Question 1

What is the speed of the Ethernet ports to connect a FlashArray //E to a DFS?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: The Pure Storage FlashArray//E model is designed to connect to DirectFlash Shelves (DFS) using a dedicated high-speed internal fabric. This fabric utilizes 25GbE RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) ports on the controllers. These ports provide the necessary low-latency, high-bandwidth communication path between the FlashArray//E controllers and the NVMe media housed within the DirectFlash Shelves, which is a core component of the DirectFlash architecture.

Question 2

What command will view NVRAM install and update status?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The purehw list command is the designated utility within the Purity//FA Command Line Interface (CLI) for displaying the status of hardware components in a FlashArray. Using this command with the --all flag ensures a comprehensive output that includes the state of all components, such as controllers, chassis, power supply units, and specifically, the NVRAM modules. The status field in the output will indicate whether the NVRAM is healthy, updating, or in another state, thereby providing its installation and update status.

Question 3

Which action should an Implementation Engineer take to confirm that all volumes connected to a host are automatically in a protection group?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: On a Pure Storage FlashArray, adding a host object as a member of a protection group is the designated method to automatically protect all volumes associated with it. When a host is a member, any volume currently connected to that host, as well as any volumes connected in the future, are automatically included under the protection group's policy. This ensures that all of the host's LUNs are consistently protected by the group's snapshot and replication schedules without requiring manual intervention for each individual volume, thereby simplifying administration and preventing configuration drift.

Question 4

When performing an install on a FlashArray, what step should be taken first?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: The initial setup of a new Pure Storage FlashArray begins with configuring the primary controller, which is designated as CT0. An administrator connects a laptop to the management or console port of CT0 to launch the setup wizard. This first step is crucial for establishing the array's identity, setting management IP addresses, and configuring network services like DNS and NTP. Once CT0 is configured, it facilitates the configuration of the secondary controller (CT1) and brings the array online.

Question 5

A customer has purchased a DirectFlash Shelf, but lacks available space in the same rack as the chassis. There is available space in a rack 6m away. What step should be taken prior to implementation?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: The standard cables included with a DirectFlash Shelf (DFS) are designed for installation within the same rack as the FlashArray chassis. For installations where the DFS must be placed in a different rack, such as the 6-meter distance described, longer cables are required. Pure Storage provides optional 7-meter cables specifically for this purpose. Ordering the correct length cables is the appropriate and necessary planning step to take prior to the physical installation, as it directly addresses the connectivity requirement without causing major disruption to the existing infrastructure.

Question 6

When executing a FlashArray upgrade from the FA-405 to a FA-X Series, into which slot on CT1 must the 2 Port InfiniBand Card be installed?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: On FlashArray//X series controllers, the PCIe slots are designated for specific functions to ensure proper system operation and connectivity. The 2-port InfiniBand card, which is essential for the high-availability (HA) interconnect and NV-RAM mirroring between the two controllers (CT0 and CT1), must be installed in the dedicated mezzanine PCIe Slot 2. This specific slot is engineered for this purpose, providing the necessary bandwidth and direct communication path between the controllers. Installing it in any other slot would result in a non-functional HA pair.

Question 7

An Implementation Engineer is planning to add a DirectFlash Shelf to a FlashArray//XL with an existing DirectFlash Shelf. Which PCIe slot must be used for shelf connectivity?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The Pure Storage FlashArray//XL has a specific and mandatory PCIe slot assignment for connecting DirectFlash Shelves (DFS). The Host Bus Adapter (HBA) for the first DFS must be installed in PCIe slot 4. For expansion with a second DFS, the HBA must be installed in PCIe slot 6. Since the scenario describes adding a second shelf to an array that already has one, the engineer must use slot 6 for the new HBA to ensure proper connectivity, performance, and adherence to the supported hardware configuration.

Question 8

A customer needs to have arrays installed and configured with ActiveCluster and ETH replication. The installation document contains 3 IP addresses. How many additional IP addresses are needed?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: An ActiveCluster configuration requires dedicated IP addresses for synchronous replication and management of the stretched pod. The requirement is as follows: Replication Network IPs: Each of the two arrays in the cluster requires two IP addresses for replication, one for each controller. This totals four IP addresses (2 arrays x 2 controllers/array). Stretched Pod Virtual IP (VIP): A single management VIP is required for the stretched pod. This VIP is used to manage the pod as a single entity. Therefore, the total number of IP addresses required specifically for the ActiveCluster functionality is 4 (replication) + 1 (pod VIP) = 5. This assumes the use of the Pure Cloud Mediator, which is the standard, recommended deployment and does not require a customer-provisioned IP address. The three IP addresses mentioned in the question typically refer to the standard management IPs for a single array (ct0, ct1, and array VIP) and are distinct from the IPs needed to enable ActiveCluster.

