NS0-185 NetApp Storage Installation Engineer - ONTAP Professional Exam Questions and Answers

Installing and assigning new disk shelves in a production ONTAP cluster requires careful planning and validation. Three NetApp tools directly support this task.

TheHardware Universeprovides authoritative hardware compatibility and cabling guidance. It confirms which shelves, disk types, and cabling methods are supported for the specific controller platform and HA configuration.

TheSynergy applicationis used during installation to generate structured workflows, configuration guidance, and documentation that assist with shelf installation and disk assignment planning.

Config Advisoris essential after installation to validate shelf cabling, disk visibility, ownership, and HA pathing. It detects misconfigurations that could prevent proper disk assignment or create unsupported states.

My AutoSupport is used for telemetry and case management, not installation tasks. System Setup is used for initial cluster creation, not advanced shelf assignment planning.

Thus, the correct tools areA, B, and C.

When adding new nodes to an existing ONTAP cluster, proper cabling to the cluster interconnect switches is mandatory. The cluster interconnect network is a dedicated, private network used exclusively for internal cluster communication such as configuration synchronization, data movement, and quorum maintenance.

In AFF A400 systems, the cluster interconnect ports are fixed high-speed Ethernet ports that are clearly identified and reserved for cluster connectivity. These ports are typically 25GbE or 40GbE depending on configuration and are grouped together physically on the controller chassis.

Referring to the exhibit, the ports labeled with number 2 correspond to the cluster interconnect ports. These are the only ports that must be connected to the cluster interconnect switches when adding nodes to an existing cluster. ONTAP requires that each node have redundant connections to both cluster switches to maintain high availability and cluster quorum.

Ports labeled as other numbers in the exhibit represent different functions, such as management ports, data ports, or shelf connectivity ports, none of which are valid for cluster interconnect cabling.

NetApp installation procedures emphasize that incorrectly cabling non-cluster ports to cluster switches can prevent nodes from joining the cluster or cause cluster instability. Therefore, identifying and using the correct cluster interconnect ports is a critical installation step.

As shown in the exhibit, number 2 clearly identifies the correct ports used to cable the new AFF A400 nodes into the existing cluster interconnect infrastructure.

Within the ONTAP SAN solution assessment domain, NetApp emphasizes the creation of accurate and reusable documentation immediately after system installation. One of the supported tools for this purpose is NetAppDocs, which is designed to collect system configuration data and generate standardized inventory and design documentation. According to NetApp Storage Installation concepts and objectives, inventory reports must be produced in formats that support both technical review and customer handoff, while remaining editable and auditable.

NetAppDocs is explicitly described in NetApp documentation as supporting Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PDF outputs for inventory-style reports. These formats align with operational best practices defined in installation and assessment workflows. Word (.docx) files are used to present structured design narratives and annotated configuration details. Excel (.xlsx) files are used to present tabular inventory data such as controllers, disk shelves, ports, adapters, WWPNs, and LIF assignments, which are critical for SAN assessment and future expansion planning. PDF (.pdf) files are used as finalized, non-editable deliverables suitable for compliance records, customer signoff, and archival purposes.

Formats such as HTML and PostScript (.ps) are not identified in NetApp Storage Installation objectives as supported NetAppDocs inventory outputs. These formats do not align with NetApp’s standardized documentation deliverables and are not referenced in official installation or assessment documentation. As a result, they are excluded.

From a SAN-focused assessment perspective, the ability to generate Word, Excel, and PDF reports ensures consistency across deployment teams, simplifies validation of ONTAP SAN configurations, and supports accurate lifecycle documentation. These formats are repeatedly reinforced in NetApp installation guidance as the approved and supported inventory report outputs.

Therefore, the correct answers are A (.docx), C (.pdf), and E (.xlsx), as they are the only formats verified and supported for NetAppDocs inventory reporting within NetApp Storage Installation concepts and domains provided by NetApp.

iSCSI usesIQNs (iSCSI Qualified Names)to identify initiators. When mapping LUNs for iSCSI access, ONTAP requires the initiator IQNs to create igroups and establish access control. WWNNs and WWPNs are used for Fibre Channel, not iSCSI.

Therefore, IQNs are required.

When VLAN tagging is used, data LIFs are created on VLAN interfaces, not physical ports. Because multimode LACP is configured on port a0a, the correct VLAN interface is a0a-100.

Verifying interoperability between ONTAP versions, storage platforms, host operating systems, protocols, and host utilities is a mandatory step in NetApp solution assessment and installation planning. TheInteroperability Matrix Tool (IMT)is the authoritative NetApp resource used to confirm whether a specific combination of components is supported.

