Nutanix NCS-Core Dumps

Considering the equipment setup with one Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) Ethernet switch and two 10GbE SFP+ Top of Rack (ToR) switches, the consultant should recommend six DAC (Direct Attach Cable) 10GbE cables and three Ethernet cables. The DAC 10GbE cables are suitable for connecting the nodes to the ToR switches to handle high-speed data transfers, while the Ethernet cables are necessary for connections related to management purposes, such as connecting to the OOBM switch for remote management tasks. This recommendation ensures adequate connectivity for both data and management networks.References: Nutanix Hardware and Installation Guide, Best Practices for Network Cable Management.

For high-performance iSCSI workloads, especially in a Nutanix environment using AHV nodes and a 10 GbE interface, enabling Jumbo Frames on both the Host and the Controller Virtual Machine (CVM) is recommended. Jumbo Frames allow for a larger payload per network packet, which reduces the overhead required to send large amounts of data. Enabling Jumbo Frames on both the host and the CVM ensures that both ends of the communication channel can handle larger packets, thereby optimizing throughput and reducing latency for high-performance workloads.

References:

• Nutanix Bible: Networking Best Practices
• Nutanix University: Nutanix Network Optimization

For enabling node discovery when using the Foundation VM, the network adapter of the Foundation VM must be set to a Bridged Adapter. This configuration allows the VM to appear as a separate device on the same physical network as the host machine, making it possible for the Foundation VM to communicate directly with the nodes that are also connected to the same network. This is essential for node discovery and subsequent imaging operations performed by the Foundation tool.References: Nutanix Foundation Guide, Nutanix Networking Best Practices.

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In the preparation for a new cluster installation, after ensuring that the basic physical requirements such as space, cabling, and hardware connectivity are met, it's crucial to confirm power requirements. For enterprise installations, particularly where high-powered equipment like a four-node cluster is involved, ensuring redundant power is critical. The question specifically mentions "redundant" power, suggesting the need for a high-capacity solution typically found in 208v configurations in data centers, which provides more power efficiently and is standard for high-density computing hardware. Therefore, redundant 208v power should be confirmed as available onsite to support the new cluster's power needs effectively. References: Nutanix Certified Services - Core (NCS-Core) training materials and installation best practices available through Nutanix University and the Nutanix Bible.

The warning message about powering off VMs during an AOS upgrade in a two-node cluster is issued because, in smaller clusters such as two-node configurations, resource availability and redundancy are limited. To safely perform an upgrade without risking service disruption, the VMs need to be powered down to free up resources and ensure that there is sufficient capacity to handle the cluster operations during the upgrade process.References: Nutanix Bible, NCS-Core 6.8 course content, and Nutanix upgrade best practices.

If link aggregation is failing to pass traffic and is only showing a status of "configured," the most likely cause is a failed negotiation due to a misconfiguration on the Top-of-Rack (ToR) switches. This typically occurs when the aggregation protocols (like LACP) or the settings on the ToR switches do not match the configuration on the hosts. Ensuring that both ends of the aggregated links are configured identically and properly for the expected protocols is critical for successful link aggregation.References: Nutanix Network Configuration Guide, Best Practices for Network Aggregation.

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For the Exchange VM experiencing I/O performance issues, the recommended storage optimization change is Option A, "No data reduction." Exchange, as an application, is highly sensitive to latency and typically does not benefit significantly from data reduction technologies like deduplication or compression, which can introduce additional processing overhead and potentially worsen performance issues.

By configuring the container for Exchange with no data reduction, the system maximizes I/O performance by eliminating any additional processing that could delay data access. This setup ensures that Exchange has the fastest possible access to its data, which is crucial for its performance.

References:This recommendation aligns with best practices for Exchange storage on Nutanix, as detailed in the Nutanix best practices guide for deploying Microsoft Exchange, where it advises against using data reduction features for databases requiring high I/O throughput.

The CVM IP address is a hard requirement for deploying a Nutanix cluster. Each CVM must have a unique IP address assigned to it as this IP address is critical for cluster operations, including data replication, management activities, and communication between CVMs and hypervisors. The other options, while important for various functionalities, do not represent a hard requirement for initial deployment.References:

• Nutanix University - NCS-Core 6.8 Learning Path
• The Nutanix Bible, Cluster Configuration chapter (https://www.nutanixbible.com/)

To find the correct VLAN ID to use during the Foundation of a new 3-node cluster, the consultant should refer to the:

• Deployment Questionnaire: This document typically contains detailed pre-engagement information gathered from the customer, including network specifications such as VLAN IDs. It provides the necessary context and configurations needed for a successful deployment.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), where the importance of pre-deployment planning and documentation is highlighted.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), which covers the process of gathering and using deployment information.

