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NPM SolarWinds Practice Test Questions and Exam Dumps

Question No 1: 

Which statement is not true regarding the Device Studio Poller?

A. Collects data from Orion Failover Engine or Hot Standby Engines
B. Can perform logical operations or transformations on the polled data
C. Polled values are displayed in existing resources
D. Can poll multiple OIDs for a given technology

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

The Device Studio Poller is a tool that collects, processes, and manages data from various devices in a network environment. It is specifically designed for use with monitoring systems like SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) and others in the Orion suite. However, there are certain functions and features that are sometimes misunderstood.

Let’s break down the options:

• A. Collects data from Orion Failover Engine or Hot Standby Engines: This statement is true. The Device Studio Poller can indeed gather data from the Orion Failover Engine or Hot Standby Engines. These engines are part of a high-availability setup, and the Poller is capable of interacting with them to retrieve the data they manage. This is one of the core functions of the Poller.

• B. Can perform logical operations or transformations on the polled data: This is also true. The Device Studio Poller has the ability to process and manipulate data as it is collected. It can perform transformations or logical operations, which may include simple arithmetic, logical checks, or formatting changes. This makes the tool highly flexible for different use cases.

• C. Polled values are displayed in existing resources: This statement is false and the correct answer to this question. While the Poller collects data, it does not necessarily display this data directly in existing resources. Instead, the data is typically stored and then processed or made available through custom dashboards or reports. The existing resources in the Orion platform are primarily used for already available data, and the results from the Device Studio Poller may need custom configuration to be displayed. Hence, this option does not accurately describe the behavior of the Device Studio Poller.

• D. Can poll multiple OIDs for a given technology: This is true. The Poller can indeed query multiple Object Identifiers (OIDs) for a single technology, which is often necessary for monitoring various attributes of network devices. For example, it could poll OIDs that represent different statistics or metrics for a network interface, device health, or performance parameters.

In summary, the key misunderstanding arises from C, which incorrectly suggests that the Device Studio Poller directly integrates its polled values into existing resources without additional configuration. The actual behavior requires more customization and does not automatically display values in pre-configured resources.

Question No 2: 

How does NPM calculate capacity usage trends?

A. Volume capacity
B. Average calculation
C. Capacity forecasting widget
D. Historical data

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Network Performance Monitor (NPM) uses various methods to calculate and track the capacity usage trends of network devices and resources. These trends are crucial for managing network infrastructure effectively, predicting future needs, and avoiding performance bottlenecks. Let’s examine each option:

• A. Volume capacity: This option refers to the total amount of resources or data a volume can handle. While volume capacity is a factor in NPM’s overall monitoring capabilities, it is not specifically how NPM calculates usage trends. NPM does monitor volume capacities, but it does not directly rely on this alone for calculating trends.

• B. Average calculation: While calculating averages can help in understanding usage patterns, NPM does not solely rely on average values to track long-term capacity usage trends. Trends need to account for variability and other factors beyond a simple average, which is why historical data plays a bigger role.

• C. Capacity forecasting widget: This option refers to NPM’s forecasting tool, which can be used to predict future capacity usage based on existing data. However, this is more of a prediction tool, rather than the core method for calculating trends. Capacity forecasting is useful, but it is not the primary method used for calculating ongoing trends; it’s more about projecting future usage.

• D. Historical data: This is the correct answer. NPM calculates capacity usage trends based on historical data. By looking at past performance metrics and usage statistics, NPM is able to identify patterns over time. This allows the system to track how the network’s capacity has been utilized and how it is expected to evolve. Historical data is essential for accurately observing and analyzing trends, as it accounts for fluctuating usage, growth, and other long-term behaviors. This data-driven approach enables network administrators to make informed decisions about capacity planning and scaling.

In summary, the key to understanding how NPM calculates capacity usage trends lies in the system’s reliance on historical data, as it provides a comprehensive view of the resource usage over time. Without it, NPM wouldn’t be able to offer meaningful insights into usage trends. Therefore, D is the best choice for how capacity trends are calculated in NPM.

Question No 3: 

Can Palo Alto firewalls be displayed on Orion Maps?

