Nutanix NCP-CI-Azure Dumps

Default Route for Internet Traffic:By setting the default route of 0.0.0.0/0 for the Nutanix User VPC pointing to the external-NAT network, all internet-bound traffic from the desktops will be routed through the Azure NAT Gateway, conserving bandwidth on the ExpressRoute connection.

On-Premises Route:Setting a specific route to the on-premises subnet for the Nutanix User VPC pointing to the external-No-NAT network ensures that traffic destined for on-premises resources bypasses the NAT Gateway and utilizes the ExpressRoute connection, optimizing the use of network paths.

References:

Azure NAT Gateway Documentation

Nutanix NC2 Networking Configuration Guide

Cloud Account Configuration:When setting up a cloud account for the NC2 organization, the administrator can specify which regions are available for deploying clusters.

Restricting Regions:This ensures that the Finance organization can only deploy clusters into the designated regions, complying with organizational policies and requirements.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Configuration Guide

Azure Subscription and Resource Management Documentation

Error Message Analysis:The error message indicates that the node cannot boot successfully and will be replaced with a new node. This points towards an issue related to the specific node type or configuration.

Bare Metal Node Support:One common cause for such deployment failures is selecting a bare metal node type that is not supported in the chosen deployment region. Azure has specific regions where certain node types are available, and attempting to use an unsupported node type in a region can result in provisioning failures.

References:

Nutanix KB 9768 for troubleshooting deployment issues: KB 9768

Azure Region Availability Documentation

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Deployment Guide

Resource Group Requirement:When deploying NC2 on Azure, it is essential to organize resources such as VNets, subnets, and other components in a dedicated resource group. This helps in managing and maintaining the resources efficiently.

New Resource Group:Creating a new Azure resource group ensures that all the necessary NC2 resources are isolated and managed together, avoiding conflicts with existing resources and providing a clear separation for administration and billing purposes.

References:

Azure Resource Group Documentation

Nutanix NC2 Deployment Guide

VPN for Connectivity:A VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows secure connectivity between the on-premises datacenter and Azure over the public internet without requiring dedicated infrastructure.

Ease of Setup:VPNs are typically easier and quicker to set up compared to dedicated connections like ExpressRoute, making them suitable for organizations without existing dedicated connection infrastructure.

References:

Azure VPN Gateway Documentation

Nutanix NC2 Connectivity Guide

To efficiently terminate a Nutanix cloud cluster, the NC2 (Nutanix Cloud Clusters) Console should be used. The NC2 Console provides the necessary tools and interface specifically designed for managing and terminating Nutanix clusters within cloud environments, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.References

Nutanix Cloud Clusters Documentation

To extend an on-premises subnet to an NC2 cluster on Azure, the administrator should configure:

Subnet Type:Both on-premises VLAN subnets and VPC subnets. This ensures that the subnet can span both the on-premises environment and the Azure environment.

Traffic Type:Support for IPv4 unicast traffic, IPv6 unicast traffic, and ARP is necessary to ensure proper communication and address resolution across the extended subnet.

On-premises Hypervisor:ESXi and AHV are supported hypervisors for this type of configuration, allowing for a seamless extension of the subnet between these environments.

References

Nutanix Hybrid Cloud Networking

In the scenario presented, the NC2 cluster was initially deployed with two Flow Gateways (FGW1 and FGW2) in HA. After adding four bare-metal nodes and additional workloads, two more Flow Gateways (FGW3 and FGW4) were added to handle the increased bandwidth for north/south traffic. Given the configuration, the existing workloads can utilize all available Flow Gateways (FGW1, FGW2, FGW3, and FGW4) for No-NAT (routed) traffic paths. This setup allows for Equal Cost Multipath (ECMP) routing, distributing traffic load across all Flow Gateways.

References

Nutanix Flow Networking

Azure Resource Providers: To prepare an Azure subscription for NC2, specific resource providers must be registered to enable necessary services and resources.

Required Providers:

Microsoft.Network: This provider is essential for networking functionalities, including virtual networks, subnets, and other network resources necessary for NC2 deployment.

Microsoft.Nutanix: This provider is specifically required for integrating and managing Nutanix resources within the Azure environment.

Other Providers:

Microsoft.HybridNetworkandMicrosoft.HybridCompute: These are not specifically required for NC2 but might be relevant for other hybrid or extended network configurations.

Conclusion: Registering both "Microsoft.Network" and "Microsoft.Nutanix" ensures that all necessary network and Nutanix-specific resources are available for NC2 deployment.

References:

Azure Resource Providers Documentation

Nutanix on Azure Setup Guide

Valid CIDR Range:When deploying an NC2 cloud cluster in Azure, a valid CIDR range is necessary to define the IP address space for the cluster and its associated networks. This range ensures that there are no conflicts with existing network configurations and provides sufficient addresses for the cluster resources.

My Nutanix Account:A my.nutanix.com account is required to access Nutanix services and manage NC2 deployments. This account allows administrators to log in, configure settings, and manage their Nutanix environment on Azure.

References:

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Deployment Guide

Azure Virtual Network Documentation

Account Administrator Role:This role grants the necessary permissions for managing the Azure account, including the ability to open, close, or extend a support tunnel. These capabilities are crucial for the Nutanix Support team to perform diagnostics and troubleshooting efficiently.

Permissions Included:The Account Administrator role encompasses broader account management rights, ensuring that the user can interact with various support and operational aspects of the NC2 environment within Azure.

References:

Azure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Documentation

Nutanix NC2 Support Tunnel Requirements

Outbound Rule Necessity: For successful cluster deployment, certain outbound connections must be allowed to ensure proper download and configuration of resources.