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When managing multiple Nutanix AHV clusters across various locations with a centralized management through Prism Central, it is essential to secure each cluster individually. Integrating Microsoft Active Directory authentication directly on all Prism Element clusters allows each site to independently authenticate users while still being centrally managed. This method aligns with security policies that require network devices to authenticate via AD groups, ensuring that local administrative actions at each site are also secured under the same policy.

References:

• Nutanix Bible: Security and Authentication
• Nutanix University: Security Configuration

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As the consultant concludes the project, to assist the customer with repeating the deployment process at a dark site, the best items to deliver would be:

• A trial license activation code for Prism Starter, which will allow the customer to begin using the Nutanix cluster immediately without initial extra costs.
• Creating an account for access to the Nutanix Support Portal, ensuring the customer can access support and documentation as needed for troubleshooting and learning.
• A guide for dark site deployments using Nutanix standards, which will provide step-by-step instructions tailored to the specific challenges of deploying in a location with no direct internet connectivity.These resources are critical for enabling the customer to independently deploy and manage Nutanix clusters under the unique constraints of a dark site.References: Nutanix Deployment Guide, Nutanix Support Portal Documentation.

If after performing a failover operation the virtual machines have no network access despite the network administrator confirming the correct subnets at both sites, the likely issue is:

• A. Network mappings are not configured for the Remote Site: This configuration oversight means that although the VMs are online, they do not have appropriate network settings that correspond to the network environment at the failover site, resulting in connectivity issues.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), specifically the sections on disaster recovery and network configurations in failover scenarios.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), covering Data Protection and failover operations.

For ensuring that Nutanix storage containers can be mounted on non-Nutanix hosts for data migration workflows, the consultant should validate the configuration under: A. Prism Element - Settings - Filesystem Whitelist. This setting allows specific non-Nutanix hosts to access the Nutanix storage containers, which is essential for environments where data must be accessible to systems outside the Nutanix cluster. By whitelisting the IP addresses or hostnames of these external systems, they are granted the necessary permissions to mount and interact with the Nutanix file systems.References: Nutanix Prism Element User Guide, Nutanix Storage and Filesystem Configuration Best Practices.

To resolve inconsistent network speeds from the VMs on an AHV host equipped with both 10G and 25G NICs, the consultant should configure all network interfaces with Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) on the same virtual switch. This configuration will allow for better load balancing and bandwidth aggregation across multiple network interfaces, improving overall network throughput and reducing bottlenecks.References:

• Nutanix University - NCS-Core 6.8 Learning Path
• The Nutanix Bible, Networking chapter (https://www.nutanixbible.com/)

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To increase the Redundancy Factor (RF) from 2 to 3, at least five nodes are required for the cluster to function correctly with RF3, as each data block needs to be replicated to three different nodes. However, the optimal solution that offers both the necessary node count and sufficient storage overhead is:

• Six Compute Nodes with 25% available disk space: This configuration ensures that there are enough nodes to support RF3 while maintaining adequate storage capacity for redundancy without overutilization.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), particularly the sections on redundancy factors and node requirements.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), focusing on cluster scaling and redundancy considerations.

The most efficient and safest way to implement the customer's desire to reserve storage capacity for future node failures after expanding their existing 7-node RF2 cluster with four additional nodes is to first expand the cluster with the additional nodes, and then enable the Reserve Rebuild Capacity setting. This approach allows the cluster to immediately benefit from increased storage and other resources provided by the additional nodes, which can then be partially reserved to handle potential future failures. This method ensures both an increase in total capacity and the preservation of operational integrity during node failures.References: Nutanix Prism User Guide, Nutanix Best Practices for Cluster Expansion.

If a consultant is unable to ping the CVM from the hypervisor using the external interface in a network without VLAN tagging, and both are using the same subnet, the issue might be related to an incorrect default gateway configuration. The default gateway must be correctly set to ensure proper routing of packets between the CVM and the hypervisor. An incorrect gateway can prevent successful communication even if both devices are on the same subnet.References:

• Nutanix University - NCS-Core 6.8 Learning Path
• The Nutanix Bible, Networking chapter (https://www.nutanixbible.com/)

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In a Nutanix Files deployment within a 20-node AHV cluster, the consultant can deploy a maximum of 16 FSVMs (File Server Virtual Machines). This limitation is based on Nutanix's best practices and design considerations for scalability and performance. The number of FSVMs that can be effectively managed and maintained without degrading the performance of the file-serving operations or the underlying storage infrastructure dictates this maximum.