A. False
B. True

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Orion Maps in SolarWinds is a highly useful visualization tool that helps network administrators map their network infrastructure for better monitoring and management. Orion Maps provides a graphical representation of devices, interfaces, and network components, which allows for easy tracking of network performance, device status, and traffic patterns. When it comes to Palo Alto firewalls, these devices are supported by SolarWinds NPM (Network Performance Monitor), and as part of this support, you can indeed visualize them within Orion Maps. 

This integration allows network administrators to view the performance and status of Palo Alto firewalls in the same way they can with other network devices, providing a centralized dashboard to monitor security and network traffic effectively. The integration works by pulling relevant data from the firewall and then rendering it on the map for a quick overview, which can help in identifying issues or performance bottlenecks. Therefore, the statement that Palo Alto firewalls can be displayed on Orion Maps is True.

Question No 4: 

You inherit an environment with NPM and begin to receive High Traffic Utilization alerts from interfaces. When you view the alert, the issue is resolved. How do you modify NPM to receive fewer false alerts?

A. Configure the alert so that it triggers only when traffic utilization remains high for a sustained period
B. Configure the alert so that it resets only when traffic utilization remains high for a sustained period
C. Increase the status polling frequency on the problematic interfaces
D. Increase the statistics polling frequency on the problematic interfaces

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

High traffic utilization alerts are commonly triggered in network monitoring environments, such as NPM, when traffic spikes or exceeds predefined thresholds. However, receiving frequent false alerts, especially if the issue resolves itself quickly, can be a frustrating problem. In this case, the best way to reduce false alarms is to modify the alerting configuration so that the alert only triggers when high traffic utilization persists for a sustained period. The key is to ensure that a temporary spike does not trigger an alert unnecessarily. By selecting A, the alert is only triggered if the high traffic condition is sustained over a period of time, meaning transient spikes or brief bursts of traffic won’t cause the system to generate a false alarm.

Options B, C, and D involve modifying polling frequencies or the conditions for resetting alerts, which may not address the core issue of frequent false alerts from brief traffic spikes. In this scenario, adjusting the duration threshold for sustained high traffic is the most effective approach. By fine-tuning the threshold for traffic utilization, network administrators can ensure that only real, prolonged traffic issues generate alerts, reducing the noise of false alarms and improving the accuracy of the monitoring system.

Question No 5: 

You use NPM to monitor a set of physical servers. The server team decides to virtualize these servers using VMware. Which part of your virtual infrastructure will NPM no longer be able to monitor?

A. Virtualization host hardware health
B. VM sprawl monitoring
C. Virtualization host and VM performance metrics
D. Virtualization environment tree

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

When physical servers are virtualized using VMware, the monitoring scope shifts. While NPM is capable of monitoring physical server performance, once these servers are virtualized, some aspects of the infrastructure monitoring are impacted due to the change in the way resources are accessed and managed.

In this case, A is the correct answer because NPM will no longer be able to monitor the hardware health of the virtualization host once it is virtualized. This is due to the nature of virtualization: the physical hardware is abstracted away, and the monitoring is now focused on the virtualized environment (i.e., the virtual machines themselves and their associated virtualized resources).

On the other hand, B, C, and D are all still relevant to monitoring within the virtualized infrastructure. NPM continues to monitor VM performance metrics, track sprawl (if configured), and manage the virtualization environment tree (which refers to the organizational structure of virtual machines, hosts, and clusters within the virtual environment). While NPM's monitoring scope does change when dealing with a virtualized environment, it still maintains a significant amount of visibility and control over the virtual machines and the virtualized infrastructure as a whole. However, the hardware health of the virtualization hosts will no longer be directly accessible or monitored via NPM, as this is handled by the VMware infrastructure itself.

Question No 6: 

When a router monitored by NPM (Network Performance Monitor) reboots, the interface indexes statuses change to unknown in NPM. What should you do after you remove the unknown interfaces?

A. Update the NPM internal ID numbers
B. Manually update the interface indexes
C. Run a list of resources on that node and add the interfaces with the updated index IDs
D. Run the Configuration Wizard to update the interface indexes

Answer: D

Explanation:

When a router monitored by NPM reboots, it can sometimes cause interface index statuses to become "unknown" in the monitoring system. This issue generally arises when the interface indexes are re-assigned or reset during the reboot. To restore accurate monitoring, the next steps are essential in ensuring that the router's interfaces are properly reflected in NPM.

