NCP-CI-AWS Nutanix Certified Professional - Cloud Integration - AWS (NCP-CI-AWS6.7) Exam Questions and Answers

When deploying a new NC2 cluster, the AWS Directory Service must be able to resolve the addressgateway-external-api.cloud.nutanix.com.

This external API gateway is critical for the NC2 cluster to communicate with Nutanix services for operations such as management, updates, and licensing.

Ensuring that this address can be resolved allows the cluster to interact properly with the Nutanix cloud infrastructure and services.

References:Refer to the Nutanix documentation on network and DNS requirements for NC2 deployments, specifically the addresses that need to be resolvable for proper functionality.

The steps, in order, to recover a cluster protected using the Cluster Protect feature when the Prism Central instance was not on the failed cluster are as follows:

Step 1: Set the cluster to the Failed state using the NC2 console to start the recovery workflow.

Step 2: Redeploy the cluster using the NC2 console.

Step 3: Redeploy the Multicloud Snapshot Technology.

Step 4: Recover UVM data by running CLI commands.

Set the cluster to the Failed state using the NC2 console to start the recovery workflow: This step involves marking the cluster as failed to initiate the recovery process.

Redeploy the cluster using the NC2 console: Once the cluster is marked as failed, the next step is to redeploy it using the tools available in the NC2 console.

Redeploy the Multicloud Snapshot Technology: After the cluster is redeployed, the Multicloud Snapshot Technology needs to be redeployed to ensure data consistency and availability.

Recover UVM data by running CLI commands: The final step is to recover the User VM (UVM) data by executing the necessary CLI commands to restore the data from the snapshots or backups.

References:

Nutanix Documentation on Cluster Protect and Recovery Processes

Nutanix Support & Insights

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration

For the NC2 cluster deployed in the North Virginia region (us-east-id), consuming IPs from the 10.78.2.0/24 range, the subnets configured within the same CIDR range of 10.78.0.0/16 will be recognized.

The subnetDR01 (10.78.2.0/24)is directly within the range of the deployed cluster.

The subnetL2stretch (10.19.101.0/24)is also configured in the NC2 AWS VPC, although not in the immediate range of the cluster, it may show up due to broader network configurations for stretched L2 operations.

SubnetsVDI (10.78.130.0/22)andDR02 (10.79.120.0/24), although part of the same VPC, are not directly within the immediate CIDR range or may not be recognized in this specific configuration scenario.

References:Refer to the Nutanix documentation on NC2 AWS VPC subnet configurations and Prism Element settings for detailed guidelines on network visibility and configuration.

The administrator has not created the necessary Security Group:

The error message indicates that the creation of network interfaces in a shared subnet requires specifying a security group. This means that the necessary security group has not been created or assigned to the network interfaces.

Creating the appropriate security group and ensuring it is associated with the network interfaces during cluster deployment should resolve this issue.

References:Refer to AWS documentation on security groups and network interface configuration and Nutanix documentation on prerequisites for deploying NC2 clusters in an existing AWS VPC.

After the NC2 free trial expires, to continue using all features of NC2 on existing clusters, the administrator needs to switch to a paid subscription plan.

A paid subscription ensures uninterrupted access to the full range of features and support for NC2 clusters.

Without switching to a paid plan, the features might be limited, and support may not be available, impacting the cluster's operations and management.

References:Refer to the Nutanix billing and subscription documentation for details on switching from a trial to a paid plan and the benefits associated with paid subscriptions.

To ensure that only application servers from the source subnet 10.79.1.0/24 can access the SQL databases running on the NC2 cluster in the subnet 10.78.1.0/24, the administrator can take the following actions:

Option A: Create a custom Security Group with the following rules:

Key = tag:nutanix:clusters

Key = tag:nutanix:clusters:external

and value = the clusters' UUID

Key = tag:nutanix:clusters:external

and value = 10.78.1.0/24

Option D: Create a custom Security Group with the following:

Key = nutanix:clusters

Key = nutanix:clusters:external

and value = the clusters' UUID

Key = nutanix:clusters:external

and value = 10.79.1.0/24

These actions help create security rules that restrict access to the databases only from the specified source subnet, ensuring secure and controlled access.

References:

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration

AWS Security Groups Documentation

Before accessing the Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) console, the first step is to create a My Nutanix account.

This account serves as the primary gateway for managing and accessing Nutanix services, including NC2.

Once the account is created, users can log in to the Nutanix portal, where they can manage their subscriptions, start trials, and access various Nutanix services, including the NC2 console.

References:Refer to the Nutanix documentation on getting started with NC2 and the My Nutanix account creation process.

Within an NC2 environment, the Cluster Protect feature can ensure the protection of:

Nutanix Files: This provides file services within the Nutanix ecosystem, and Cluster Protect can safeguard the data stored in Nutanix Files.

Virtual Machine Disks: This ensures that the data stored on virtual machine disks is protected, providing backup and recovery options for the virtual machines running within the cluster.

References:

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration

Nutanix AOS 6.7 Documentation

When a node is marked as "Condemned," it indicates that the system has determined that the node is no longer reliable for operations. As part of the automated recovery and protection process, the following action is typically taken:

The node has a power reset sent to it (Answer A):

In most cases, a condemned node undergoes a power reset as an initial recovery attempt. This action attempts to reboot the node to bring it back to a healthy state. If the reset fails,further manual or automated steps may be required to address the hardware or software issue.

References:

Nutanix Cluster Management Documentation

Nutanix Support Knowledge Base

For issues related to cloud hardware support such as EC2 instances, VPC, etc., the public cloud vendor (AWS in this case) should be contacted. AWS provides support and documentation for their infrastructure and services, ensuring that users can get assistance for any hardware or cloud-specific queries.