References:

• Nutanix Certified Services - Core (NCS-Core) Learning Documents
• Nutanix Bible: https://www.nutanixbible.com
• Nutanix University Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHgaS9IrJecs_AcQT3Y7vSsKT2mjz3Iu

The error encountered during the LCM operation suggests a failure in reading a file, which might be linked to the foundational services of the cluster. The genesis.out log file is essential for troubleshooting issues related to cluster initialization and fundamental operations. This file logs the activities of the Genesis service, which is responsible for managing and monitoring the lifecycle of cluster services, including LCM tasks. In case of errors during LCM operations, the genesis.out log provides detailed insight into what might have gone wrong during the process, making it the appropriate log to check in this scenario.

References:

• Nutanix Bible: https://www.nutanixbible.com/
• Nutanix University Videos on LCM and Genesis service: Nutanix Official YouTube Playlist

During the deployment of a cluster using the Nutanix Foundation, ensuring all IP ranges are correctly configured is crucial for successful connectivity and deployment. "Range Autofill" is a feature in Foundation that automatically populates IP address fields based on the first IP provided, ensuring consistency and correctness across multiple nodes being deployed simultaneously. This feature helps avoid manual entry errors and ensures all nodes are configured with appropriate IP addresses that fall within the specified range. References: Nutanix University ( )

The correct container advanced setting to configure in order to prevent ISO container images from exceeding a 100GB limit is "Advertised Capacity." This setting allows administrators to set a maximum storage capacity that is visible and available to the user, irrespective of the actual physical capacity available, thereby preventing over-allocation and management issues in environments where strict capacity limits are required.

References:

• Nutanix Certified Services - Core (NCS-Core) Learning Documents
• Nutanix Bible: https://www.nutanixbible.com

The requirements specify the use of LACP with multiple VLANs and without the use of a native VLAN. Trunk ports must be configured to carry multiple VLANs, which is necessary for scenarios involving LACP across multiple switches (MLAG or vPC). Setting the native VLAN to default and not using it in traffic management while trunking the ports meets these needs effectively. References: Nutanix Bible ( ), Nutanix Official YouTube Training Series

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The most likely cause for the failure in joining the Active Directory domain when setting up Nutanix Files, given the error message about the inability to connect to logon servers and valid credentials, points to network communication issues. The specific mention of "ads_connect: No logon servers" suggests that the File Server VMs (FSVMs) are unable to reach the domain controllers. This issue is often due to necessary network firewall ports not being open. Ensuring that all required ports for Active Directory communications are open between the FSVMs and the domain controllers would resolve this issue.References: Nutanix Files Administration Guide, Active Directory Services Network Configuration requirements.

When a Nutanix cluster needs to be re-imaged and nodes are showing as 'Unavailable' during the discovery process in the Foundation tool, it is often due to a deeper issue with the nodes' existing configuration or software state. Using the Phoenix ISO to re-image the nodes is the recommended approach. The Phoenix ISO can be used to completely reinstall the software on the nodes, ensuring that any problematic configurations or software issues are wiped clean, allowing for a fresh installation with the desired version of AOS.

References:

• Nutanix Bible: Re-imaging Clusters
• Nutanix University: Troubleshooting Installation Issues

The subnet 192.168.254.0/24 is commonly reserved for CVM (Controller Virtual Machine) internal switch traffic within Nutanix environments. This subnet is used internally by the CVMs for management and storage operations that are integral to the Nutanix infrastructure. Using a separate, reserved subnet helps to isolate management traffic from general network traffic, enhancing security and performance.References:

• Nutanix University - NCS-Core 6.8 Learning Path
• The Nutanix Bible, Network Configuration chapter (https://www.nutanixbible.com/)

For expanding a Nutanix cluster with software-less Dell PowerEdge servers, the consultant should: A. Image nodes using Foundation VM/App. This tool is designed for initial imaging and configuration of Nutanix nodes, including software installation, which is necessary since the nodes arrived without any software. B. Use the Expand cluster functionality within the existing Nutanix environment once the nodes are imaged. This feature will integrate the newly imaged nodes into the existing cluster, enhancing the cluster's capacity and performance. Options C and D are not applicable as returning nodes to the factory for imaging is unnecessary with the availability of the Foundation tool, and "Expand cluster to image the nodes" is not a correct procedure as imaging must be completed before expansion.References: Nutanix Foundation Tool Documentation, Nutanix Cluster Expansion Guide.

