-active bonding mode. This is particularly useful in high-performance scenarios where large volumes of data need to be transferred to and from a VM.