In this scenario, the customer needs to verify thatONTAP 9.8is supported withWindows Server 2016on an AFF ASA A700 system. IMT allows administrators to search by storage OS version, platform model, host OS, protocol (iSCSI, FC, NVMe), and host utilities to ensure the configuration is supported.

ONTAP System Manager is used for system administration, not supportability validation. Active IQ Unified Manager focuses on monitoring and performance. Active IQ OneCollect is used for data collection, not compatibility verification.

Therefore, the correct tool is theInteroperability Matrix Tool.

On AFF A220 systems, porte0Mis the dedicatedmanagement Ethernet portused for node management. This port is physically separate from data and cluster ports and is typically a 1GbE RJ-45 interface. In the exhibit, number1points to this dedicated management port.

ONTAP assigns the logical namee0Mautomatically to this physical interface, and it is reserved exclusively for management traffic. Administrators use e0M to configure node management LIFs, access the Service Processor (SP/BMC), and perform out-of-band management tasks.

Other numbered ports in the exhibit represent data, cluster, or console-related interfaces and cannot be used as e0M. Because ONTAP maps e0M to a fixed physical location on AFF A220 controllers, the correct answer is1.

AFF A250 systems use aconverged networking design, where the same physical ports are used for bothcluster interconnect traffic and HA interconnect traffic. This differs from older platforms that used dedicated HA interconnect ports.

The NetApp CN1610 switches only support10GbE, which is insufficient for AFF A250 systems. AFF A250 platforms require25GbE-capable cluster switchesto support both cluster and HA interconnect traffic.

Because the cluster ports are operational, the nodes can join the cluster. However, the HA interconnect traffic cannot be established due to insufficient switch capability, which explains why the NVRAM log cannot synchronize and the HA partner is unreachable.

Therefore:

The AFF A250requires switches with 25GbE port support

The AFF A250uses the same ports for cluster and HA interconnect

Statements involving 40GbE or separate HA ports are incorrect.

The correct answers areC and D.

This scenario is about iSCSI SAN path visibility after cluster expansion. ONTAP usesSelective LUN Map (SLM)concepts so that hosts do not automatically see every LUN through every node, which would create unnecessary paths. ONTAP documentation explains that with SLM, when a LUN map is created, the LUN is accessible through paths on the node that owns the LUN and its HA partner, and this behavior is controlled through thereporting-nodeslist.

If you wantadditional paths(including non-optimized paths) from newly added nodes, you must ensure the new nodes can be included in the reporting scope for those LUN mappings. ONTAP provides an explicit mechanism for this: the lun mapping add-reporting-nodes command is used before or after data mobility events to add nodes to the reporting-nodes list for a LUN mapping. This directly matches optionC (reporting nodes).

However, even if reporting-nodes is expanded, hosts only gain usable iSCSI access if the target LIFs are reachable/allowed. ONTAP documentation describes thatportsetscan be used with SLM to further restrict access, and when using SLM with portsets, LUNs are accessible on the set of LIFs included in the portset (on the owning node and its HA partner). Therefore, to “allow non-optimized paths from the AFF A250 nodes,” you must verify whether portsets are being used and that the appropriate new iSCSI LIFs are included (or that no restrictive portset blocks them). That makes optionA (port sets)the second correct configuration item.

Option B (switch zoning) applies to FC fabrics, not iSCSI. Option D (failover groups) affects NAS/management LIF failover behavior and does not control SAN LUN reporting visibility in the way SLM/reporting-nodes and portsets do.

The AFF A250 provideseight Ethernet portsthat can be used for Ethernet-based host connectivity, depending on adapter configuration. FC ports are separate and do not count toward Ethernet host connections.

The customer’s environment uses aCisco MDSSAN fabric, so a Cisco-focused management/visibility tool is the most direct way to gain insight into the fabric’s configuration, health, zoning state, and operational status.Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM)is a Cisco tool designed for managing Cisco SAN (including MDS) and therefore is the correct selection for Cisco fabric configuration insight.

From a NetApp installation and assessment perspective, the second tool that provides valuable insight—especially in the context of deploying NetApp storage into an existing fabric—isActive IQ Config Advisor. Config Advisor is used to validate installation-related configuration and cabling and to detect configuration issues across the environment, including SAN connectivity/cabling checks from the NetApp side. While it is not a Cisco fabric manager, it is the NetApp tool used during installation and verification phases to identify configuration and connection problems that affect successful deployment into a SAN environment (for example, incorrect connectivity patterns or misconfigurations that would impact host/storage access).