Erasure coding is a method of data protection in which data is broken into fragments, expanded and encoded with redundant data pieces, and stored across a set of different locations or storage media. The goal of erasure coding is to enable data that becomes corrupted at some point in the disk storage process to be reconstructed by using information about the data that’s stored elsewhere in the array1.

In the context of Nutanix, erasure coding increases the usable capacity on a cluster. Instead of replicating data, erasure coding uses parity information to rebuild data in the event of a disk failure1. The capacity savings of erasure coding is in addition to deduplication and compression savings1.

Given the characteristics of the VM in the question (large/sequential writes, data kept for years, data accessed only at the end of the year), Post-Process Compression would be the most suitable feature to utilize to save space. This is because Post-Process Compression, as the name suggests, compresses data after it has been written to the storage, which is suitable for data that is not accessed frequently2.

References:

• Erasure Coding | Nutanix Community
• Nutanix Support & Insights
• Introducing AOS 6.6: Enhanced data services and simplified … - Nutanix

To confirm that network traffic is traversing the 10G interfaces and not the 1G interfaces in a Nutanix environment, the consultant should run the allssh manage_ovs show interfaces command. This command allows for the inspection of all interface configurations and their current operational status across the cluster, effectively confirming which interfaces are actively managing traffic.References: Nutanix Bible, Nutanix University NCS-Core 6.8 learning materials

To revert both clusters to their original state after testing DR by activating VMs on the remote cluster, the administrator needs to ensure that replications are suspended to prevent any further changes during the process. The steps include suspending the replications on the primary site to prevent any conflicts or data loss (Step 1), deactivating the Protection Domain on the remote site using ncli to stop the DR environment (Step 2), and then migrating the protection domain back to the primary site (Step 3). This sequence ensures that both clusters return to their original states with minimal disruption.References: Nutanix Disaster Recovery Guide, Nutanix Administration Guide.

In the deployment of a two-node cluster at a remote branch office, the presence of a Witness VM is essential to manage the cluster quorum and data integrity in case one of the nodes fails or becomes unreachable. The Witness VM acts as an external arbitrator that helps prevent data unavailability and split-brain scenarios in a situation where the cluster nodes cannot communicate with each other. This configuration is necessary because with only two nodes, there isn't a third node to maintain quorum natively.References: Nutanix Bible, Nutanix University

https://portal.nutanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Web-Console-Guide-Prism-v5_10:wc-protection-domain-failback-disaster.html

The command ncli pd deactivate_and__destroy_vms name=<protection_domain_name> is a critical operation in managing Nutanix environments, particularly in scenarios involving disaster recovery and replication.

• This command deactivates the protection domain and deletes all VMs associated with that protection domain from the source site (Site A in this case). This operation is generally part of a planned migration or failover process where the VMs are intended to be run from the remote site (Site B).
• After this operation, the protection domain at Site A is no longer active, meaning it has been effectively removed along with its associated VMs, thus clearing the way for Site B to take over operations without conflict from the original site.

References:This action and its implications are covered under Nutanix disaster recovery and high availability strategies, detailed in both the Nutanix Bible and official Nutanix NCS-Core training materials, which discuss the management of protection domains and replication processes.

When forecasting infrastructure requirements for a new program in a Nutanix environment where all existing applications will be decommissioned, the most straightforward method is to disregard any workload calculations that include existing applications. This ensures that the analysis focuses solely on the needs of the new program.

Option A, "Check the Disregard Existing Workloads radio button in the Runway scenario," is the correct choice. Nutanix Runway is a tool designed to help administrators forecast and plan infrastructure requirements based on upcoming needs without being skewed by current utilizations that are scheduled to be decommissioned.

This method allows for a cleaner, more accurate projection of resources needed for the new applications, disregarding any resources currently in use that will no longer be relevant.

References:This approach is detailed in Nutanix planning and forecasting documentation, ensuring administrators can plan accurately for infrastructure changes and needs without the interference of outgoing workloads.

