NS0-185 Sample Questions Answers

When assessing storage configurations during ONTAP SAN solution design, one key objective may be maximizing usable data capacity.Advanced Drive Partitioning (ADP)is specifically designed to optimize disk utilization, especially in all-flash and hybrid systems.

ADP allows a single physical disk to be partitioned into multiple logical segments that serve different purposes, such as root data, user data, and spare capacity. This significantly reduces the number of disks reserved exclusively for system use and increases the total amount of disk space available for user data.

RAID-DP and RAID4 provide data protection but do not increase usable capacity; in fact, they reserve parity disks, reducing available space. Flash Pool combines SSDs with HDDs to create caching aggregates, which improves performance but does not maximize raw data capacity.

By contrast, ADP is explicitly intended to maximize usable storage by minimizing overhead. This makes it the optimal choice when the primary requirement ismaximum available data space.

Therefore, the correct answer isD (ADP).

The exhibit represents aMetroCluster IPconfiguration, which uses Ethernet switches to provide redundant connectivity between sites. In this architecture, the Ethernet switches are responsible for transportingNVRAM replication traffic using iWARP (RDMA over TCP/IP). This enables synchronous replication of write logs between HA partners across sites.

Additionally, the switches supportSyncMirror replication, which maintains mirrored aggregates across sites to provide continuous data availability in the event of a site failure.

SnapMirror Synchronous and cluster management traffic do not use these switches directly in this configuration. Therefore, the correct answers areC and D.

ONTAP clusters require that all nodes run the same ONTAP version before a node can join the cluster under normal conditions. The exhibit clearly indicates that the join operation failed because the cluster is running ONTAP 9.8 while the new node is running ONTAP 9.7, resulting in a mixed-version cluster restriction.

One nondisruptive solution is toupgrade the new node to ONTAP 9.8before attempting to join it to the cluster. This approach aligns the software version of the new node with the existing cluster and fully complies with NetApp-supported installation procedures. It does not impact cluster availability and is the preferred long-term solution.

The second nondisruptive option is to use the-allow-mixed-version-joinparameter. ONTAP explicitly allows this method to temporarily permit a mixed-version cluster for the purpose of expansion or upgrade workflows. This option is designed for controlled scenarios and allows the node to join without disrupting existing cluster operations. However, the mixed-version state is intended to be temporary and must be resolved by upgrading the remaining nodes.

Reverting the cluster or reinitializing all nodes would be disruptive and violate nondisruptive installation principles. Therefore, the correct answers areC and D.

After completing the initial configuration of a multi-node ONTAP cluster and its cluster interconnect switches, NetApp installation best practices require enabling proactive monitoring of the cluster network. TheCluster Switch Health Monitor (CSHM)is the ONTAP feature designed specifically for this purpose.

CSHM continuously monitors the health of supported cluster switches by collecting information such as switch configuration, port status, firmware versions, cabling, and error conditions. It validates this information against NetApp-supported configurations and best practices. When deviations or risks are detected, CSHM generates alerts and EMS messages that allow administrators to take corrective action before cluster communication is affected.

Cluster switch logging alone does not provide health analysis or proactive validation; it only records switch events. IPv6 is not required or recommended for cluster interconnect networks in standard ONTAP installations. Data Center Bridging (DCB) is used for specific Ethernet storage protocols and is not applicable to ONTAP cluster interconnect networks.

Therefore, enabling thecluster switch health monitoris the correct and required post-installation step.

Physical installation of an AFF system requires specific tools. APhillips #2 screwdriveris required for securing rails and components. Alaptop computeris needed for console access, initial configuration, and validation. Acable management trayis necessary to properly route and secure cables, ensuring airflow and serviceability.

Additional network cables and slide rail kits are equipment components, not tools.

Therefore, the correct answers areB, C, and E.

In ONTAP, LIF failover target selection is controlled byfailover groupsandfailover policies. A key installation and validation concept is that ONTAP uses broadcast domains to simplify and automate failover-group membership. Specifically, ONTAP documents that when you create a broadcast domain, ONTAP automatically creates a failover group with the same name and manages it so that as ports are added or removed from the broadcast domain, they are also added or removed from the associated failover group.

Because of this coupling, if a LIF “moves to a port that is not expected,” the most direct and common cause is that thebroadcast domain contains ports that do not belong there(or ports that should be in a different broadcast domain/IPspace). When the original port goes down (for example, because you disabled the connected switch), ONTAP looks for eligible failover targets in the LIF’s assigned failover group. If the broadcast domain was defined too broadly or incorrectly, the failover group will also be too broad, and ONTAP may pick a port that appears valid per configuration but is “unexpected” from the design intent.

