FlashArray-Implementation-Specialist Pure Certified FlashArray Implementation Specialist (FAIS) Exam Questions and Answers

The command purehw list --enclosures displays detailed information about shelf enclosures and their cable connections, helping verify physical connectivity.

On FlashArray//XR2/3 FC arrays, the default PCIe Fibre Channel card is a 2-port card installed in slot 2, providing standard FC connectivity.

The FlashArray//XL models are designed to fit into a 5U rack space, which is equivalent to 5 rack units. Each rack unit (U) is 1.75 inches in height, so a 5U chassis would be 8.75 inches tall. However, the FlashArray//XL chassis is designed to be 5U in height, providing a compact and efficient form factor for enterprise storage needs.

The provided netmask "255.255.255.223" is invalid. Changing it to the standard subnet mask "255.255.255.0" aligns correctly with the gateway "10.24.18.1" for proper network configuration.

For SMTP settings during array initialization, the host should be specified without the port number; including “:587” can cause connection issues and prevent successful initialization.

The purearray remoteassist --connect command explicitly enables Support to establish a remote connection to the array for troubleshooting or assistance.

Fibre Channel (FC) I/O cards are compatible across all FlashArray models, providing consistent SAN connectivity regardless of array generation.

The correct consolidation process involves evacuating data from the existing chassis drives first, then installing the new larger 91TB data pack, and finally evacuating shelf 0 to complete the consolidation efficiently.

Adding a DirectFlash Shelf with sufficient temporary extra capacity (63TB) allows data to be evacuated from the smaller 22TB packs during the swap, enabling consolidation withoutreducing array usage beforehand.

The command hwconfig --model returns the model information of the controller, which is essential before running the puresetup replace procedure.

The customer’s completion sign-off is required to confirm that the installation meets their expectations and requirements before the engineer leaves the site.

Port 443 (HTTPS) must be open on all management ports to enable secure outbound connections for Phonehome and Remote Assist functionality.

FlashArray//E models utilize 25Gb Ethernet (25G) ports for connecting to DirectFlash Shelves (DFS). These 25G ports are designed to handle the high throughput demands of DFS, providing efficient data transfer between the storage array and expansion shelves. This configuration ensures optimal performance and scalability for FlashArray//E systems.

iSCSI cards can be reused when upgrading from XR2 to XR3 controllers, supporting hardware continuity within this upgrade path.

The installation process begins with configuring controller 0 (CT0) first, as it is the primary controller responsible for initial system setup.

The command purearray phonehome --send-logs is used to send all Phonehome logs to support upon completion of an upgrade.

The FlashArray//X70R2 and //X90R2 models are equipped with dual 1600W power supplies, each rated for 1600 watts. These high-wattage power supplies are designed to support the increased performance and capacity demands of these models. The power supplies operate in an N+1 redundancy configuration, ensuring continuous operation even if one power supply fails.

FlashArray ActiveCluster is designed for synchronous replication between two FlashArray systems, enabling active-active configurations across two sites. This setup allows both arrays to serve I/O simultaneously, providing high availability and zero RPO (Recovery Point Objective). Each array in the ActiveCluster configuration maintains identical volume identities, ensuring seamless access for hosts regardless of the array they connect to. The configuration supports metro-area clustering, with a maximum round-trip latency of 11 milliseconds between arrays. Additionally, the Pure1 Cloud Mediator or an on-premises mediator is utilized to manage failover and prevent split-brain scenarios, eliminating the need for a third site or external gateway.

While ActiveCluster supports a two-site configuration, it does not support additional arrays within the same synchronous setup. For scenarios requiring protection across more than two sites, asynchronous replication solutions like ActiveDR™ can be employed. ActiveDR allows for asynchronous replication to a third site, providing broader disaster recovery capabilities.

Therefore, the maximum number of arrays supported in a single ActiveCluster configuration is two.

When replacing SAS chassis data packs with DirectFlash Modules (DFMs) after an upgrade to //X20R3-EMEZZ, a DFM Swing Shelf is required to facilitate data evacuation and migration during the transition.