For re-configuring an existing cluster for a new use case where data preservation is not a concern, and there is a lack of CVM credentials:

• C. Foundation VM - Bare Metal: This tool allows for a complete re-installation of the Nutanix software from scratch, which is ideal in scenarios where existing configurations and data are no longer needed, and access credentials are unknown or lost.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), especially sections on cluster reconfiguration and Foundation tools.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), where cluster deployment and reconfiguration scenarios are extensively covered.

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The manage_ovs command requires specific interface names to be added or configured under a bridge or bond. In the provided scenario, the command failed because it generically referred to '1g' which is not a recognized interface or valid parameter syntax. For the command to work correctly, each individual interface name must be specified. In this case, the missing parameter was the specific interface name 'eth0' for one of the 1GbE NICs. The corrected command should explicitly include the NIC names, e.g., --interfaces eth0,eth1.References:

• Nutanix Bible
• Nutanix University NCS-Core Materials

To maximize the performance benefits of AHV Turbo, which is designed to optimize network and storage I/O operations for VMs, certain VM configurations are advantageous. The correct answers are:

Option A, "Workloads are multi-threaded." Multi-threaded applications can better utilize the improvements in I/O processing efficiency provided by AHV Turbo, leading to better overall performance.

Option D, "VMs have more than one vCPU." This configuration allows VMs to handle multiple processes or threads simultaneously, which is particularly beneficial when combined with AHV Turbo's enhanced I/O operations.

References:The benefits of configuring VMs with multiple vCPUs and supporting multi-threaded applications are discussed in Nutanix's documentation on AHV and performance optimization, where AHV Turbo is highlighted for its ability to accelerate VM operations in a Nutanix environment.

To ensure additional resiliency in a 20-node ESXi deployment capable of surviving the concurrent loss of two nodes, the consultant should configure the system with a storage reservation and HA (High Availability) admission control each set to 5%, combined with a cluster redundancy factor (RF) of 3. RF3 provides the capability to tolerate the failure of up to two nodes without data loss, thus enhancing the cluster's resilience. This configuration is optimal for maintaining cluster availability and integrity during multiple node failures.References: Nutanix Bible, Nutanix University

For a multi-tier application where traffic must be limited to specific services and ports across web, application, and database VMs, the optimal approach is to use microsegmentation features provided by Nutanix. Option D, "Categorize the VMs in Prism Central and utilize Flow to set a security policy," is the correct choice.

Nutanix Flow allows for detailed security policies that control VM-to-VM traffic within the same cluster, effectively managing access and communication based on specified criteria like VM category, service, or application type. This solution enables precise control over traffic flows, enhancing security without requiring additional physical or virtual network segmentation.

References:Nutanix Flow capabilities are detailed in Nutanix Prism Central's documentation, which explains how to implement microsegmentation and security policies for application-specific traffic management.

If the administrator observes that the snapshot intervals have changed from the initially configured 5-minute intervals to 15-minute intervals, it indicates a potential issue with the setup. Option C, "Fix a connectivity issue because the protection domain reverted to Async," addresses the likely cause—a connectivity problem that caused the system to revert to longer, asynchronous DR snapshot intervals.

NearSync typically allows for very frequent snapshots, but if there is a connectivity or configuration issue, it might fall back to less frequent asynchronous DR settings. Identifying and resolving any connectivity issues would allow the NearSync configuration to operate as initially intended.

References:The mechanics of NearSync and its behavior under connectivity issues are discussed in detail in Nutanix's documentation and troubleshooting guides, which describe how the system handles fallback scenarios and how to rectify them.

To ensure that alerts are automatically sent to Nutanix support, the Nutanix feature called Pulse must be enabled. Nutanix Pulse is an automated system intelligence service that collects health information and system alerts from Nutanix clusters and sends them to Nutanix support for proactive monitoring and troubleshooting. Enabling this feature is crucial for maintaining high availability and performance of the Nutanix environment, as it allows Nutanix support to quickly respond to and manage potential issues.References: Nutanix Pulse Documentation, Nutanix Support Services Information.

When converting a cluster from ESXi to AHV and encountering warnings about network adapter configurations in VMware vCenter, it is crucial to ensure that the network adapters are homogeneous to avoid issues with network performance and reliability. Keeping homogeneous adapters as active and standby ensures that all active and standby adapters operate at the same speed and capabilities, which is essential for maintaining consistent network performance and failover capabilities. This setup helps in avoiding conflicts or performance penalties that can arise from using mixed adapter types under the same virtual switch environment.References: VMware vCenter documentation, Nutanix AHV Networking Guide.

