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Pure Storage FAAA_004 Pure Storage FlashArray Architect Associate Exam Practice Test
Question 1
After meeting with a potential customer, an SE confirmed the following details:
* The customer's current workload is 50 TB
* The workload has an expected DRR of 4:1
* The customer's data has predictable growth rate of 25% per year
* A 20% headroom for any unexpected workloads that may occur in the future
When sizing this solution, the SE needs to make sure that the customer will have enough capacity to last 3 years. Which raw capacity will meet these requirements?
Answer : C
To determine the raw capacity required to meet the customer's needs for 3 years, we need to account for the current workload, data reduction ratio (DRR), growth rate, and headroom.
Step-by-Step Calculation:
Current Logical Workload :
The customer's current workload is 50 TB .
Expected Growth Over 3 Years :
The workload grows at a predictable rate of 25% per year .
After 3 years, the logical workload will be:
Question 2
How does Pure Storage help customers increase storage density in their arrays, as new technology becomes available, without rebuying existing storage?
Answer : D
Pure Storage helps customers increase storage density in their arrays as new technology becomes available through its Evergreen//One subscription program. Here's an analysis of the options:
Analysis of Options:
A . Customers can attach third-party storage arrays to the Pure Storage array :
Pure Storage does not support attaching third-party storage arrays directly to its arrays. This is not a valid option.
B . Customers can leverage Pure Storage's Capacity Consolidation offering :
While capacity consolidation is a benefit of Pure Storage arrays, it does not specifically address increasing storage density with new technology.
C . Customers can mix HDDs and flash modules within the same array :
Pure Storage arrays are all-flash and do not support mixing HDDs and flash modules. This is not a valid option.
D . Customers can add a shelf with an Evergreen//One subscription :
With Evergreen//One , customers can non-disruptively add new shelves or upgrade their arrays to take advantage of newer, denser storage technologies without rebuying existing storage. This is the correct answer.
Recommendation:
The correct answer is D. Customers can add a shelf with an Evergreen//One subscription .
Evergreen//One Program Overview :
Explains the benefits of Evergreen//One, including non-disruptive upgrades and capacity expansion.
FlashArray Expansion Shelves :
Details the process of adding shelves to increase storage capacity.
Question 3
A customer wants to add capacity to support a new Oracle workload. It has been determined that the application needs 398 TB of thick-provisioned storage from the host. The customer wants to purchase the minimum storage capacity to handle this workload.
How much capacity should the SE propose, assuming DRR is 3:1?
Answer : A
To calculate the minimum storage capacity required to handle the Oracle workload, we need to account for the thick-provisioned storage requirement and the expected data reduction ratio (DRR).
Step-by-Step Calculation:
Logical Storage Requirement :
The application requires 398 TB of thick-provisioned storage from the host.
Data Reduction Ratio (DRR) :
The DRR is 3:1 , meaning the physical storage required is:
Recommendation :
The SE should propose 132 TB of physical storage, as it meets the requirement after accounting for data reduction.
Final Recommendation:
The correct answer is A. 132 TB .
Capacity Planning Guide :
Pure Storage Capacity Planning
Provides guidance on calculating usable capacity based on data reduction ratios.
Thick vs. Thin Provisioning :
Explains the differences between thick and thin provisioning.
Question 4
What is the minimally required FlashArray model that includes the DirectCompress Accelerator (DCA)?
Answer : A
The DirectCompress Accelerator (DCA) is a hardware component introduced in certain FlashArray models to enhance inline data compression performance. To determine the minimally required FlashArray model that includes DCA, let's analyze the options:
Analysis of Options:
A . FlashArray//X70 R4 :
The FlashArray//X70 R4 was the first model to include the DirectCompress Accelerator (DCA).
This makes it the minimally required model for DCA support.
B . FlashArray//X70 R3 :
The FlashArray//X70 R3 does not include the DCA. It relies on software-based compression, which is less efficient than hardware-accelerated compression.
C . FlashArray//X90 R4 :
The FlashArray//X90 R4 includes DCA but is a higher-tier model than the X70 R4. While it supports DCA, it is not the minimal requirement.
D . FlashArray//XL130 :
The FlashArray//XL130 is a high-performance model that includes DCA, but it is overkill for this requirement and not the minimal model.
Recommendation:
The correct answer is A. FlashArray//X70 R4 , as it is the first model to include the DirectCompress Accelerator (DCA).
FlashArray Hardware Specifications :
Details the features and capabilities of each FlashArray model.
DirectCompress Accelerator Overview :
Explains the benefits and availability of DCA.
Question 5
A customer currently has a FlashArray//X for their block storage with 40 TB of available storage. They need 10 TB of file workloads and want to spend the least amount possible on infrastructure.
What should the SE recommend?
Answer : A
The customer currently has a FlashArray//X with 40 TB of available block storage and needs to add 10 TB of file workloads while minimizing infrastructure costs. Let's analyze the options:
Analysis of Options:
A . Run both workloads on the current FlashArray :
Pure Storage FlashArray supports both block and file workloads using the Purity File Services feature, which allows customers to run file workloads directly on their FlashArray.
