Nutanix NCP-CI-Azure Nutanix Certified Professional - Cloud Integration - Azure (NCP-CI-Azure v6.7) Exam Practice Test

Replication Factor (RF3):RF3 requires that data is replicated across three different nodes to ensure data durability and fault tolerance. This replication scheme allows the system to tolerate the failure of two nodes simultaneously.

Minimum Node Requirement for RF3:To meet the RF3 requirements while maintaining operational capability, a minimum of five nodes is necessary. This configuration ensures that there are enough nodes to distribute the data and provide the necessary redundancy.

References:

Nutanix Replication Factor Documentation

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Deployment Guide

API Key Management:For NC2 to manage Azure resources successfully, it needs to authenticate and authorize API calls. This is typically handled through API keys, which are managed via specific endpoints.

Required Connection:The endpointapikeys.nutanix.comis crucial for managing these API keys. Ensuring connectivity to this endpoint allows NC2 to verify and utilize the API keys needed for interacting with Azure services.

References:

Nutanix NC2 API Configuration Guide

Azure API Management Documentation

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

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

Scenario Analysis:

A. Connectivity between sites already provides encryption: Using VTEP in this scenario is advantageous because VTEP does not inherently provide encryption. If encryption is already provided, VTEP can be effectively used without additional security concerns.

D. Multiple remote Availability Zones exist to add to the same VTEP-based extended Layer 2 subnet: VTEP is well-suited for scenarios where multiple remote Availability Zones need to be connected to the same extended Layer 2 subnet. This allows for efficient management and seamless connectivity across different zones.

Scenarios B and C:

B. Only one remote Availability Zone exists that needs the subnet extended: This scenario does not leverage the strengths of VTEP, as it is better suited for multiple zones.

C. Connectivity between sites already does not provide encryption: Using VTEP without existing encryption is not ideal as VTEP itself does not encrypt the traffic.

Conclusion: VTEP is advantageous when encryption is already in place and when multiple remote zones need to be connected to the same extended subnet.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Networking Guide

Azure Networking Documentation

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

Check the list of regions specified under the NC2 organization cloud account:The list of available regions in the NC2 console might be restricted based on the configuration of the cloud account associated with the NC2 organization. Verifying this list ensures that the desired region is included and available for cluster creation.

Ensure that the Azure region is whitelisted for use by Microsoft in the subscription:Sometimes, specific regions need to be explicitly enabled or whitelisted in the Azure subscription for certain services. This step ensures that the required region is permitted for use within the Azure subscription, allowing the NC2 cluster to be created in that region.

References:

Azure Subscription and Service Limits Documentation

Nutanix NC2 Configuration and Setup Guide

NATed Path Configuration: When using the NATed Path, it is essential to ensure that traffic can flow out of the Flow gateway VM to external networks.

Default Route: Adding a default route on the Nutanix User VPC ensures that all outbound traffic is directed to the appropriate network gateway.

Configuration Steps:

Navigate to the routing settings of the Nutanix User VPC.

Add a default route with the destination of 0.0.0.0/0, pointing to the External Overlay network.

Security Group Settings:

Ensure that the External Flow Gateway Security Group on the External NIC allows outbound traffic.

Ensure that the Internal Flow Gateway Security Group on the internal NIC allows outbound traffic (if needed for internal network flows).

Conclusion: Properly configuring the default route on the Nutanix User VPC enables outbound traffic flow via the NATed Path through the External Overlay network.

References:

Nutanix Flow Gateway Configuration Guide

Azure VPC Routing Documentation

Node Termination Observation:When a node is terminated from the Azure portal, the NC2 cluster will detect that the node is no longer operational.

Marking as Degraded:NC2 will mark the node as degraded, indicating that the node is not functioning as expected. This status allows administrators to take necessary actions to resolve the issue, such as provisioning a new node or addressing the degradation cause.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Cluster Management Guide

Azure Instance Termination Documentation

Azure Directory Service Role: Azure Directory Service must be able to resolve specific Nutanix URLs to ensure proper communication and functionality during the deployment of an NC2 cluster.

Critical Endpoint: The address "Gateway-external-api.cloud.nutanix.com" is critical for establishing external API communications required for the deployment and management of the NC2 cluster.

DNS Resolution: Proper DNS resolution of this address ensures that the Azure Directory Service can interact with Nutanix services and APIs necessary for cluster operations.

Verification Process:

Ensure that DNS settings allow resolution of "Gateway-external-api.cloud.nutanix.com".

Test connectivity and resolution prior to deployment to avoid issues.

Importance: Without resolving this address, the deployment process might face connectivity issues, leading to potential deployment failures.

References:

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Setup Guide

Azure Active Directory Integration

User VM:The initial source of the traffic within the Azure environment.

Delegated Subnet:Traffic from the User VM flows through the delegated subnet, which is configured to handle specific network traffic.