When deploying Nutanix hardware, it is essential to ensure that all necessary components are included in the Bill of Materials (BOM). In this case, the BOM includes SFP+ modules but lacks the fiber cables needed for connectivity. The SFP+ modules indicate a requirement for fiber optic cables, and it's crucial for the consultant to ensure the client understands their responsibility to procure compatible cables. Nutanix typically does not provide fiber cables as these are considered network infrastructure components, which vary based on specific network requirements and setups.References:

• Nutanix University - NCS-Core 6.8 Learning Path
• The Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com/)
• Nutanix TechTalks and Learning Videos (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHgaS9IrJecs_AcQT3Y7vSsKT2mjz3Iu)

According to Nutanix best practices for network configuration, it is recommended to use either:

• 10G uplinks only: This provides sufficient bandwidth for typical data center operations.
• 25G uplinks only: This option is suitable for higher bandwidth requirements. Mixing uplinks with different speeds, such as 10G and 25G, is not recommended as it can lead to non-optimal performance and complexity in handling traffic.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), specifically sections discussing network interface configurations.
• Nutanix Network Administration Guide, which details best practices for network setup.

In the scenario where SQL queries are running slower post-migration, creating multiple TempDB data files is a recognized best practice for optimizing SQL Server performance, especially when dealing with high transaction rates or complex queries. This approach helps in distributing the I/O load across multiple files and drives, reducing the contention and wait times associated with TempDB, which is a common bottleneck in SQL Server environments. Enabling autogrowth ensures that these files can dynamically grow as needed, which helps in handling unexpected increases in database activity without manual intervention.References: Nutanix Best Practices for SQL Server, SQL Server performance tuning guidelines.

If one power supply is disconnected from a NX-3235-G9 chassis, the behavior observed will be:

• The hardware status updates to reflect the change in Prism Element, the hosts continues to run, and the Host hardware power status alert is sent: Modern Nutanix hardware like the NX-3235-G9 is designed with redundant power supplies to ensure that the loss of one does not impact the overall operation of the cluster. Prism Element updates the hardware status to notify administrators of the power supply issue, but there is no impact on running workloads.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), particularly the sections on hardware management and monitoring.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), which includes information on responding to hardware alerts and maintaining cluster health.

After confirming that all nodes (Hosts and CVMs) are operational and network accessible, the next step in troubleshooting a failed cluster creation process is to use one of the CVMs to manually initiate the cluster creation. This is done using the command cluster create from a CVM, which allows you to establish the cluster management and data services provided by Nutanix. This approach is recommended when the Foundation process has successfully imaged the nodes but the automatic cluster creation has failed.References:

• Nutanix University - NCS-Core 6.8 Learning Path
• The Nutanix Bible, Cluster Initialization chapter (https://www.nutanixbible.com/)

In a Nutanix environment, if the Foundation VM is not discovering the hardware, it could be due to issues with the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) settings. IPMI is a set of computer interface specifications for an autonomous computer subsystem that provides management and monitoring capabilities independently of the host system’s CPU, firmware (BIOS or UEFI), and operating system.

In this scenario, the consultant should connect a crash cart to each node, log in to the pre-installed AHV hypervisor, and run the IPMITool commands to set the IPMI IP Address, subnet, and gateway for each node. After setting the IPMI settings, the consultant should run Foundation using the configured IPMI addresses that were just set.

This will ensure that the Foundation VM can communicate with the nodes via IPMI and discover the hardware, allowing the installation to proceed.

References:

• [Nutanix Support & Insights]
• [Nutanix Community]
• [Nutanix Documentation]
• [Nutanix Certified services - core (NCS-Core) 6.8 - Nutanix University]
• [Nutanix Bible]
• [Nutanix Certified services - core (NCS-Core) 6.8 Playlist - YouTube]

If the Foundation VM fails to boot and other methods need to be considered, the best alternative is the Foundation Applet. This lightweight tool runs on a laptop or other device and doesn't require booting a VM, providing a straightforward method to image Nutanix hardware, particularly useful in situations where hardware constraints or other issues prevent the use of a full Foundation VM.

References:

• Nutanix Foundation Installation Guide: Nutanix Documentation
• Nutanix Field Installation Guide and Tools Overview

Ref: tanix.com/page/documents/details?targetId=Files-v3_6:fil-files-high-availability-c.html

For scenarios requiring VM availability during unplanned outages, AHV Metro with Witness Operation is designed to handle such situations. AHV Metro Availability enables synchronous replication between two sites with a witness that arbitrates site availability in case of a split-brain scenario. This setup is intended for automatic failover during service disruptions, ensuring continuous availability of VMs without manual intervention.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), particularly the sections on disaster recovery and AHV Metro Availability.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), covering disaster recovery strategies and configurations.