Question 9

What is the required PSU wattage for a FlashArray// X70R2/R3 or X90R2/R3 array?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The Pure Storage FlashArray//X70R2/R3 and //X90R2/R3 models are built on a 3U chassis that is equipped with four redundant 1600W Power Supply Units (PSUs). This configuration provides N+1 redundancy and ensures sufficient power for the high-performance controllers and the full complement of DirectFlash Modules that these enterprise-grade models support. The 1600W rating is a standard hardware specification for these specific chassis generations to meet their operational power requirements under full load.

Question 10

After upgrading Purity during a new installation, which command should an Implementation Engineer run to determine what version of Purity will be loaded at the next boot of the FlashArray?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The pureboot list command is the correct tool for this task. After a Purity software upgrade, this command displays the Purity//FA environments that are installed on the controllers' boot drives. The output clearly indicates which environment is the current (running) version and, crucially, which is marked as the next version to be loaded upon the subsequent reboot. This allows the engineer to verify that the upgrade has been staged correctly and the intended version will be active after the next boot cycle.

Question 11

What hardware should the Implementation Engineer find in the upgrade kit in order to perform an //X to //XL NDU?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: During an //X → //XL non-disruptive controller upgrade the field kit must provide everything that is not already resident in the array: (1) two 100 Gb QSFP28 passive cables to extend the internal RoCE fabric, (2) three Mellanox ConnectX-6 cards (one per new controller plus a spare/stand-by required by the procedure), and (3) twenty DirectFlash Module Devices that replace the older NVRAM modules used in //X systems. These exact quantities are listed in the upgrade kit bill-of-materials contained in Pure Storage’s official NDU guide; no other combination satisfies the documented upgrade prerequisites.

Question 12

What command can be used to identify interface status?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: The purenetwork list --all command is used to display a comprehensive list of all attributes for the network interfaces on a Pure Storage FlashArray. This detailed view includes the 'Status' column, which explicitly shows the operational state of the interface link (e.g., 'up', 'down', 'unused'). This is the most direct and complete command to identify the current status of all network interfaces.

Question 13

When should a FlashArray support case be opened?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: Opening a support case before starting the installation is a mandatory step in the Pure Storage deployment process. This proactive measure officially notifies Pure Storage Support of the scheduled installation activity. It allows support engineers to be aware of the deployment, track its progress, and be prepared to provide immediate assistance if required. The case serves as the official record for the installation and ensures a smooth, supported implementation from the very beginning.

Question 14

In a situation where iSCSI cards need to be re-used during a controller upgrade, which is a valid transfer path?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: The valid transfer path for re-using iSCSI cards during a controller upgrade is from a FlashArray//X R2 to a FlashArray//X R3. The hardware architecture and form factor for specific PCIe-based iSCSI cards are compatible between these two generations. This allows for the migration of existing connectivity hardware, preserving port configuration and reducing costs during a non-disruptive upgrade (NDU). The M-series controllers use a different chassis and internal architecture, making their components incompatible with the later X-series (XR2/XR3) controllers.

Question 15

An Implementation Engineer is performing a capacity consolidation on an X50R2 that is 83% full. The
starting config is X50R2-20/10-22/0. The end config is X50R2-91/0. What steps should the
Implementation Engineer follow to complete the work?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: This scenario describes a capacity consolidation on a fully populated chassis, which requires a "swing" upgrade procedure. The array is 83% full, meaning there is insufficient free space to evacuate a data pack onto the remaining packs. The correct procedure is to first create a physical slot in the chassis by moving an existing data pack (the 20TB DP) to an empty slot in the connected shelf (SH0). This allows the new, large 91TB data pack to be installed in the chassis, adding significant capacity. With the new capacity available, the remaining old data packs (the 10TB chassis DP and all packs in SH0) can be safely evacuated before being removed.

Free FlashArray-Implementation-Specialist Actual Exam Questions