Option A, "Update the NPM internal ID numbers," is not the appropriate action. NPM internal IDs are generally used for identifying nodes and not for tracking interface statuses. These IDs are usually set during the initial configuration and are not likely the source of the problem in this case.

Option B, "Manually update the interface indexes," also may not resolve the issue entirely. Manually updating interface indexes can be a cumbersome process and may not account for future changes in the router or interface configurations, especially after further reboots or system changes. Relying on manual updates could introduce potential inconsistencies.

Option C, "Run a list of resources on that node and add the interfaces with the updated index IDs," implies a deeper level of resource management that may involve checking and adding interfaces individually. While this action may restore the interfaces, it doesn’t fully address the underlying issue of the router reboot causing the interface indexes to reset.

The best option in this scenario is D, "Run the Configuration Wizard to update the interface indexes." The Configuration Wizard is designed to detect changes in network devices and their configurations, including interface reassignments or resets. By running the wizard, NPM will automatically recognize the correct interface indexes, synchronize the interface status with the router's new configuration, and restore accurate monitoring without manual intervention. This automated process ensures that all updates are applied consistently and efficiently, making it the optimal choice for resolving the issue quickly and effectively.

Question No 7: 

After you create an NPM (Network Performance Monitor) report with custom charts for availability and response time metrics, you schedule the report and add an action to export it. 

However, you cannot export it as an Excel file. What is the likely reason?

A. You must link the report with a URL in an email action to run live in the web console
B. Excel file formats are not supported
C. The custom charts only support a PDF export
D. You do not have the permissions to export the report

Answer: D

Explanation:

When encountering issues exporting a report to Excel from NPM, understanding the root cause of the problem is important for determining the right solution. Let's break down each option:

Option A, "You must link the report with a URL in an email action to run live in the web console," is not relevant to the issue at hand. While reports can be linked to actions like email notifications, this does not directly influence the ability to export reports in different file formats. The issue here pertains specifically to the export function, not the configuration of email actions or web console execution.

Option B, "Excel file formats are not supported," is incorrect. NPM generally supports exporting reports in various formats, including Excel, CSV, PDF, and others. If Excel export were not supported at all, you would likely receive a different error or restriction message. This option does not align with the usual behavior of NPM.

Option C, "The custom charts only support a PDF export," is also incorrect. NPM allows for reports containing custom charts to be exported in multiple formats, including Excel. The restriction to PDF export would be a specific case for reports with certain types of content or formatting, but custom charts themselves should not limit the export to only PDF.

The correct answer is D, "You do not have the permissions to export the report." NPM has user-specific permissions that control who can export data, including reports. If you are unable to export the report to an Excel file, it is most likely due to restricted permissions associated with your user account. Administrators can control whether users have the ability to export reports in various formats. If you do not have the appropriate permissions, you will not be able to perform the export action. To resolve this, you should contact your NPM administrator to ensure that your user account has the necessary permissions to export reports, including to Excel.

This is a common issue in environments where permissions are tightly controlled to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data or to ensure that only certain users can export reports for audit or compliance purposes.

Question No 8: 

How do you assign users access to specific reports in a system?

A. Create the reports while logged in as each user and set permissions
B. Use custom properties and account limitations to control report access
C. Configure the report and add a Report Limitation. Assign the limitation to users who need access to the report
D. Save the reports in different sub-directories and set the permissions for each user

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

In systems where user access to reports is needed, a common practice is to apply limitations to ensure that only specific users have access to certain reports. The most efficient and scalable approach is C, which involves configuring the report and adding a Report Limitation, then assigning that limitation to the relevant users. This method ensures that you can control access without duplicating effort by creating reports for each user individually.

Now, let’s explore why C is the correct answer in more detail. Report Limitations help to restrict which users can access specific reports. These limitations are typically based on roles, departments, or permissions set within the system. By assigning users to the limitation, administrators can ensure that only authorized individuals can view sensitive or specific reports. This strategy centralizes permissions management, making it easier to maintain and audit report access.

Option A (Create the reports while logged in as each user and set permissions) is inefficient because it would require creating separate instances of the same report for each user, which is not a scalable solution. This approach also increases the administrative workload and the potential for errors when managing access across many users.