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When Foundation reports an error indicating the ISO is not supported:

• Option B: Checking the MD5 checksum of the ISO file ensures that it matches the expected value listed by Nutanix, confirming the file's integrity and compatibility.
• Option D: Downloading and updating the iso whitelist.json from the Nutanix Support Portal ensures that Foundation has the latest information on supported ISO files, potentially resolving compatibility issues.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), especially sections on Foundation and ISO troubleshooting.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), which covers the setup and troubleshooting of Foundation.

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When encountering timeout issues during Foundation using a customer-provided network switch, one common cause can be mismatched or unsupported network configurations, particularly concerning MTU sizes:

• A. Check jumbo frames support of the network switch: Ensuring that the switch supports jumbo frames (MTU of 9000) and is properly configured for it can prevent timeout issues that might arise due to packet fragmentation or dropped packets.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), which discusses network prerequisites for successful Foundation.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), covering the technical setup and network requirements for cluster deployments.

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rx_crc_errors are caused either by faults in layer 1 (in the past, we have seen failed twinax cables and incorrect types of fibre being used), or issues with jumbo frames on the network. In an environment with 10 Gig switches that use cut-through forwarding (Cisco Nexus, Arista, Cisco devices using IOS default to Store and Forward switching), any packets that come into the switch will get forwarded out the destination interface once the switch has read the destination MAC address. If that packet has an MTU over what is configured on the interface, it will cut off the packet at the designated MTU, causing the server to receive a malformed packet, which will throw a CRC error.

If you have a layer 1 issue, you will see rx_crc_errors, not on all but one or two nodes.

Ref: ide-v5_18:wc-dr-application-consistent-snapshots-wc-r.html

When addressing high cluster IOPS and Cluster Controller Latency where networking is suspected to be the issue, it is essential to check the network configuration settings that can directly impact data transfer and latency. The correct answer is to adjust the "Number of NICs connected" and "frame size." Increasing the number of Network Interface Cards (NICs) connected can improve the network throughput and distribute the load more evenly. Adjusting the frame size, particularly setting larger frames (Jumbo Frames), can reduce overhead and improve network efficiency by allowing more data to be transmitted with fewer packets.

References:

• Nutanix Bible: Networking Considerations
• Nutanix University: Network Performance Optimization

If nodes cannot be discovered using the Foundation VM and they are already part of a Nutanix cluster, the best course of action is to bare metal image the nodes. This process involves re-imaging the nodes from scratch, which can resolve discovery and communication issues that may be caused by existing configurations or errors within the cluster's networking setup.References: Nutanix Bible, Nutanix University NCS-Core 6.8 learning materials

For a newly deployed Nutanix system where the customer has specified VLAN 10 for management traffic, the consultant should recommend using VLAN 10 for both CVM and AHV host traffic. This VLAN designation ensures that all management, monitoring, and internal cluster communication are on a dedicated network, separate from production VM traffic (VLAN 20) and backup/replication traffic (VLAN 30), thereby enhancing network security and performance.References:

• Nutanix University - NCS-Core 6.8 Learning Path
• The Nutanix Bible, Network Configuration chapter (https://www.nutanixbible.com/)

For a Nutanix cluster to support Replication Factor 3 (RF3), a minimum of 5 nodes is required. RF3 means that three copies of the data are maintained across the cluster for fault tolerance and high availability. Having at least five nodes ensures that there are sufficient nodes to distribute these copies across different fault domains, minimizing the risk of data loss and providing improved resilience against node failures.References: Nutanix Bible, Nutanix Technical Documentation on Data Resiliency.