Option C (“There are no online ports within the same failover group”) would more commonly result inno valid failover target(and therefore an outage) rather than a clean migration to an unexpected port; ONTAP even warns that without a valid target, an outage occurs during failover verification. Option A is too generic and does not specifically explain why adifferentport becomes a valid target. Option D is not a typical ONTAP networking root cause for LIF migration behavior.

Therefore, the behavior is best explained by an incorrectly configured broadcast domain.

AFF A250 systems use aconverged networking design, where the same physical ports are used for bothcluster interconnect traffic and HA interconnect traffic. This differs from older platforms that used dedicated HA interconnect ports.

The NetApp CN1610 switches only support10GbE, which is insufficient for AFF A250 systems. AFF A250 platforms require25GbE-capable cluster switchesto support both cluster and HA interconnect traffic.

Because the cluster ports are operational, the nodes can join the cluster. However, the HA interconnect traffic cannot be established due to insufficient switch capability, which explains why the NVRAM log cannot synchronize and the HA partner is unreachable.

Therefore:

The AFF A250requires switches with 25GbE port support

The AFF A250uses the same ports for cluster and HA interconnect

Statements involving 40GbE or separate HA ports are incorrect.

The correct answers areC and D.

Mixing DS4243 and DS4246 shelves in the same stack is unsupported. New shelves must be added as a separate stack.

When expanding an ONTAP cluster by adding new nodes or HA pairs,intercluster LIFsare required to enable secure communication between clusters or nodes during join and expansion workflows. Intercluster LIFs provide IP-based connectivity used for cluster peering, node addition, and replication setup.

Cluster management LIFs are used for administrative access, node management LIFs provide per-node management access, and data LIFs are used for client I/O. None of these LIF types support the inter-node communication required during cluster expansion.

Therefore, anintercluster LIFis required.

Within ONTAP SAN concepts, logical interfaces (LIFs) are assigned specific roles, and each role has predefined networking and security behaviors. Among all LIF types, thecluster LIFis unique because it has afixed firewall policythat cannot be modified by administrators.

Cluster LIFs are used exclusively forinternal cluster communication, including replication of configuration databases, cluster heartbeat traffic, and distributed data access coordination. Because of their critical role, NetApp enforces a fixed firewall policy to protect cluster integrity and prevent accidental or malicious changes that could disrupt cluster operations.

Data LIFs, cluster management LIFs, and intercluster LIFs all allow configurable firewall policies. Administrators can adjust these policies to permit or restrict protocols such as NFS, SMB, iSCSI, HTTPS, SSH, or SnapMirror traffic depending on deployment requirements.

By contrast, cluster LIF firewall settings are locked to ensure that only cluster-related traffic is permitted. This design ensures predictable behavior and prevents misconfiguration during installation or troubleshooting.

Therefore, the only LIF with a fixed firewall policy is thecluster LIF, makingCthe correct answer.

ONTAP cluster networks support specific switch vendors validated by NetApp.Ciscois a supported and commonly used vendor for ONTAP cluster interconnect switches.

Other vendors listed are not supported for ONTAP cluster networks.

The CN1610 uses 10GbE SFP+, while the Cisco Nexus 3132Q-V provides 40GbE QSFP+ cluster ports. For non-disruptive migration, the interconnect must operate at 40GbE without breakout. AQSFP+ to QSFP+ 40GbE cablesupports this requirement and is validated for cluster interconnect traffic. Breakout cables would change port topology and are not used during NDU migration.

Secure multitenancy in ONTAP requires complete separation of network traffic, routing tables, and IP addressing.IPspacesprovide this level of isolation by creating independent network stacks within a single ONTAP cluster.

Failover groups, VLANs, and broadcast domains organize network paths but do not isolate routing domains. Only IPspaces ensure tenants cannot access each other’s network traffic.

Thus,IPspacesenable secure multitenancy.

ONTAP automatically selectsRAID-DPas the default RAID type for SSD-based aggregates, including 3.8 TB SSDs, in ONTAP 9.8.

RAID-DP provides double-parity protection, allowing the aggregate to withstand two simultaneous disk failures without data loss. RAID-TEC is reserved for very large aggregates and is not the default. RAID 4 and RAID 0 do not provide adequate protection for production systems.

Therefore, the correct answer isD (RAID DP).

To observe a node’s boot process during takeover testing, you need access to aconsole-capable, out-of-band management interfacethat remains reachable even when the node is not fully up at the ONTAP management layer. NetApp platforms provide theService Processor (SP)(or BMC on some models) as the remote management device used for out-of-band monitoring, console redirection, and power control/diagnostics.

ONTAP documentation describes that the remote management device (Service Processor) can detect certain failure conditions and is involved in hardware-assisted takeover behavior, which reinforces its role as the out-of-band management plane. Additionally, ONTAP provides explicit commands to manage the Service Processor (for example, rebooting the SP), which further confirms that SP is a distinct management interface independent of in-band ONTAP LIFs.