Critical Destination: "Https://downloads.cloud.nutanix.com/*" is a critical endpoint from which the Nutanix software and updates are downloaded during the cluster deployment process.

Functionality: Ensuring an outbound rule for this destination allows the deployment to fetch necessary files and updates, enabling smooth cluster setup and operation.

Other Destinations:

Https://portal.nutanix.com/: Used for accessing the Nutanix portal, not directly related to deployment downloads.

Https://support.nutanix.com/: Used for support-related tasks, not for deployment-specific downloads.

: Related to development and API documentation, not necessary for initial deployment.

Conclusion: Outbound connectivity to "Https://downloads.cloud.nutanix.com/*" is essential for downloading deployment resources.

References:

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Network Configuration Guide

Azure Network Security Documentation

Azure Monitor Overview: Azure Monitor is a comprehensive monitoring service that collects, analyzes, and acts on telemetry data from Azure resources.

Key Metrics Monitoring: Azure Monitor enables the monitoring of various Azure services such as virtual networks, virtual machines, and bare metal hosts, providing insights and visibility into their performance and health.

Comparison of Services:

Resource Manager: Manages Azure resources but does not provide detailed monitoring capabilities.

Azure Service Health: Provides personalized alerts and guidance when Azure service issues affect you but is not a comprehensive monitoring solution.

Azure Network Watcher: Focuses on network performance monitoring and diagnostics but does not cover all resource types.

Conclusion: Azure Monitor is the most suitable service for monitoring key metrics across a wide range of Azure services.

References:

Azure Monitor Documentation

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Monitoring Guide

ICMP Traffic:ICMP is essential for network diagnostics and troubleshooting, such as ping and traceroute, which help in monitoring the connectivity and health of the network.

Bi-Directional Traffic:Allowing bi-directional ICMP traffic ensures that all nodes (CVMs, Prism Element, and Prism Central) can both send and receive diagnostic messages, which is crucial for maintaining proper communication and network stability.

References:

Nutanix Networking and Connectivity Requirements

Corporate Firewall Configuration Guidelines

Purpose of an Organization in NC2:In the NC2 console, an organization serves to manage and segregate clusters based on specific requirements such as departmental needs, project goals, or security policies.

Cluster Management:This segregation allows administrators to apply unique configurations, permissions, and policies to different clusters within the same environment, providing flexibility and control over resource allocation and management.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Console Documentation

Best Practices for Managing NC2 Clusters

Local Key Manager (LKM):The native local key manager in Nutanix requires a minimum number of nodes to function correctly and provide key management services.

Minimum Node Requirement for LKM:To support the Nutanix native LKM, at least three nodes are needed. This configuration ensures that the key management service can achieve the necessary quorum and redundancy for secure operations.

References:

Nutanix Data Encryption Documentation

Nutanix Cluster Configuration Guide

Free Trial Expiration:Once the NC2 free trial period expires, the administrator needs to switch to a paid subscription plan to continue using all the features and functionalities provided by Nutanix NC2.

Paid Subscription Benefits:Transitioning to a paid subscription ensures uninterrupted access to NC2 features, support, and updates, maintaining the operational capabilities of the existing clusters.

References:

Nutanix Subscription and Billing Documentation

Nutanix NC2 Support and Subscription Guide

To verify that the NC2 specialist has access to the necessary organizations for troubleshooting the issue, the administrator should:

Confirm that theSupport Authorizationon the organization is set toFull Access. This ensures that the NC2 specialist has the required permissions to access the necessary resources and perform the necessary actions to resolve the issue.

Providing login credentials or adding the specialist as an admin user is not recommended due to security and privacy concerns. Ensuring the specialist is assigned the correct RBAC role is another valid approach but confirming the support authorization directly ensures they have the needed access.

References

Nutanix Support and Services

Jump Host Deployment:A Jump Host is a secure server used to access other systems in a network. In the context of an NC2 cluster on Azure, it serves as an intermediary for accessing Prism Element and Prism Central.

Flexible Deployment Options:The Jump Host can be deployed in either the Prism Central VNet or an external VNet, providing flexibility in network design and access strategies. This allows the organization to choose the most suitable network for deploying the Jump Host based on their security and connectivity requirements.

References:

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Deployment Guide

Azure Virtual Network Configuration Documentation

NC2 Console:The NC2 console is specifically designed for deploying and managing Nutanix clusters on Azure. It provides the necessary tools and interface to configure, monitor, and manage the NC2 clusters effectively.

Cluster Deployment:Using the NC2 console ensures that all configurations and integrations with Azure are correctly handled, providing a seamless deployment experience.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Deployment Guide

Nutanix Console Documentation

Jump Host VM in External VNet with VNet Peering:

Deploy Jump Host VM:Deploy a VM in an external VNet that is not within the same network as Prism Central.

VNet Peering:Establish VNet peering between the external VNet and the Prism Central VNet. This allows the Jump Host to communicate with Prism Central securely.

Jump Host VM in Prism Central VNet Inside a Delegated Subnet:

Deploy Jump Host VM:Deploy the Jump Host VM directly in the Prism Central VNet within a delegated subnet. This places the Jump Host in the same network environment as Prism Central, allowing direct access.

References:

Azure VNet Peering Documentation

Nutanix NC2 Networking and Access Configuration Guide

Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC):To ensure that the Nutanix licensing costs apply to the MACC, the company needs to make purchases that are recognized by Azure's billing system.

Azure Marketplace Purchases:By purchasing Nutanix licenses through the Azure Marketplace, the costs will be included in the Azure billing and count towards the MACC, thereby leveraging the committed spend.

References:

Azure Marketplace Documentation

Nutanix Licensing Guide