Given the critical message about the NIC being disconnected or the switchport failing, the consultant should first verify the bonding mode of the NICs, especially since only two out of four 10GbE NICs are connected. In an AHV cluster, the NICs can be configured in different bonding modes such as active-active or active-backup. Ensuring that the NICs are configured for active-backup can provide redundancy by allowing one NIC to take over if the other fails, which seems to be necessary given the critical error indicating a possible disconnection or switchport failure. References: Nutanix Bible ( ), Nutanix University ( )

When installing Nutanix AOS on Cisco UCS hardware platforms, the recommended method is to use the Foundation VM. This approach allows for the deployment of Nutanix software onto bare metal hardware from a virtual machine that can manage the installation process across multiple nodes simultaneously. The Foundation VM simplifies the installation and initial configuration process, ensuring that all nodes are correctly configured and integrated into the Nutanix ecosystem.References: Nutanix Bible, Nutanix University

For a Nutanix cluster configuration that simplifies future deployments and expansions, disabling multicast and broadcast flood optimizations (A) and using a tagged VLAN for the CVM and hypervisor hosts (C) are the best practices. Disabling these optimizations helps in reducing unnecessary network traffic and potential broadcast storms in a growing environment. Using tagged VLANs for CVM and hypervisor hosts ensures proper network segmentation and scalability, allowing for easier management and expansion without reconfiguring the native network setup for each expansion or deployment.References: Nutanix Network Configuration Best Practices, Nutanix Deployment Guide.

When changing VLAN configurations for hosts and Controller Virtual Machines (CVMs) in a Nutanix cluster, doing so while the cluster is running can result in temporary communication losses, leading to alerts such as a node appearing down. To avoid these disruptions and ensure a smooth reconfiguration process, it is advisable to stop the cluster services before making VLAN changes. This prevents the cluster from detecting intermittent connectivity as node failures, thereby avoiding false alerts in Prism Element.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), particularly the sections discussing cluster operations and network reconfiguration.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), which includes best practices for network configuration.

Upon reviewing the network configuration in the provided image and considering the setup in a Nutanix environment, the best action to improve network performance is to adjust the bonding mode for the bridge that includes multiple high-bandwidth interfaces.

Option C, "Configure balance-sib or balance-tcp mode for br0-up if switch configuration allows," is the most effective choice. The bonding mode "balance-sib" (source IP-based load balancing) or "balance-tcp" (TCP/IP layer balancing) can optimize the distribution of network traffic across multiple interfaces, thereby enhancing throughput and redundancy.

This approach utilizes the capabilities of multiple network interfaces more efficiently, distributing the load to prevent any one interface from becoming a bottleneck while providing failover redundancy.

References:This configuration strategy aligns with best practices for network setup in high-performance virtualized environments, as detailed in Nutanix’s networking configuration guides and the Nutanix Bible, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.

When facing connectivity issues between the host workstation and the Foundation VM, ensuring proper network configuration is crucial. Removing and re-importing the Foundation VM can help reset any configuration issues, particularly ensuring that the virtual NIC is set to the correct mode, such as Host-Only, to facilitate direct communication with the host. Confirming the IP addresses and subnet masks ensures that both the host and the VM are on the same network segment, which is essential for successful communication. This step verifies that there are no IP configuration errors causing the connectivity issue.

References:

• Nutanix Bible: Foundation VM Setup and Configuration
• Nutanix University: Foundation VM Networking Configuration

Before going on-site to deploy a Nutanix cluster, the following prerequisites are crucial:

• A. Complete the kickoff call and validate the BOM (Bill of Materials): This ensures that all necessary components are accounted for and any discrepancies or missing items are addressed prior to installation.
• C. Validate whether the cluster questionnaire is complete and if the physical switch configurations are complete: Ensuring that all relevant customer and network information is obtained and validated is critical to avoid delays or issues during the physical installation and configuration of the cluster.

References:

• Nutanix Bible (https://www.nutanixbible.com), particularly sections on pre-deployment planning and validation.
• Nutanix University: NCS-Core 6.8 Training (https://university.nutanix.com), covering the importance of thorough preparation and documentation before on-site engagements.

The Best Practices guide for vSphere Networking can be found under the "Software Documentation" section of the Nutanix Support Portal. This section typically houses comprehensive guides and detailed documentation on various software components, including best practices for configuring and managing vSphere networking in a Nutanix environment.

References:

• Nutanix Support Portal: https://portal.nutanix.com
• Nutanix Documentation on vSphere Integration: Nutanix Software Documentation

Ref:

When upgrading ESXi hosts on a Nutanix cluster using One-Click Upgrade, it is crucial to verify that vSphere HA (High Availability) is enabled. This setting ensures that in the event of host failure during the upgrade process, VMs will be automatically restarted on other hosts in the cluster, maintaining availability and minimizing disruption. Verifying this setting is essential to ensure the resilience of the environment during the upgrade.

References:

• VMware vSphere Upgrade Documentation
• Nutanix Upgrade Guide