Options B (SVM management), C (cluster management), and D (node management) are allin-band ONTAP LIF-based management interfaces. These LIFs depend on ONTAP network services being operational and do not provide the low-level boot console view needed to watch BIOS/loader/kernel initialization. During takeover testing, the node being taken over may be halted, rebooting, or otherwise not servicing its management LIF in a reliable way. In contrast, SP access is intended specifically for situations where the OS is not fully running or where you need visibility into the boot process and hardware health.

From an installation testing and troubleshooting standpoint, connecting to the SP is the correct method to watch the node boot while its partner is in takeover, because the SP provides persistent, independent access to the node console regardless of ONTAP LIF availability.

Therefore, the correct interface isA. Service Processor.

A 2-node switchless cluster is limited to two nodes and uses direct connections for cluster LIFs. Before adding additional nodes, ONTAP requires converting the environment into aswitched cluster.

This conversion involves installing cluster interconnect switches andmigrating the cluster LIFsfrom direct connections to the new cluster interconnect switches. Data LIFs are not involved in cluster communication and do not need migration for cluster expansion.

Direct connect cannot support more than two nodes, and converting to a single-node cluster is invalid.

Therefore, the correct answer isC.

The cluster ping-cluster command is specifically designed to testinter-node cluster network connectivity, includinglatency, packet loss, and throughputbetween cluster nodes. This command generates synthetic traffic over the cluster interconnect and measures performance characteristics that directly affect cluster health and stability.

The command is commonly used duringpost-installation validation, cluster expansion, and troubleshooting scenarios involving cluster network performance. It provides insight into whether the cluster interconnect is operating within expected parameters.

Other commands listed do not provide this functionality. QoS workload statistics focus on application-level performance, network test-path validates reachability for LIF failover paths, and statistics node show reports internal node counters rather than inter-node network performance.

Therefore, the correct answer isB.

Within the ONTAP SAN solution assessment domain, NetApp emphasizes the creation of accurate and reusable documentation immediately after system installation. One of the supported tools for this purpose is NetAppDocs, which is designed to collect system configuration data and generate standardized inventory and design documentation. According to NetApp Storage Installation concepts and objectives, inventory reports must be produced in formats that support both technical review and customer handoff, while remaining editable and auditable.

NetAppDocs is explicitly described in NetApp documentation as supporting Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and PDF outputs for inventory-style reports. These formats align with operational best practices defined in installation and assessment workflows. Word (.docx) files are used to present structured design narratives and annotated configuration details. Excel (.xlsx) files are used to present tabular inventory data such as controllers, disk shelves, ports, adapters, WWPNs, and LIF assignments, which are critical for SAN assessment and future expansion planning. PDF (.pdf) files are used as finalized, non-editable deliverables suitable for compliance records, customer signoff, and archival purposes.

Formats such as HTML and PostScript (.ps) are not identified in NetApp Storage Installation objectives as supported NetAppDocs inventory outputs. These formats do not align with NetApp’s standardized documentation deliverables and are not referenced in official installation or assessment documentation. As a result, they are excluded.

From a SAN-focused assessment perspective, the ability to generate Word, Excel, and PDF reports ensures consistency across deployment teams, simplifies validation of ONTAP SAN configurations, and supports accurate lifecycle documentation. These formats are repeatedly reinforced in NetApp installation guidance as the approved and supported inventory report outputs.

Therefore, the correct answers are A (.docx), C (.pdf), and E (.xlsx), as they are the only formats verified and supported for NetAppDocs inventory reporting within NetApp Storage Installation concepts and domains provided by NetApp.

NetApp best practices allow mixing NAS protocols (NFS and CIFS) or SAN protocols (FCP and iSCSI) within the same SVM, but not mixing NAS and SAN.

NetApp installation rules prohibit mixingNSE and non-NSE drives within the same stack. While the AFF A300 supports both encrypted and non-encrypted drives, they must be physically separated into different stacks.

Licensing NSE alone does not allow mixing encrypted and unencrypted drives in the same stack. The correct approach is tocreate a new stackspecifically for the NSE drives.

Therefore, the correct answer isB.

Alternate Control Path (ACP) provides anout-of-band management pathto disk shelves, allowing ONTAP to monitor and reset SAS expanders nondisruptively. It does not carry data traffic and does not assign shelf IDs.

The customer’s environment uses aCisco MDSSAN fabric, so a Cisco-focused management/visibility tool is the most direct way to gain insight into the fabric’s configuration, health, zoning state, and operational status.Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM)is a Cisco tool designed for managing Cisco SAN (including MDS) and therefore is the correct selection for Cisco fabric configuration insight.