Since the FlashArray already has 40 TB of available storage, adding 10 TB of file workloads is feasible without requiring additional hardware. This is the most cost-effective solution.
B . Add another disk pool for file storage to their current FlashArray :
Adding a separate disk pool for file storage is unnecessary because Purity File Services can handle both block and file workloads on the same array.
C . Purchase an entry-level FlashBlade for the file workload :
While FlashBlade is designed for file and object workloads, purchasing a new FlashBlade would be significantly more expensive than leveraging the existing FlashArray. This option does not align with the customer's goal of minimizing costs.
D . NDU the FlashArray //X to a //XL and run both workloads there :
Upgrading the FlashArray//X to a FlashArray//XL via a Non-Disruptive Upgrade (NDU) is unnecessary for this use case. The current FlashArray//X has sufficient capacity to handle both workloads, and upgrading to a higher-tier array would increase costs unnecessarily.
Recommendation:
The most cost-effective solution is A. Run both workloads on the current FlashArray , leveraging Purity File Services to support the file workload.
Purity File Services Documentation :
Explains how to configure and use file services on FlashArray.
FlashArray Use Cases :
Highlights the versatility of FlashArray for both block and file workloads.
Question 6
A customer needs to be able to replicate from on-prem into the public cloud. They want to use the cloud as their DR site with failover and fallback capabilities. Which Pure Storage feature should the customer use?
Answer : A
The customer requires a disaster recovery (DR) solution that allows them to replicate data from their on-premises environment to the public cloud. They also need failover and fallback capabilities, meaning they must be able to switch operations to the cloud during a disaster and revert back to on-premises once the issue is resolved.
Snapshot replication between a FlashArray on-premises and Cloud Block Store (CBS) is the best solution for this use case. CBS integrates seamlessly with on-premises FlashArrays, enabling efficient replication of snapshots to the cloud. This feature supports failover and fallback operations, ensuring business continuity in the event of a disaster.
Why Not the Other Options?
B . Purity//FA CloudSnap periodic offload of snapshots to AWS: While CloudSnap allows periodic offloading of snapshots to AWS S3 for backup purposes, it does not provide the real-time replication and failover/fallback capabilities required for DR.
C . ActiveCluster FC replication between a FlashArray on site and Evergreen//One: ActiveCluster is designed for synchronous replication between two FlashArrays in different locations, but it does not support replication to the public cloud.
Key Points:
Snapshot Replication: Enables efficient and reliable replication of data between on-premises FlashArrays and Cloud Block Store.
Failover and Fallback: CBS supports these capabilities, ensuring minimal downtime during a disaster.
Integration with FlashArray: CBS is specifically designed to work with FlashArray, providing a seamless DR solution.
Pure Storage Cloud Block Store Documentation: 'Disaster Recovery with Cloud Block Store'
Pure Storage Best Practices Guide: 'Replication and Failover in Hybrid Cloud Environments'
Pure Storage Whitepaper: 'Hybrid Cloud Architectures with FlashArray and Cloud Block Store'
Question 7
A customer wishes to reduce the amount they spend on cloud storage from Azure public cloud. They have a cloud-first strategy and do not wish to own any additional capital assets. The applications data mainly consists of 100 TB of Database data.
Which product satisfies this requirement?
Answer : C
The customer has a cloud-first strategy and does not wish to own additional capital assets, meaning they are looking for a solution that operates entirely within the public cloud without requiring on-premises hardware. Additionally, their primary goal is to reduce cloud storage costs while managing a large volume of database data (100 TB).
Cloud Block Store (CBS) is the ideal solution for this requirement. CBS is a software-defined block storage solution that runs natively in the public cloud (e.g., AWS or Azure). It provides enterprise-grade storage features like deduplication, compression, and thin provisioning, which help optimize storage usage and reduce costs. By leveraging CBS, the customer can efficiently manage their database workloads in the cloud while minimizing storage expenses.
Why Not the Other Options?
A . Evergreen//Flex: This is a subscription-based model for on-premises FlashArray hardware. Since the customer does not want to own any additional capital assets, this option does not align with their cloud-first strategy.
B . Evergreen//Forever: Similar to Evergreen//Flex, this is an on-premises solution that involves hardware ownership, which does not meet the customer's requirements.
D . Portworx DBaaS: While Portworx is a containerized storage solution for databases, it is primarily designed for Kubernetes environments and does not directly address the need to reduce cloud storage costs for traditional database workloads.
Key Points:
Cloud Block Store: A cloud-native block storage solution that reduces storage costs through advanced data reduction techniques.
Cloud-First Strategy: CBS aligns perfectly with the customer's desire to avoid capital expenditures and operate entirely within the public cloud.
Pure Storage Cloud Block Store Documentation: 'Deploying and Managing Cloud Block Store in Azure'
Pure Storage Whitepaper: 'Optimizing Cloud Costs with Cloud Block Store'
Pure Storage Best Practices Guide: 'Database Workloads in the Public Cloud'
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