Flow Gateway:The Flow Gateway manages and routes the traffic from the delegated subnet, providing network services and connectivity.

Floating IP Address:The Flow Gateway assigns a floating IP address for the outbound traffic, facilitating NAT operations.

Azure NAT Gateway:The traffic is then routed through the Azure NAT Gateway, which provides outbound internet connectivity for the User VMs, ensuring secure and efficient routing.

References:

Azure Virtual Network NAT Documentation

Nutanix NC2 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

Minimum Node Requirement:For production deployments, Nutanix typically requires a minimum of three nodes to ensure high availability and fault tolerance within the cluster.

Azure Ready Nodes:Deploying at least three Azure Ready Nodes allows the cluster to provide redundancy, ensuring that the failure of a single node does not affect the overall availability and performance of the cluster.

References:

Nutanix NC2 on Azure Deployment Guide

High Availability and Redundancy Best Practices

Allowlisting the Azure Subscription:This step ensures that the Azure subscription is recognized and permitted by Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2). Without allowlisting, the necessary resources and permissions within the Azure subscription may not be available for NC2, potentially blocking the creation and management of clusters.

Creating an App Registration:This involves setting up an application within Azure Active Directory (AAD) to enable secure communication between NC2 andAzure. The app registration process includes assigning permissions and obtaining necessary authentication credentials, facilitating the interaction and management of Azure resources by NC2.

References:

Nutanix Documentation on NC2 Setup

Azure Active Directory Application Registration Guide

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

Outbound Communication Whitelisting:For NC2 Azure API calls and telemetry data to function correctly, certain outbound communications must be allowed. If these communications are not whitelisted, API calls can fail, and telemetry or health data might not be reported correctly.

First Check:Given the symptoms (failing API calls and missing telemetry), the first step should be to ensure that all necessary outbound communications are correctly whitelisted. This includes ensuring that endpoints and services required for NC2 operation are accessible.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Networking Requirements

Azure Networking and Security Configuration Guide

Instance Termination Detection:When an instance in Azure is reported as being in a terminated state but NC2 expects it to be running, the system will automatically take corrective actions.

Host Condemnation and Replacement:NC2 will condemn the host, marking it as unusable, and will then trigger the replacement process to ensure that the cluster maintains its required capacity and performance levels. This automatic handling ensures minimal disruption to the workloads running on the cluster.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Automated Management Features

Azure Instance State Documentation

NAT Based Network:A NAT-based network is designed to provide inbound and outbound internet access while obscuring the internal private addresses. This setup uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to map internal IP addresses to a public IP address, ensuring that internal addresses are not exposed to the public internet.

Security and Connectivity:NAT provides a layer of security by hiding internal IP addresses and allowing controlled access to external resources. This configuration is well-suited for VMs that need to communicate with servers on the public internet while maintaining the privacy of their internal network addresses.

References:

Azure Virtual Network NAT Documentation

Nutanix Networking and Security Configuration Guide

Storage Capacity Requirement: The requirement specifies that the bare metal instance must support up to 20 TB of storage capacity.

Instance Selection: Among the provided options, the AN36P instance is designed to support higher storage capacities and performance needs.

AN36P Capabilities: The AN36P instance is optimized for storage-intensive applications and provides the necessary hardware specifications to handle up to 20 TB of storage.

Comparison with Other Instances:

ND96asr: Typically optimized for GPU workloads rather than storage.

AN36: May not meet the 20 TB storage requirement.

HB176rs: Geared towards high-performance computing rather than large storage capacities.

Conclusion: Based on the requirements and instance specifications, AN36P is the most suitable choice for supporting up to 20 TB of storage.

References:

Nutanix NC2 Instance Types

Azure Virtual Machine Sizes

For configuring connectivity between an on-premises datacenter and Azure, the two supported options are:

VPN (Virtual Private Network):Site-to-Site VPN allows you to create a secure connection from your on-premises network to Azure over the public internet using IPsec/IKE protocols.

ExpressRoute:Provides a private connection between your on-premises infrastructure and Azure, ensuring traffic does not traverse the public internet.

Both options provide secure and reliable connectivity, with ExpressRoute offering enhanced performance and security due to its private connection.References

Azure VPN Gateway

Azure ExpressRoute Overview

Cloud Hardware Support: For issues related to cloud hardware, such as EC2 instances or VPC configurations, the responsible entity is typically the public cloud vendor.

Nutanix Responsibility: Nutanix manages the software layer and integration aspects of the NC2 service, but the underlying hardware support is managed by the cloud provider (e.g., AWS, Azure).

Support Process:

Public Cloud Vendor: Contact the public cloud vendor for issues directly related to the hardware, as they own and manage the physical infrastructure.

Nutanix: For software and configuration issues specific to the NC2 service, contact Nutanix support.

Conclusion: For cloud hardware-related support, the appropriate contact is the public cloud vendor.

References:

Nutanix Support Guide

Azure Support Documentation