From a NetApp installation and assessment perspective, the second tool that provides valuable insight—especially in the context of deploying NetApp storage into an existing fabric—isActive IQ Config Advisor. Config Advisor is used to validate installation-related configuration and cabling and to detect configuration issues across the environment, including SAN connectivity/cabling checks from the NetApp side. While it is not a Cisco fabric manager, it is the NetApp tool used during installation and verification phases to identify configuration and connection problems that affect successful deployment into a SAN environment (for example, incorrect connectivity patterns or misconfigurations that would impact host/storage access).

Option A (Brocade SAN Health) is purpose-built for Brocade environments and does not match “Cisco MDS fabric configuration.” Option C (Active IQ) focuses on NetApp system health, telemetry, and risks for NetApp arrays rather than providing direct insight into a Cisco MDS fabric configuration.

Therefore, the two tools that best satisfy “insight into their existing Cisco MDS fabric configuration” in the context of deploying NetApp SAN storage areB. Cisco DCNM(Cisco-side fabric visibility) andD. Active IQ Config Advisor(NetApp-side installation validation and connectivity/configuration checks relevant to the fabric integration).

After a support case has been created, NetApp’s support workflow requires thatcase visibility and status trackingbe performed through the NetApp Support site using thecustomer’s credentials, not partner credentials. Customer credentials ensure proper access to systems registered under the customer’s support account, including entitlement visibility, serial numbers, and case ownership. Partner credentials may not have permission to view customer-owned cases unless explicitly granted.

Once logged in, theMy Casessection of the support site provides a centralized dashboard showing all active and historical cases associated with the customer’s company. From this view, cases are listed with details such as case number, product, symptom, status, and last updated timestamp. Selecting the specific case number (in this scenario,41747189) opens the detailed case view, where the customer can monitor progress, read engineer updates, upload logs, and add comments.

The option “Create a Case” is used only when opening anewcase and does not allow viewing the status of an existing case. Therefore, it does not satisfy the requirement. Using partner credentials is also incorrect because case tracking is intended to be performed by the customer organization that owns the system and support entitlement.

Thus, the correct steps are tolog in using customer credentialsandopen My Cases and select the existing case number.

iSCSI usesIQNs (iSCSI Qualified Names)to identify initiators. When mapping LUNs for iSCSI access, ONTAP requires the initiator IQNs to create igroups and establish access control. WWNNs and WWPNs are used for Fibre Channel, not iSCSI.

Therefore, IQNs are required.

Active IQ Digital Advisor provides telemetry analysis, predictive risk detection, and best-practice recommendations based on AutoSupport data. It is specifically designed for proactive monitoring and risk mitigation.

This question checks how ONTAP exposes LUN paths across nodes after cluster expansion. ONTAP SAN pathing is governed bySelective LUN Map (SLM)behavior. ONTAP documentation states that SLM reduces host-to-LUN paths by making a LUN accessible only through paths on the node owning the LUN and its HA partner (unless configured otherwise). That means that after you add nodes, hosts will not automatically gain paths through the new nodes for existing LUNs unless you intentionally adjust LUN reporting.

ONTAP provides the lun mapping add-reporting-nodes command for exactly this purpose: it is used before or after data mobility events that modify the owning node of the LUN, to add optimized nodes (and therefore paths) to the LUN mapping’s reporting-nodes list. In other words, if the administrator wants existing LUNs to “use paths on the new nodes,” the ONTAP-side requirement is to add those nodes (and their partners, as applicable) as reporting nodes for the relevant LUN mappings or volumes/aggregates that host those LUNs.

Options A and D (port/host rescans) arehost-side discovery actions. They can only discover paths that ONTAP is already presenting. Without adding reporting nodes, ONTAP may not advertise those LUNs through the new nodes, so host rescans alone do not satisfy the requirement. Option C (“lun bind create”) is not the appropriate ONTAP mechanism for enabling additional node paths for existing LUNs and is not the documented workflow for SLM path expansion.

Therefore, the required step isB. Use the lun mapping add-reporting-nodes command.

On AFF A220 systems, porte0Mis the dedicatedmanagement Ethernet portused for node management. This port is physically separate from data and cluster ports and is typically a 1GbE RJ-45 interface. In the exhibit, number1points to this dedicated management port.

ONTAP assigns the logical namee0Mautomatically to this physical interface, and it is reserved exclusively for management traffic. Administrators use e0M to configure node management LIFs, access the Service Processor (SP/BMC), and perform out-of-band management tasks.

Other numbered ports in the exhibit represent data, cluster, or console-related interfaces and cannot be used as e0M. Because ONTAP maps e0M to a fixed physical location on AFF A220 controllers, the correct answer is1.