Option A (Brocade SAN Health) is purpose-built for Brocade environments and does not match “Cisco MDS fabric configuration.” Option C (Active IQ) focuses on NetApp system health, telemetry, and risks for NetApp arrays rather than providing direct insight into a Cisco MDS fabric configuration.

Therefore, the two tools that best satisfy “insight into their existing Cisco MDS fabric configuration” in the context of deploying NetApp SAN storage areB. Cisco DCNM(Cisco-side fabric visibility) andD. Active IQ Config Advisor(NetApp-side installation validation and connectivity/configuration checks relevant to the fabric integration).

To verify failover in a two-node ONTAP configuration, you must confirm both cluster-level HA state (for two-node clusters) and storage failover state (takeover/giveback readiness) for the HA pair.

The commandcluster ha showis used to verify the cluster HA status, which is especially relevant in two-node clusters where cluster HA can affect whether services remain available when one node is halted/rebooted. ONTAP documentation notes behaviors specific to two-node clusters and cluster HA, including the importance of proper HA configuration to avoid both nodes stopping data service under certain halt/reboot conditions.

The commandstorage failover showis the primary command to verify HA pair readiness, showing takeover/giveback capability, partner connectivity, and status indicators needed to confirm that storage failover is configured correctly.

Option C (cluster ring show) is a cluster database/ring status diagnostic command; while it can be useful in troubleshooting quorum or RDB-related issues, it is not the standard command pair for verifying HA failover configuration correctness after installation. Option D (storage failover show-takeover) is not the common baseline verification command cited for confirming general failover configuration; it is more takeover-output oriented rather than providing the full readiness overview that storage failover show provides.

Therefore, the two commands that accomplish correct failover verification in this scenario areA. cluster ha showandB. storage failover show.

In environments without outbound internet access, cloud-based monitoring and analytics tools cannot be used. The customer requires alocally deployed solutionthat can perform health monitoring, troubleshooting, and capacity reporting, including the ability to generatecustom Excel reports.

Active IQ Unified Manager (AIQUM)is designed specifically for this use case. It is installed on a local server within the customer’s environment and connects directly to ONTAP clusters. AIQUM provides performance monitoring, capacity analysis, event management, and historical reporting without requiring external connectivity. It also supports exporting reports in formats suitable for Excel-based analysis.

Active IQ Digital Advisor and Cloud Insights both rely on outbound connectivity to NetApp cloud services, which is not available in this isolated data center. ONTAP System Manager provides real-time management and basic monitoring but lacks the advanced reporting, historical trending, and Excel export capabilities required by the customer.

Therefore,Active IQ Unified Manageris the only tool that satisfies all stated requirements.

NetApp installation rules prohibit mixingNSE and non-NSE drives within the same stack. While the AFF A300 supports both encrypted and non-encrypted drives, they must be physically separated into different stacks.

Licensing NSE alone does not allow mixing encrypted and unencrypted drives in the same stack. The correct approach is tocreate a new stackspecifically for the NSE drives.

Therefore, the correct answer isB.

The Cluster Switch Health Monitor (CSHM) is a diagnostic feature used to monitor the health and configuration of cluster network switches. As part of ONTAP SAN implementation testing and troubleshooting, CSHM relies on secure, authenticated communication between the cluster and the switches.

NetApp installation and operational documentation clearly specifies thatSSHmust be used for bothCSHM monitoring and log collection. SSH provides encrypted communication, authentication, and command execution capabilities that are required to securely access switch operating systems and retrieve diagnostic information.

Protocols such asTelnetandHTTPare not acceptable because they transmit data in clear text and do not meet NetApp security standards.SSLis not used for switch CLI access or log retrieval in the context of CSHM.

Using SSH ensures compliance with security best practices while enabling ONTAP to collect switch logs, execute health checks, and validate switch configuration state. This requirement is consistently reinforced in NetApp installation objectives as part of secure cluster infrastructure design.

Therefore, the correct answer isD (SSH).

As part of the ONTAP SAN solution assessment domain, NetApp defines strict rules governingcluster composition and scalability. ONTAP clusters support a maximum of24 nodes, and within that limit, clusters can includedifferent controller models, provided they are supported by the same ONTAP release and meet hardware compatibility requirements.

BothFAS8060andFAS8080controllers are supported within ONTAP clusters and can coexist in a single cluster configuration. NetApp installation documentation explicitly allows mixed-controller clusters as long as the controllers are compatible and running the same ONTAP version.