References:

Nutanix Support & Insights

The NC2 Tile within the my.nutanix.com portal is the correct interface to deploy NC2. This portal provides an integrated and user-friendly interface specifically designed for deploying and managing Nutanix Clusters on AWS.

NC2 Deployment Interface:

NC2 Tile within the my.nutanix.com portal: This portal provides the necessary tools and options to deploy and manage NC2 clusters. It includes functionalities for setting up the clusters, configuring network settings, and managing resources.

Advantages:

User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies the deployment process with a guided setup.

Integrated Tools: Provides access to all necessary tools for managing the deployment and monitoring of NC2 clusters.

References:

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration Guide

Nutanix my.nutanix.com Portal Documentation

Nutanix Best Practices for Cluster Deployment

When performing a migration from an NC2 environment to a Nutanix on-premises environment, the task should be performed using the NC2 Prism Central. This is because NC2 Prism Central provides a centralized management interface that allows administrators to manage and migrate workloads between cloud and on-premises environments seamlessly.

References:

Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) Documentation

Nutanix Community Guide

A valid CIDR range: A CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) range is necessary for creating the subnets within the VPC. This range defines the IP address space for the cluster and its components.

A my.nutanix.com account: This account is required to access Nutanix services, including the NC2 console, manage licenses, and perform other administrative tasks.

AWS Direct Connect and an on-premises Prism Central environment are not prerequisites for deploying an NC2 on AWS cluster. While Direct Connect can be used for enhanced network performance and connectivity, it is not a requirement for deployment. Similarly, having an on-premises Prism Central environment is not mandatory for NC2 deployment on AWS.

References:Refer to the Nutanix documentation on NC2 prerequisites and setup guides, and AWS documentation on VPC and subnet creation.

When setting up a landing zone for Nutanix clusters on AWS, having only private subnets for cluster management and user VMs is not sufficient for full cluster functionality. Nutanix clusters often need to communicate with the internet for updates, patches, and other cloud services.

VPC Configuration:

The VPC already has two private subnets (one for cluster management and one for user VMs).

Additional Requirements:

To access public services like S3 or for the cluster nodes to reach Nutanix services for updates, a public subnet is essential.

Why Public Subnet for Internet Access?:

A public subnet allows resources within it to communicate directly with the internet, which is necessary for accessing Nutanix's update servers, applying patches, and other maintenance tasks.

This subnet typically includes an internet gateway, enabling instances in the public subnet to receive and send traffic directly to the internet.

References:

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration Guide

AWS Networking Best Practices

Nutanix Networking and Subnet Configuration Guidelines

To ensure that NC2 VMs can access AWS resources without traversing the internet, the administrator can use AWS VPC Peering and Interface Endpoints. Both methods ensure that traffic stays within the AWS network, maintaining security and efficiency.

Interface Endpoint:

Interface Endpoints allow you to privately connect your VPC to supported AWS services. They use AWS PrivateLink to route traffic directly to services within the AWS network, bypassing the public internet.

Steps:

Create an interface endpoint for the required service in the AWS VPC console.

Ensure the security groups and route tables are configured to allow traffic to the interface endpoint.

VPC Peering:

VPC Peering allows the routing of traffic between VPCs using private IP addresses, without the need for internet gateways, NAT devices, or VPN connections.

Steps:

Create a VPC peering connection between the VPCs.

Update the route tables to direct traffic between the peered VPCs.

Ensure security group rules allow the necessary traffic between VPCs.

References:

AWS VPC Peering Documentation

AWS Interface Endpoint Documentation

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration Guide

For VDI workloads that require GPU acceleration, the g4dn.metal nodes are the appropriate choice. These instances are equipped with NVIDIA T4 GPUs, which are well-suited forgraphics-intensive applications such as VDI workloads that need GPU acceleration. Other node types like AN36P, m6g.metal, or AN36 do not provide the necessary GPU capabilities.

References:

Nutanix Support & Insights - GPU support in AWS

In the NC2 console, an organization is used to segregate clusters based on specific requirements. This segregation allows administrators to manage clusters more effectively by grouping them according to business units, projects, or other criteria. This organizational structure helps in maintaining clear boundaries and applying specific policies or permissions to different clusters within the same NC2 environment.

References:

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration

Nutanix Certified Professional - Cloud Integration - AWS

The requirement for two private subnets in the NC2 cluster configuration workflow serves the same purposes:

One subnet is designated for user VMs, ensuring user workloads are separated from management operations.

The other subnet is designated for cluster management, maintaining the integrity and security of management processes and internal communications.

References:

Nutanix Clusters on AWS Deployment Guide

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration

For AOS software support related to NC2, the appropriate entity to contact is Nutanix. Nutanix provides comprehensive support for their software, including the Acropolis Operating System (AOS) used in NC2 deployments.

Support Scope:

Nutanix offers support for the deployment, configuration, and management of NC2 clusters, including any issues related to AOS software.

This includes troubleshooting, updates, and technical assistance.

Why Not Other Options:

Internal IT Operations team: Typically handles internal issues but does not have the specialized knowledge or resources for AOS software support.

Partner: May provide support but would ultimately escalate issues to Nutanix for software-specific concerns.

Public Cloud Vendor: Manages infrastructure-related issues but does not provide support for Nutanix AOS software.

References:

Nutanix Support Documentation

Nutanix Cloud Clusters on AWS Administration Guide

Nutanix Best Practices for AOS Support