Option B (Use custom properties and account limitations to control report access) could be effective in certain systems, but it is a more indirect approach. Custom properties can help manage user characteristics and roles, but the direct configuration of report limitations through C is a more streamlined solution specifically designed to manage report access.

Option D (Save the reports in different sub-directories and set the permissions for each user) is another workaround but is not an optimal solution. It introduces complexity by relying on file management, and setting directory-level permissions can become cumbersome, especially in large environments with many reports and users.

In summary, C is the best method because it directly addresses the need to manage user access to specific reports through limitations, reducing administrative overhead and ensuring a more manageable and secure solution.

Question No 9: 

Retention policies require you to keep Syslog messages in the database for 9 days before discarding them. Syslog messages from 8 days ago are missing. What is likely the issue?

A. Database compaction runs weekly
B. Default Syslog retention period is seven days
C. Default Syslog web filter is seven days
D. Detailed records are summarized after seven days

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

Retention policies for Syslog messages are crucial in systems that need to adhere to specific storage requirements. The issue in this scenario—missing Syslog messages from 8 days ago—points to a discrepancy between the configured retention policy and the system’s default behavior. The correct answer is B, as the default Syslog retention period is typically set to seven days. This means that unless configured otherwise, Syslog messages older than seven days will be automatically deleted or archived.

Understanding Syslog retention is important. By default, many systems are configured to keep Syslog messages for a period of seven days. When the retention period exceeds this duration, older logs are either deleted or moved to long-term storage, depending on system configurations. In the scenario described, Syslog messages from 8 days ago were likely deleted because the system is set to retain logs for only seven days by default. Therefore, the missing logs align with this retention configuration.

Option A (Database compaction runs weekly) refers to the process where the database is optimized to reclaim space, but it is not directly related to the deletion of Syslog messages based on age. Compaction does not automatically delete messages; it primarily handles space optimization within the database.

Option C (Default Syslog web filter is seven days) is incorrect because web filters and Syslog retention are two separate configurations. The web filter may influence how data is displayed or filtered but does not typically govern how long logs are retained.

Option D (Detailed records are summarized after seven days) could be true for some systems that summarize logs into less detailed formats after a certain period, but it does not directly explain why the Syslog messages from 8 days ago are missing. This option refers to log aggregation practices, not retention policies.

Therefore, B is the most likely cause for the missing messages, as the default Syslog retention period is set to seven days, which is shorter than the required nine-day retention.

Question No 10: 

You created a Universal Device Poller (UnDP) but cannot find an OID in the MIB tree. How do you resolve this issue?

A. Restart the Universal Device Poller
B. Update the MIB database
C. Rediscover the node via Network Sonar Discovery
D. Add the node to NPM for monitoring

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

When dealing with SNMP-based monitoring systems, MIBs (Management Information Bases) are used to define the data that can be collected from devices. If you created a Universal Device Poller (UnDP) and cannot find the corresponding OID (Object Identifier) in the MIB tree, the most likely solution is to update the MIB database (Option B).

The MIB database contains definitions for all the OIDs that can be queried from the monitored devices. If a newly added or custom OID is not available in the MIB tree, it could be because the system’s MIB database has not been updated to reflect the latest device or OID definitions. Updating the MIB database ensures that the system is aware of the most recent OIDs and can incorporate them into the monitoring process. This action is usually done through the management console or an administrative interface that allows users to import or update MIB files.

Option A (Restart the Universal Device Poller) might be helpful in some cases, but it is not likely to resolve the issue if the OID is missing from the MIB tree because restarting does not address the underlying problem of the MIB not being updated.

Option C (Rediscover the node via Network Sonar Discovery) is useful for discovering devices and their capabilities within a network, but it would not resolve the specific problem of an OID not appearing in the MIB tree. Rediscovery is more about finding new devices or nodes, not ensuring that OIDs are available in the database.

Option D (Add the node to NPM for monitoring) could be necessary if the node is not yet being monitored, but if the OID is missing from the MIB tree, simply adding the node will not help resolve the problem of missing OIDs.

In conclusion, the best solution is to update the MIB database, as this ensures that the OID you need is recognized and accessible for polling by the Universal Device Poller.