In this scenario, there are six total controllers available: three FAS8060 and three FAS8080. Since ONTAP supports heterogeneous clusters and there is no architectural limitation preventing all six controllers from participating, thelargest possible clusteris achieved by includingall six nodes.

Smaller cluster sizes—two, four, or five nodes—are technically valid but do not meet the requirement of providing thelargest possible cluster. The assessment objective focuses on maximizing usable resources while staying within supported configuration guidelines.

Additionally, ONTAP automatically manages performance balancing and high availability across mixed-controller clusters. Each node pair forms an HA pair, and ONTAP ensures consistent data access across the entire cluster fabric.

Therefore, the correct answer isD, a cluster made up of six nodes.

Encryption at rest for ONTAP root volumes is provided bysoftware-based encryption.NetApp Volume Encryption (NVE)encrypts individual volumes, including root volumes.NetApp Aggregate Encryption (NAE)encrypts entire aggregates, also protecting root volumes.

IPsec provides encryption in transit, not at rest.NetApp Storage Encryption (NSE)encrypts at the drive level but does not encrypt root volumes.

Therefore, the correct answers areA and C.

Cluster peering enables data replication and disaster recovery features such as SnapMirror and SnapVault. LIF configuration for cluster peering follows specific ONTAP SAN concepts.

Each cluster participating in a peer relationship must haveat least one intercluster LIF per node. This ensures redundancy and allows ONTAP to balance replication traffic across nodes.

Additionally,intercluster LIFs must use the default intercluster service policy, which defines the permitted traffic types and security rules required for peering operations.

An MTU of 9000 is recommended but not mandatory. Dedicated broadcast domains or IPspaces are optional and depend on network design.

Therefore, the correct answers areB and D.

Explanation (250–350 words):

ONTAP clusters support amaximum of 24 nodesper cluster. In this scenario, the cluster already hassix nodesrunning mixed NAS (NFS) and SAN (FCP) workloads. When expanding an ONTAP cluster, NetApp best practices and installation rules strongly recommend adding nodesin HA pairsto maintain balanced high availability, performance symmetry, and consistent failover behavior.

Because nodes must be added in pairs, the cluster can scale from six nodes to eight, ten, twelve, and so on, up to the 24-node limit. However, the question is asking how many nodeswould be added, not the maximum supported. The standard NetApp expansion model for a six-node cluster is to addanother three HA pairs, which equalssix additional nodes, bringing the cluster to twelve nodes.

Adding only two or four nodes would result in uneven scaling and is not the standard recommended growth pattern for clusters of this size. Adding eighteen nodes would exceed practical expansion planning for a six-node system and approach the cluster maximum without justification.

Therefore, the correct answer is6.

Default failover groups are defined bybroadcast domains. Therefore, the LIF fails over to any operational port in the broadcast domain.

After cluster setup, NetApp best practices require validating hardware, cabling, HA configuration, and system settings.Active IQ Config Advisoris the primary tool used for post-installation validation. It checks cabling correctness, HA pathing, disk ownership, network configuration, firmware versions, and other critical installation parameters.

The other tools listed are used for planning, documentation, or upgrades, not configuration validation.

ONTAP 9.x defaults toRAID-DPfor SATA, NL-SAS, SAS, and SSD aggregates unless specific conditions require RAID-TEC. RAID-DP provides double-parity protection, allowing the system to withstand two simultaneous disk failures, which is essential for large-capacity SATA drives such as 10 TB disks.

RAID-TEC is reserved for very large aggregates with higher disk counts and is not the default. RAID4 and RAID1 are not used as default aggregate RAID types in ONTAP 9.

Therefore, the aggregate will be created withRAID-DP.

Alternate Control Path (ACP) provides anout-of-band management pathto disk shelves, allowing ONTAP to monitor and reset SAS expanders nondisruptively. It does not carry data traffic and does not assign shelf IDs.

After installing a NetApp storage system, it is critical to validate the environment for configuration and cabling errors.Config Advisoris the NetApp-recommended tool specifically designed for this purpose.

Config Advisor performs automated checks against NetApp-supported configuration rules, including hardware cabling, HA setup, disk ownership, shelf connectivity, network configuration, and firmware compatibility. It identifies misconfigurations that could lead to operational issues if left unresolved.

FilerView and BNA are legacy or unrelated tools, and Synergy is not used for ONTAP installation validation.

Therefore, the correct answer isD (Config Advisor).